Waratahs captain Michael Hooper best summed up the 24-21 loss to the Blues at Brookvale last night – “We created a lot of opportunities, and blew them”.
Watching the Waratahs self-destruct so often by butchering rugby’s basics belies the big money they are being paid.
How about fining the Waratahs $10,000 a player every time they lose might just make them aware of what they are doing wrong.
It’s abundantly clear to those who are forced to watch them, that the Waratahs just cannot do the simple things right.
So why are they paid the big bickies?
Take out Israel Folau, Kurtley Beale, and Hooper and the rest couldn’t pass the smell test. The Waratahs were guilty of giving away pointless penalties on attack, turning over good ball, poor passing, poor handling, and over-running support.
How can the Waratahs enjoy 57 per cent possession, and 62 per cent territory, but get beaten?
Turning over possession 20 times to just nine was critical, yet the Waratahs made 17 clean breaks to nine, but missed 25 tackles,
Go figure.
It seems the only way to truly galvanise the Waratahs is for the opposition to score.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Suddenly the Waratahs snap out of their lethargy to trouble the scoreboard, and keep in the game.
Having done that the Waratahs go back into their negative shell and have to play catch-ups again – and so the tit-for-tat cycle continues.
If it wasn’t so serious, it would be laughable.
The biggest disappointment last night in front of a very healthy Brookvale crowd was Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon.
So far this season Gordon has kept Wallaby half Nick Phipps on the Waratahs bench thanks to his swift and accurate service, and his superior support play.
Somehow in the last week Gordon has picked up all of Phipps’ worst habits becoming a cop directing traffic with the ball at his feet, slow service, and helping the referee make decisions.
Enough is enough.
Four times last night the Waratahs won ruck possession with the ball just sitting there in the clear, and no sign of Gordon.
Jake Gordon of Waratahs. (Photo by Gabriel Rossi/Getty Images)
You would think the forwards, or Bernard Foley, would be aware something was wrong.
Not in your life, the Blues just swept through the ruck, took possession, and buzzed off.
Basics, basics, basics.
Despite the loss the Waratahs remain on top of the Australian Conference thanks to the Rebels being hammered by the Crusaders.
But the Waratahs are leading by default.
That result was the 38th successive loss by an Australian franchise to Kiwi sides in Super Rugby.
Bloody hell.
The tragedy is the Waratahs are very capable of playing really exciting and entertaining rugby. Last night it was lost rugby, bordering on pathetic.
Yet the Waratahs are the best Australian side.
That being the case, heaven help the Wallabies if Michael Cheika can’t lift the squad for the three Tests against Ireland in next month.
Cheika could be forgiven for feeling very nervous about the men in green.
In Brief
Guest
Which points to a bigger issue in Australian rugby at all levels - coaching. Cheika was the difference between a successful and unsuccessful Waratahs team. And no, Brendon, cutting the Force didn't help.
Drongo
Guest
Why not coach yourself then, if you know it all?
Drongo
Guest
Is that right Harry. All 23, in every match, capable of passing accurately both ways off the floor from a ruck. Yeah, right.
Drongo
Guest
It’s the same posters who always criticise Isreael, Pocock and Hooper, our best players by a mile. We all know who they support and why they do it. Why would’ve RTT praise Israel, he is clearly one of the best players in the world? Instead many play this silly game of blaming him for everything. Some weak Australian supporters join in.
Drongo
Guest
It’s the same posters who always criticise Isreael, Pocock and Hooper, our best players by a mile. We all know who they support and why they do it. Why would’ve RTT praise Israel, he is clearly one of the best players in the world? Instead many play this silly game of blaming him for everything.
Baz
Guest
Enter Twiggy 'Moses' Forrest. He has the economic clout and business sense to lead Australian Rugby Union out of the wilderness. Between Build Corp and Twiggy I am sure a national comp could be built including the Force, Rebels and the Brumbies, two teams from NSW and two from Queensland. If we must compete in SR, then just enter just one team. It would allow Cheika to get combinations tested and grooved prior to test season. Super Rugby in Australia will not last another 2 years. If the ARU will not change the game from within then the Australian rugby community needs to start working with someone else. I just want to watch local content compete at a professional level. I am guessing many of the bloggers on this site are in the same boat. @David - What do you think?
Malo
Guest
Exactly we need a professional domestic comp, we need to entice billionaires to get involved in the club system. We can’t compete in sr , it is time to leave.
Taylorman
Guest
So your making an argument that 99/100 would be won when the facts say they dont. Very few teams win at 99% and that aint gonna happen against NZs five best rugby sides. Thats ridiculous.
Baz
Guest
So thinking long and hard on OZ involvement in Super Rugby and the question needs to be asked. Has our time in Super Rugby come and gone? Lots of positive and constructive analysis on this blog from lots of people who have a great knowledge of the game from both sides of the ditch. Plenty in the New Zealand press also about New Zealand going it alone. Maybe 20 years ago the value proposition for a combined Super League competition existed. But times change and both sides of the ditch can now argue with equal veracity that the format no longer provides any real benefit to anyone. Possibly both countries are better off without it given the obvious imbalance in competitiveness for many years. Just because it was right 20 years ago does not make it right today. Despite every ones best efforts the gulf has continued to widen at Super Rugby level. This is not necessarily any ones fault but as an Oz I think the opportunities presented have not been embraced by the ARU for a variety of reasons. We all love the game. That is why we argue so passionately the best way forward. I think Australia must focus on its own domestic competition. Stop the exodus of players over seas and ensure we retain as much youth as we can for our own internal competition. Time for a fresh start I say.
Akari
Guest
Why not move on to an allegedly weaker comp as both teams haven't won a super rugby title after 21 years of trying. On a personal level, I'd hate to see both leaving though.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You just happy to be fined 10% of your salary if you don't do your job well one day?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
RA costs about 50% more per year than the NZRU to run. Amazingly Australia's average wage is about the same rate higher. It's as though, they are somehow connected...
Fox
Roar Guru
He is about 107kg Fionn so he isn't small and hell yeah agreed to your last statement!
Fox
Roar Guru
He is about 107kg Fionn so he isn't small and Amen to your last statement!
John R
Roar Guru
That's not true. Raelene would be on that kind of remuneration, based on past disclosures I'd estimate he gets $20-$25k per annum. Please take more care when throwing around figures, it's a very sensitive issue at present, and people will assume what you have reported is correct.
Fionn
Guest
"Running rugby" ≠ expansive, attacking rugby. Running rugby is a silly strategy with an over emphasis on one aspect of the game, while ignoring others. Do I support enterprising, expansive, attacking rugby? Yes. Do I support Australia's 'run at all costs and leave the opponent in no doubt about what we're going to do?' No.
Taylorman
Guest
Yes Mr Essa was the one that pushed the Speight non try as a reason for losing by six tries to one, when sooooo much would have changed had it been given. The eternal optimist. Losses all around him and hes seeing wins?
Old One Eye
Guest
Too true MA. In QLD my experience has been disappointing to say the least regarding junior coaching. The QRU offers courses that all coaches are supposed to do and are really quite excellent but the clubs don’t police this and then there is no further input from the QRU. My boys have had to suffer a series of coaches who believe they know better than everyone, refuse to practice skills like tackling because “you can’t get kids to do drills” and don’t know the rules of the game let alone the age variations. We’re doomed unless the clubs and organising bodies get their acts together and at least put a bit of oversight in place.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Go to wales online and Sharks and Stormers are ready to move next year.
Faith
Guest
http://www.planetrugby.com/news/pro14-to-expand-again/ Are we going to see the death knell of SR and then SH rugby?