There’s no truth in the rumour Michael Cheika was seen at Mascot heavily disguised with hat, thick sunglasses, heavy beard and trench coat waiting to board a plane for Monaco.
The Wallabies’ coach is made of much sterner stuff than that, despite the fact the five Australian Super Rugby franchises have yet to win a game in 11 this season against their New Zealand counterparts.
Apart from the Reds being stitched 22-20 with an extra-time penalty by the Crusaders, the Crusaders holding out 17-13 against the Brumbies, and a late try by the Highlanders to down the Brumbies 18-13, the rest of the results in the trans-Tasman clashes have been one-way traffic with more like cricket scores.
The Blues have beaten the Rebels 50-18 scoring seven tries to three, and the Force 24-15 with four tries to two.
The Hurricanes have crushed the Rebels 71.6 crossing for 11 unanswered tries, and beat the Reds 34-15, scoring five tries to two.
The Chiefs beat the Rebels 27-14, with four tries to one.
The Highlanders crept home 18-13 over the Brumbies, scoring two tries to one, and romped home 51-12 over the Rebels with seven tries to two.
And the Crusaders beat the Brumbies 17-13 in the tournament opener, scoring three tries to one, crept home 22-20 over the Reds, with three tries to two, thumped the Force 45-17, scoring seven tries to two, and the Waratahs 41-22 with six tries to three.
Overall, the totals are an embarrassment with the New Zealand franchises amassing 400 points to just 165, and scoring 59 tries to 19.
Last night at Allianz Stadium the woeful, wobbly, wasteful, wimpy, or wanton Waratahs – take your pick for a description – joined the vanquished Australian sides despite boasting ten Wallabies in the 23 with Bernard Foley and Rob Horne out injured.
Where does the blame rest – skipper Michael Hooper, coach Daryl Gibson, or a roster that doesn’t have the necessary pride and passion required to pull on the famous Waratah jersey?
A smattering of all three alternatives would be a fair assessment.
For a very well paid roster of 30, the Waratahs’ grip of rugby basics in pass, catch, support, retention, and tackle are sadly lacking.
Let’s start with defence and depending on what set of stats you want to believe, missed tackles ranged from 34 to 47 – both excessive.
ESPN is the most reliable with 34, with the Waratah backs the worst offenders with 20, led by debutant fly-half Mack Watson with six, David Horwitx four, bench half Nick Phipps three, Jake Gordon, Israel Folau, and Reece Robinson shared two, and giant bench winger Taqele Naiyaravero missing one tackle.
Little wonder the unbeaten Crusaders ran in six tries to three to take their career successes over the Waratahs to 19 wins and five losses.
A telling stat last night was the runs, with the Crusaders making 131 to 101.
But the Crusaders turned their runs into 697 metres to the Waratahs’ 345.
With the Crusaders owning 53 per cent possession, and 57 per cent territory, the seven times premiers should have converted those stats into more points.
Next Friday will be a short turnaround for the Waratahs when they take on the Hurricanes away. That may be a blessing in disguise with just a few days to stew over last night, and their record this season of just twp wins and four losses.
But if the Waratahs don’t pass, catch, support, retain possession, and tackle against the Hurricanes, a cricket score is on the cards.
Time for some good old fashion pride and passion to surface.
piru
Roar Rookie
Ah yes, The Boofhead remarks from Kearns.. "I like scrums hurr hurr hurr" The over excited screams from Growden every time a player falls forwards (usually just repeats the name of the player with growing urgency) Horan's well meaning but usually wrong interpretation of the laws Clarke's (and Kearns') biased whining 'you can't do that' (although Clarke has a bit of a sense of humour about it at least) The only one I can stand is Kafer - and he gets smug and annoying after a while I'm glad the Force get second billing most weeks so we're more likely to get a Saffer or Kiwi commentary team
Hertryk
Guest
I think coaches could take a leaf out of the 1977 Invicibles coach's book.. in a nutshell..keep the ball in hand..
piru
Roar Rookie
It's live on Facebook as well, which is actually a good way to watch a game on the move - say on the way to watch a Super rugby game
Hertryk
Guest
Folau's shirt is always the cleanest when he comes off the field.. what does that tell you..
Hertryk
Guest
As far as the Tahs are concerned - the Fox Sports crew are one eyed Kearnsey should not be allowed anywhere near a game with the Tahs playing.. Maybe it's time they were all replaced ..they are not professional, biased, and quite frankly boring.. I usually watch the Australian games playing in Oz to classical music.. Kafe "I love the sound of my own voice" is droll and very unenspiring...concentrate please on the game in front of you.. during one game last weekend we suffered the crew's preference in wine for goodness sake.. ??????
Hertryk
Guest
Someone at last giving at least one Force player some credit..
Hertryk
Guest
Fairweather fans... puhft!
Jock Cornet
Guest
At least will get a halfback in Cronk
Steven Stanley Sylvester
Guest
About time the ARU addressed the real problem, club rugby gets very little support, if you don't support the ground roots the players don't develop, pretty simple really!
ClarkeG
Guest
So.
ClarkeG
Guest
yeah ....did you not see his big shove on Hall. :-)
Blackfish
Roar Rookie
After all, NZ seems to have a team playing in all our other National Sports comps.
Blackfish
Roar Rookie
Thanks Puff, looks like I need your type of serenity. I'm still spilling my Red.
Blackfish
Roar Rookie
10 games! It only took me half a game - sorry quarter.
Faith
Guest
At some point last year I said on this site that ARU could not do any poorly but look to NZRU systems and try and replicate with what works to come up with some answers and I was shut down. As a fan of NZ rugby at all levels it is sad to see what's happening to Aussie rugby which has always been the dark horse of world rugby. And before that Aussie rugby was the best example of running rugby there was especially with Larkham, Latham, Gregan, Roth, Mortlock, Burke and Matt _ who came from league . I do not want be part of the boring litany of callers of the death of Aussie rugby but this recent run must worry even the most die-hard NZ fans ... And I see Lodge continues with the click bait headers, the repetition of stats that we all know and the little conclusive homilies. Yet to watch the Tahs vs Saders but think the Reds really have potential if they can just become an 80 minute team. The Aussie teams just can't seem to hold together for 80 minutes of a game or even string real phases of attack or defence ...
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
DCMS - that is the point being made by David Lord - if our players, who a paid as professionals and a large percentage are Wallabies, cannot pass, kick, back up, tackle, ruck, think, lead - then the poor games will continue. Our so called highly paid professionals of SR - are 100% useless in terms of skills. And as one statement, I honestly believe that our players are not fit - definitely not fit. The Aus SR Teams are not worth watching - and it is getting worse!! Our players are not interested - no guts, no motivation, no pride!!
dan in devon
Guest
Australian teams look unift - they could do worse than train with an AFL side, who look supremely fit, athletic and skilled.
Bakkies
Guest
It was me. Only Beale was playing in that match
davSA
Guest
Waratahs and the Bulls are in a similar situation. Both previous winners with rich histories , both jampacked with quality players and both appear to be playing at about 70% of potential. Bot are frustrating their supporters immensely. What the problem is who knows ?? there are rumours , but only rumours of serious friction within the Bulls camp. I wonder if this is not also the case at the Waratahs . Whatever it is the administration and management of both teams should front up and take responsibility .
ukkiwi
Guest
I've watched the Force for the last two weeks and their no 08 is exceptional- not sure if he's eligible to play for Australia. He would be in my team for sure.