Celebrating a Waratahs win over the Blues this weekend would be like urinating into the wind – which is better than doing it on a bar.
Who knows, maybe Nick Phipps will mark the end of the losing streak with a streak of his own across Brookvale Oval on Saturday night. Or has his bucks party finished?
Much has been made of the Australian teams’ Super Rugby losing run to New Zealand sides, which stretched to 36 games when the Brumbies lost 21-8 at home to the Crusaders last weekend (it’s creeping up to two years since NSW defeated the Chiefs).
That number should comfortably rise to 37 on Friday night, when the up-and-down Melbourne Rebels host the bruising and skilful Crusaders, who by the way – given we’re on a streak theme – are on a five-match winning run.
There’s a decent chance Queenslanders will be barracking for the Blues. But for the rest of Australia’s rugby lovers there will be no better chance to end the drought than when the Waratahs take on the embattled Blues.
Tana Umaga’s team have lost seven of their nine matches in 2018 and five of their last six to sit well clear at the bottom of the Kiwi conference.
Tana Umaga, head coach of the Blues. (Photo by Dianne Manson/Getty Images)
Their injury list is awful – more than 15 – including George Moala, Melani Nanai, Michael Collins and Jerome Kaino, while Sonny Bill Williams is likely to miss another week.
It could be argued it’s the type of match-up the Australian conference-leading Tahs would dread given the Blues will be motivated by national pride and arguably the future of the popular Umaga.
Imagine the collective depression if our best team can’t beat New Zealand’s worst. Time to cut another team?
So should a wave of positivity follow victory, if it indeed comes?
Could it be deemed a turning point in the trans-Tasman rivalry? A watershed moment. A line in the sand. Monkey off the back? Cliché bingo!
No.
It almost goes without saying really, given that just this season, the average losing margins of Aussie teams against Kiwi sides is around 25 points. And none have faced the Blues yet.
Of course, I’m being a pessimist. But the Blues aren’t a barometer of where the trans-Tasman rivalry is at.
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If you’re into streak-breaking, then a Waratahs win will be worth a cheer. But we will have to wait until the end of May to have a clearer picture as to whether last year’s axing of the Western Force has produced the desired result: making Australian rugby more competitive in Super Rugby.
After the Blues, the Waratahs play the Crusaders in Christchurch, the Highlanders in Sydney and the Chiefs in Waikato.
Also during May, Queensland face two Kiwi teams – the Hurricanes and Highlanders – before the season break for the June Tests.
The Reds’ gritty win over the Lions last weekend was encouraging in a broader sense, given they’ve been the best South African team for a while. However, Australia’s standing pre-Bledisloe will always be judged by results against the New Zealand teams.
The Blues will be tough and despite all their injuries will still play at a speed that the Tahs haven’t experienced yet this season.
But they are just a teaser to the rest of judgement month. If the Waratahs can beat one of the Kiwi teams away – the Crusaders or Chiefs – then Phipps won’t be the only Aussie rugby lover losing bladder control.
Martin English
Roar Rookie
You wish :) IF they win tomorrow, the Waratahs are still chasing the Jaguares (2 wins against kiwi sides in NZ) !!!
Crescent
Roar Rookie
It makes me squirm inside to hear so many taking a Tahs win as a fait accompli. The Blues have some quality players returning, the Tahs consistency is lacking. If we see the Tahs that came out against the Lions, we are going to be in trouble quickly. The Blues will be desperate to close out a match in their favour at last. In a weekend where not many upsets are tipped, this could blow up in the Tahs faces rather spectacularly.
