NSW Waratahs captain Michael Hooper has lamented another undisciplined performance from his side, with their Super Rugby finals hopes taking a big hit with a 44-28 loss to the Highlanders in Dunedin.
The Tahs’ hopes of topping the Australian conference are diminishing by the week, surrendering a 14-13 halftime lead on Saturday and conceding 17-straight points after the break.
The loss, which came exactly one year to the day since an Australian team last won a trans-Tasman game, leaves the Tahs second in the Australian conference.
They remain four points behind the Brumbies, who can stretch that lead by beating the Jaguares on Sunday morning in Buenos Aires.
In a further blow for the Waratahs, halfback Nick Phipps injured his ankle and will have a scan on Sunday.
The Highlanders scored six tries to four, including five of the first six in the second half.
They capitalised on a one-man advantage early in the second half, when they scored two tries while Waratahs lock Dean Mumm was in the sin bin.
Mumm, who earlier this week announced he would retire at the end of this year, was given a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, but looked a little unlucky.
The Tahs were also a trifle unfortunate with the first-half try they conceded, when Richard Buckman appeared to come from an offside position to swoop on the ball after Bernard Foley’s kick bounced off the legs of Luke Whitelock.
However, NSW struggled in the set pieces against a Highlanders side that produced the potent mixture of efficiency and creativity that has earned them nine-straight wins.
“We struggled to get our set piece off the mark and that really hurt us,” Hooper said.
“It’s the same story, unfortunately, for us this week.
“Discipline killed us against a solid team like the Highlanders, who really took their opportunities well.”
Down 10-0 after 17 minutes, the Waratahs produced some sparkling passages of play to hit the front by the break.
Fullback Israel Folau crossed after beating flanker Elliot Dixon with some quality footwork.
Winger Taqele Naiyaravoro pounced on a superb cut-out pass from Phipps to crash his way over for a try just before the break, with the conversion to five-eighth Foley giving the Tahs the halftime lead.
Highlanders captain Ben Smith said his team recognised they needed to lift the tempo after halftime, but conceded Mumm’s absence helped his team’s cause.
“I think we got momentum then and we managed to score from that lineout and things changed from there,” Smith said.
The Highlanders quickly regained the lead through hooker Liam Coltman after a forward drive from the penalty awarded after Mumm was binned.
Winger Tevita Li won the chase to a delightful chip from centre Malakai Fekitoa to expand the Highlanders’ lead before Mumm returned.
Rob Thompson added a try after the Waratahs were back to 15 men, as the Highlanders sprinted to a 30-14 advantage.
A converted try to replacement halfback Jake Gordon cut the deficit to nine points and lifted the Tahs in their push for a bonus point.
Those were quickly extinguished with Daniel Lienert-Brown and Lima Sopoaga touching down for the home team, before Gordon scampered away after taking a quick tap to notch his second five-pointer of the game.
ClarkeG
Guest
Nooo...I'm not missing anything. It is as simple as I said. It matters not what we call what Whitelock did - kick or block - he most certainly played the ball.
jeznez
Roar Guru
No doubt about that Tim. Just look at the pack we could have if we'd selected we'll from players from NSW or that have been in the squad. LH: Sio, Ryan, Robertson TH: Kepu, Mike A, Alan A Hookers: Latu, TPN Locks: Coleman, Skelton, Tui Backrowers: Hooper, Timani, Fardy There are others on top of that. I get with competition the Tahs can't retain them all but her they could have done better than they have.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Jeznez, I like your outlook, it's refreshing. My 2 cents as an avid Tah's hater is that they should embrace and nurture their emerging talent instead of waiting for their high profile players to fire. I like the look of Gordon and Hanigan and what happened to Mack Mason? I saw him play well in a game or 2 and then he disappeared back into obscurity. Look at the Force and the Brumbies, a number of new names playing as a team instead of as individuals. Banks, Rona, Ruru, Former Tahs development players: Billy Meakes, Matt Philip, Chris Alcock. Instead Mumm, Skelton, Phipps, Folau and Horne are still under performing and restricting the growth of new players. You guys either had or have the talent but just aren't using it.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
You are missing the first part of the problem: Establishing whether or not Whitelock played at the ball, because if he didn't, all the Highlanders players remain on-side. He certainly didn't kick it but I think it could be argued that a leg block is the same as playing at the ball. Buckman was offside by a matter of a few centimeters and Whitelock failed to bring him onside even though Buckman propped on the 22 before proceeding. Foley's kick was dumb and poorly executed and rightly or wrongly, he got punished for his incompetence. If you went through the entire game with a fine toothed comb, you would find the Tahs off side a number of times that they weren't penalized for.
Jumbo
Guest
Nothing excuses the tahs whole season to be fair.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Jeznez, agree that the focus now needs to be in building for next year. Locks is indeed the place to start, getting the young guns game ready. I also wonder what is going to come out of either Rebels or Force, both have good locks, it's where I'd be focusing if I was the Tahs recruiter. I though the scrum was fine while the starters were on, won a couple of scrum penalties. Issues started when the subs came on. Discipline has been an issue all year, that's not just the coaching but Hooper's leadership on field. I think he is a fantastic player, but not yet fully convinced of his leadership. Kicking is also an ongoing concern. Interesting that two of our best and key players, Foley and Folau, have weak in game kicking. What makes it worst is that we push this, kicking to ball to kiwi sides that love to have ball in hand; nothing like playing to the adversary's strengths. This should be coachable, but it's not a new issue.
