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There's a lot to like about the Waratahs, but the bad elements are still bad

17th February, 2019
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17th February, 2019
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There was no justice in Bernard Foley missing a regulation penalty 30 metres out that would have won the Super Rugby opening round against the Hurricanes at Brookvale on Saturday night.

The house full sign was up with 17,111 right behind the men in blue, and that penalty would have been a deserved reward with a 22-20 scoreline.

But the record book will show 20-19 to the visitors, and Foley’s kicking stat of five from six, missing the easiest one.

Bernard Foley

Bernard Foley of the Waratahs misses a conversion attempt during the round one Super Rugby match between the Waratahs and the Hurricanes at Brookvale Oval on February 16, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

The positives?

The Waratah scrum held up for most of the game, even when two rookie props in 24-year-old Chris Talakai at 180 cms and 118 kgs, debuted with another 24-year-old in Rory O’Connor at 183 cms, and 115 kgs.

Talakai was penalised in his first two scrums for hitting early, but with O’Connor was responsible for the scrum penalty Foley missed.

So the two rookies more than survived their rugged baptism.

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The defence was a vast improvement on the last couple of seasons, especially in the last quarter when the Hurricanes owned the ball – the Waratahs tackled their hearts out.

One of the biggest positives was halfback Jake Gordon.

He was a huge improvement on Nick Phipps with Gordon very swift and accurate in getting the ball away from set and broken play.

That the Waratahs only scored one try just after halftime certainly wasn’t Gordon’s fault.

That try was thanks to Israel Folau’s superb pick-up on his ankles, and the perfect pass to winger Curtis Rona to score in the left-hand corner.

On the debit side there were two other Folau passes that went begging with the Waratahs on attack, but his very presence over the next four years will be a huge bonus once Kurtley Beale returns.

Karmichael Hunt was another positive.

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There’s no x-factor about him, just sheer brute strength in both attack and defence – he is a runaway bullock.

Once Beale is back with his x-factor, and Hunt is outside him with Folau hovering, the Waratahs wingers will have a picnic.

Kurtley Beale

Kurtley Beale of the Waratahs. (AAP Image/Jeremy Ng)

That means outside-centre Adam Ashley-Cooper – who will be 35 next month and is playing like it – will be bench bound.

The other negative is reserve hooker Tolu Latu, who has become a waste of space.

One of these days he’ll react with thought, instead of simply being a loose cannon.

The number of times he’s penalised for not releasing, or lying all over the ball, must be matched with his lineout feeding that cost the Waratahs dearly last night.

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With the Waratahs on attack, and desperately needing to win their own feed, Latu gift-wrapped the last three lineouts of the game to the Hurricanes to relieve their pressure.

Inexcusable – and a sackable offence.

But from head-coach Daryl Gibson’s point of view, improve the negatives, but feed off the positives.

Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson.

Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson. (AAP Image/ David Rowland)

Leading 12-10 at the break despite a paltry 38 per cent possession, and an even worse 36 per cent territory, were major positives.

Sure all the points came from Foley’s boot, but the Waratahs had to get within range with no ball, nor territory, for Foley to strut his stuff.

It’s just a damn shame he didn’t strut at the death.

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