PeterK
Roar Guru
I didn't think the movie was that good but the fight scene is one of the best ever
piru
Roar Rookie
me too Julz - I think the fight between Achilles and Hector is one of the best scenes ever put on film
Kirky
Roar Rookie
I reckon it will be Referee and Touchies depending, but on paper the Blues with the talent in that squad if they play like they can and should, won't lose. Apart from the massive injury list the Blues are still a very good on paper Super team and it's difficult to understand why they aren't functioning, and the do have Jerome Kaino coming back and he will rark' them up for sure so. I think the Blues will take it out as they have what they call a vested interest in not losing this game!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
StuM! Exactly mate, Sam Lousi has learned since he's been at the Hurricanes what his core duties are and in his case it concentrating on the set piece and when that business is over, then you run the ball if you're good enough, and if Gibson isn't teaching that stuff he shouldn't be there! Depending on the number on your back, the theory is that you concentrate on and complete your core job before anything else! In New Zealand if in training you don't appear to be manning up on your core duties, you have a great chance of standing on the sideline come Game day!
Andy
Guest
it surprises me that people think the tahs are huge favourites, two results spring to mind tahs 0 lions 29 in Sydney, blues 38- lions 35 in South Africa, I think it will be a tough one wouldn’t be surprised to see it go either way.
Geoff
Roar Rookie
agreed, since when!
Julz
Guest
I freaking like that movie. One of my favourites.
Brisvegas
Guest
How funny the Blues lose they also lost at home v the Jaguares the 1st NZ team to do so. Tahs at home playing a bottom placed NZ with only 2 wins crikey what else do they need to win with quite a lot of wallabies and leading the aus conference? Hope the tahs don't get the excuse book on why we lost out. FORGET all the hyperbole and get out there and play winning rugby. Do not play not to lose rugby the Blues will Cane you like a Chief on a Crusade looking for some High Land ers
jeznez
Roar Guru
You might be right with your comment that field position could win this. I do think your point about the Jag's maintaining 61% possession is very pertinent though. The Tahs really struggle to hold the ball through phases against more powerful packs. I thought they had made a fundamental shift in their run against the Aussie conference teams but they were badly shown up against the Lions. Miller should help but my Aussie confidence is looking pretty shaky at the moment.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Thanks piru... yeah, it's all a bit weird this speak of what this means if this or that happens. At the end of the day, or as you say 'weekend', things will have changed. Just play what's in front of you... and win. And if you can't win, at least leave knowing you gave it your all. Who's Troy by the way? I think I know who Paris is... was ;)
Ben
Guest
Lmao.....reeeeeaaaallly?
cuw
Guest
@ jeznez at least a dozen first 23 players were out till this week. PT , Kaino and Pulu are back. the extent of injuries was reflected when DP played at 6 - he is a natural 7 and played 7 at under 20 with |Luke Jacobson ( i think Chiefs ) playing at 6 in 2017. Otere Black (knee – season), Blake Gibson (shoulder), Glenn Preston (groin, season), Sonny Bill Williams (wrist), Alex Hodgman (wrist), Scott Scrafton (leg – season), Melani Nanai (ankle), Matt Johnson (surgery – season), George Moala (chest – season), TJ Faiane (ankle), Tamati Tua (hand), Michael Collins (hand), Ofa Tuungafasi (knee), Jimmy Tupou (knee), Josh Goodhue (concussion), Isaac Salmon (hand).
PeterK
Roar Guru
No idea since I base it on the game I see, no preconceptions.
Peter Kelly
Guest
This crusaders fan only cares about the 5 hopefully soon to be 6 game win streak we are on, couldn't care less how the jaffa's go.
Reverse Wheel
Guest
This tahs fan is happy for the rebels to end the streak on Friday night.
riddler
Guest
c'mon the tahs!! hope they have a great game and break the kiwi win drought.. this queensland fan is all in on the tahs!!
piru
Roar Rookie
"You think of your sword and his sword and nothing else!" Hector to Paris - Troy Stop wondering about what a win against the Blues will mean or won't mean - the landscape will have changed by the end of the weekend anyway, worry about the win first. "Careful king of kings, first you need the victory" Achilles to Agamemnon - also Troy
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Will, urine fine form with all the Phipps references and closing line. Great read! I can't Back the Tahs on principle but I know a lot of smug Kiwis that could use a dose of humility. The Blues are the straggler in the herd, but it is the strongest herd in world rugby, The Tahs will need to bring their A game and lucky shamrocks to have any chance of winning.