Jumbo
Guest
Well unfortunately the tmo doesn't have the red line. Good old benefit of the doubt is how it should be. Imo the ball wasn't played at, it was kicked into his legs by a stupid kick i.e a charge down,which in turn puts everyone onside.
ClarkeG
Guest
Like Gregan did on this occasion? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF-uEuHfGWA
ClarkeG
Guest
Why does this have to become so complicated. The only question the referees needed to consider - was Buckman ahead of Whitelock when Whitelock kicked the ball - yes or no. This is set out (taken from Jesnez's post) by the law..."In general play a player is offside if the player is in front of a team-mate who last played the ball."
Jock Cornet
Guest
Folau willNEVER play on the WING.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Hi mate - the ref made a mistake but it didn't cost the Tahs the match so I respond not in a red line of rage but just in the interests of clarifying the laws for those that are unclear. The opening definition of section 11 of the World Rugby laws is the key. Below it is in its entirety with the critical sections bolded as to why it is a penalty if Buckman is in front: . . . At the start of a game all players are onside. As the match progresses players may find themselves in an offside position. Such players are then liable to be penalised until they become onside again. In general play a player is offside if the player is in front of a team-mate who is carrying the ball, or in front of a team-mate who last played the ball. Offside means that a player is temporarily out of the game. Such players are liable to be penalised if they take part in the game. In general play, a player can be put onside either by an action of a team-mate or by an action of an opponent. However, the offside player cannot be put onside if the offside player interferes with play; or moves forward, towards the ball, or fails to move 10 metres away from the place where the ball lands. . . . . Buckman, moved towards the ball so the questions to be asked are: Did the player who 'charged down' play at the ball? I think that is fairly clear cut that he intentionally moved to block the kick. Was Buckman in front of that player. Photos look clear cut that he was but I can see how the refs made the error. It's annoying that this becomes the talking point - I'd much rather focus on what my Tahs need to do to get better.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
I am not sure why Mumm was described as unlucky in this article. The laws are clear, and it was unsafe. Seen it before with the same result. Just because it didn't hurt the player doesn't mean it shouldn't be discouraged.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Before we all red-line and rage against the TMO, Does anyone know what the offside rules are in this situation? Let's assume that Buckman was in fact ahead of the player that the ball rebounded off (I choose my words carefully here), does it fall under the standard offside rule or the charge down rule? Or is it being treated like a kick? The only thing I could find in the rules was this: 11.4 Offside under the 10-metre law (f) The 10-metre Law does not apply when a player kicks the ball, and an opponent charges down the kick, and a team-mate of the kicker who was in front of the imaginary 10-metre line across the field then plays the ball. The opponent was not 'waiting to play the ball' and the team-mate is onside. The 10-metre Law applies if the ball touches or is played by an opponent but is not charged down. I think the 10m Rule applies. Laws aside, In my opinion if you kick a ball straight into the opposition, it should be a free-for all, no-one is offside. Do it at your own peril.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Great stats: Run Meters, Pilfers and Tackles, He should replace Sam Cane/MattTodd/Ardie Savia for the Number 7 Position.
piru
Roar Rookie
They could just ask the Roar via the live blog Between us I'm sure we know everything
jeznez
Roar Guru
I thought that try when Halanukonuka was dragged down close would be the one people would be blowing up about as well. Agree it was a knock on, by the first arriving player, was it Dixon? Then Wheeler dives off his feet into the breakdown before the next player picks up to score. Horne was lineball there as well though - did he make it back to the try line before entering from the side? Horne however unlucky to be taken out on another one of the tries late in the match. Clear out well past the breakdown that took him as first defender out and created the gap. All that said - none of that is in the Tahs power to fix and that is all they should be focussing on. The set piece was not up to scratch, they once again had a shocking kicking game, discipline was poor and as you point out they allowed their intensity to slip. They are the four things the Tahs need to be looking at. The season is gone now - they need to be doing everything possible to blood talent for next season and look to fix some of their structural issues. Get more game time into David Lolohea, blood some new locks. Have a look for another loosehead. Identify another player who can come in to the backline and help alleviate the issues with Foley's kicking game.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Yep - that ref was bad but that was all on Phipps. No need for the ref to put his hand up if Phipps makes the right play.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Paddy Ryan was the player who was high, Mumm wrapped a single leg and lifted. Questionable whether he went past the horizontal but can see why the ref went yellow.
Akari
Roar Rookie
I sure did cuw and I am usually quite critical of refs for ruining my enjoyment of the game. Egon Seconds wasn't perfect by any means but then that applied to all the refs on the weekend. I liked the fact that Egon was communicating to the audience about what he was seeing before blowing the whistle. While I didn't agree with some of those calls (particularly in the 1st half) but he was right there at the game while I am thousands of miles away and watching at those 'incidents' on TV. Overall, I thought the refs were pretty good in not being pedantic and thus allowed the game to flow. May it last. There is no lack of depth in the "auzzy sides". The teams lack more in skills and good coaching IMO. By the way, Seconds, Peyper, and others have shown that SA refs are fair and very good. In my books, Craig Joubert joins Nigel Owens as one of the best referees ever.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
His ruck work is also outstanding for a 12.