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Don Bradman made the most famous duck in Test cricket history 70 years ago when all he needed was four runs to finish his stellar career with an average of 100.
Last Friday night, the Waratahs made their most infamous duck when they failed to trouble the scorers for 80 minutes in a 0-29 defeat by the Lions.
It’s impossible to understand how the Waratahs can beat the Rebels 51-27, the Brumbies 24-17, the Sunwolves 50-29 and the Reds 37-16 in successive matches but can’t score a point when they are going for five wins on the trot.
Scoring 162 points to 89 and 19 tries to 10 would suggest the Waratahs were a pretty good rugby unit doing the basics well.
It begs the question is the Australian Conference weak, or are the Lions a cut above the Waratahs?
To be honest, it’s probably a bit of both.
The Waratahs have a bye next week but will remain on top of the Australian Conference thanks to the Rebels being beaten 28-10 overnight by the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
But after the rest, where they must go back to basics, the Waratahs face the ultimate litmus test with the Blues, Crusaders, Highlanders and Chiefs in succession.
If they can’t score a point against the Lions, heaven help them in the next month.
That’s taking nothing away from the Lions who have made the last two Super Rugby deciders, beaten 20-3 by the Hurricanes at Wellington in 2016 and 25-17 by the Crusaders at Johannesburg last season.
But no Australian Super Rugby side has beaten a New Zealand opponent in the last 34 meetings, an awesome stat.
So what went wrong last Friday night?
There were a litany of basic mistakes you wouldn’t expect from an under 10 side, let alone an elite unit going for five successive wins.
Poor passing, poor handling, poor decisions on when to deliver, over-running the ball-carrier, turnovers and poor defence are obvious failings.
Bloody hell coach Daryl Gibson and captain Michael Hooper, the Waratahs aren’t that pathetic.
Worse still, when Plan A failed, there was no Plan B.
The perfect example was runaway train winger Taqele Naiyaravoro, all 124 kgs of him.
In those last four wins, the big Fijian crossed for seven tries from out wide, where he thrives.
Then why in hell was he used in close against the Lions with no room to move, where he was cut down quickly to become ineffective?
When it didn’t work three times, you’d think captain Hooper would let the penny drop and switch back to using Naiyaravoro out wide again.
Not on your life, Hooper religiously stuck to Plan A seven times, all failures.
Hooper will never be a captain – he’s too inflexible and he can’t make decisions on the run by playing what’s in front of him.
You would think if the Waratahs had only 40 per cent possession and 41 per cent territory Hooper would scrap Plan A.
Not a chance, let alone the 24 turnovers, the 22 missed tackles, winning just six of nine scrums, 10 of 14 lineouts and 50 of 56 rucks.
Hooper’s summation post-game – “I don’t think the scoreboard reflected how close we were in that game”.
(AAP Image/Craig Golding)
The difference was stark – four converted tries by the Lions from as many chances compared to seven bombed tries by the Waratahs.
One of those bombed chance’s was a brilliant 25-metre bust midfield by young halfback Jake Gordon.
He’s no Usain Bolt, but there wasn’t a sign of any support within 12 metres, and a certain try was blown when Gordon was eventually isolated.
Interestingly, Israel Folau has been sidelined with a hamstring injury for three weeks but is likely to return after the bye.
In the past, Gibson has described Folau as a champion fullback, but this week he’s a champion back which suggests he still fully intends to pick Folau on the wing, where’s he’s wasted.
When Folau has scored a record number of tries for the Waratahs in the 15 jumper, why would Gibson want to move him?
If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
It’s a repeat of the bombed Naiyaravoro game plan against the Lions, so use them both where they are the most dangerous – Naiyaravoro out wide, and Folau at fullback.
The thought of Folau linking with Kurtey Beale and Taqele Naiyatavoro from out the back is mouthwatering.
One thing is certain, the Waratahs can’t sink any lower then failing to score a point in 80 minutes.
If that doesn’t snap Daryl Gibson and Michael Hooper into a change of plans with alternatives, nothing will.