Last week at Brookvale, a missed last-minute penalty from Bernard Foley cost the Waratahs a win over the Hurricanes. They lost by a point without possession, nor territory.
Yesterday afternoon in Tokyo, the Waratahs enjoyed an abundance of possession and territory, but fell over the line 31-30, winning ugly.
Go figure.
Watching the Waratahs wavers between scintillating rugby and plain bloody stupidity.
It begs the question how can the Waratahs, with so many Wallabies, be so inconsistent throughout the 80 minutes?
Take out Israel Folau, whose two tries yesterday saw the brilliant playmaker become Australia’s highest Super Rugby try-scorer with 58, leaving behind former Brumby-Wallaby winger Joe Roff’s 56, and there wasn’t much to get excited about.
Why Folau isn’t fed more ball more often defies description. He’s a try waiting to happen.
Even though an ugly win sure beats the hell out of losing, Waratah fans expect, in fact demand, more of their side.
Israel Folau tries to beat Irish players with the ball. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)
But for some unfathomable reason, the Waratahs just can’t reach their expected performance bar despite having the talent to do so.
Folau apart, the first-time pairing of Kurtley Beale and Karmichael Hunt in the centres looms as a big positive. I predicted it would be – and I was pilloried for suggesting it. It must be given more time to prosper.
And halfback Jake Gordon is a welcome change from the dithering Nick Phipps, but that’s where the positives abruptly end.
The first half scrums were an embarrassment, losing two tight-heads, but there was a dramatic improvement in the second.
But the 23 missed tackles, and 19 turnovers, always cost the Waratahs a lot of territory, and added pressure.
This was from a side the Waratahs had twice smashed last season to the tune of 50-29, and 77-25, scoring 19 tries to seven.
The reason?
On those two days the Waratahs got the rugby basics right of pass, catch, support, retain possession and tackle.
Yesterday they forgot those basics, which led skipper Michael Hooper to describe his side as playing like the Harlem Globetrotters – and were lucky to get away with it.
Why didn’t Hooper stop them in the first half, let alone let them continue to “globe-trot” throughout the second?
The first six minutes gave Waratahs fans a stark preview of what was in store.
In the first minute Rob Simmons had an intercept gift-wrapped, but his butter fingers knocked on with the try-line just ten metres away – and not a Sunwolf in sight.
In the third, Hunt had a look at a perfect pass from Beale and knocked on to end a very promising move.
In the fifth, hooker Damian Fitzpatrick tried the hero act of a dummy when he had Hunt and Alex Newsome outside him to bomb another try.
And in the sixth, winger Curtis Rona dived for the try-line, but spilled the ball mid-air to deny another try.
In the 13th at 7-7, Hooper knocked back a penalty from right in front to order a scrum, only to suffer the indignity of losing a tighthead.
Rubbish rugby in so many areas.
To give the Sunwolves credit, they kept coming time after time with far more positive rugby than the visitors.
And like last week, when Foley missed a sitter to lose by a point, Sunwolves left-footed flyhalf Hayden Parker, who hadn’t missed a kick all afternoon, bombed a drop goal from right in front on full-time to cost a win.
The Sunwolves were impressive, but to those who question why the Sunwolves are in the Super Rugby tournament, they have a valid point.
In their 52-strong roster there are 36 foreigners – 69 per cent – with 21 Kiwis, six South Africans, four Australians, three Tongans, and one each from Fiji and Georgia.
So what good is that doing for Japanese rugby?
But there was one 80-minute positive at Prince Chichibu Stadium yesterday that holds 21,188 and was comfortably full, and that was South African referee Adriaan Jacobs on debut.
Unlike his compatriots before him like Andre Watson and Jonathan Kaplan who were show-ponies, and in their mind the number one on the paddock, Jacobs was number 31 and did a superb job staying out of the way in general play, and out of the limelight.
Long may that be the case, rugby deserves a genuine referee.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Gloria, your thoughts on what people are saying about Folau is irrelevant.
Gloria
Roar Rookie
Irrelevant.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Yea, I guess so, but unlesss your one of the 3 selectors for the Aussie team, or a selector for the Tahs, I hate to break it to you Drongo, your opinion is pretty irrelevant too. And let’s face it, most of us come on here to talk s..t about rugby because in the real world our opinions on rugby are all irrelevant, with the exception of a handful of people who actually have credentials, a voice people will listen too, and respect in rugby circles. Sadly I think you are 0 for 3 on that criteria. You could also try the old chestnut of ‘this is an Australian site talking about Australian rugby, if your not Australian go to your own countries site’. Don’t forget though, the Tahs are coached by an Ex-Crusader so I do have a small vested interest to see them do well. How about getting your own coaches so I can go back to not particularly caring about the Tahs, or the Reds, again. It must be embarrassing to have only one Aussie coach for your four teams. Is that why your a little bitter?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Ill peer review if you like? Love a good challenge. Geez theres some funny ones around huh? Peer review...
taylorman
Roar Guru
Gloria, youre an australian rugby supporter. Your opinion on rugby is therefore pretty much irrelevant. Easy this…????
Gloria
Roar Rookie
Paulo, you are a Kiwi and Crusader supporter. Your opinion on Folau is therefor pretty much irrelevant.
Cassandra
Roar Rookie
Hi David I didn't think the won ugly, I thought they won undisciplined. Maybe a bit harsh on Rona? The ball appears to be knocked out by the tackler rather than him spilling it.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Tahs were terrible - no question. Too many rubbish performances by players capable of playing much better. This week will be much more indicative of the Tahs season, moving forward. The one bonus is that they should be missing Latu.
Comrade Bear
Roar Rookie
.. And Brumbies 15 Banks is my pick also. I'm hoping more guys play like these 3 and pick themselves rather than roarers resorting to picking out players flaws as to why they should not be picked.
Irish Sam
Roar Rookie
Hi AJ, I was extremely fortunate to meet Wayne several times. I learnt from those earlier meetings he doesn’t like people talking shit. Wayne is more interested in finding out you who you genuinely are. Part of his philosophy is human psychology which is first and foremost understanding and managing his players personalities. Athletic and mental coaching runs parallel from that Wayne’s primary aim is to simply prime his unit to minimise mistakes. One of the most glaring aspects I found with Wayne, he is protective of his past and present players. Admittedly my questions to him were intrusive in terms of gaining player insights. I then knew my place. What I did learn is Wayne is a student of life and continues to be to which the mainstream narrative always gets wrong.
Irish Sam
Roar Rookie
Nope, your way off. Unfortunately your qualifications count for nothing unless you can provide substantial evidence subject to peer review otherwise you’re a hack like the rest of us. Your claims are completely bias and it falls in line with my comment regarding ‘Rugby traditionalists’ here’s why. Hunt smashes your claim regarding on field instincts are subjective to experience. He played 13 and 12 for Biarritz after leaving NRL it got him to a final. By your logic he should have failed. He should be failing when he plays NRC let alone club to which again, by your logic, surrounded by players who grew up playing the game have superior instincts. Please. Enough. Actually Riddle me this - where was the on field instincts and energy from your so call logic that needed experience players to pressure the kicker it the final minutes of yesterday game? I have my doubts you ever play league again the onus would be on you to prove it.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
It Hooper kept out of the way Folau would get more ball.
CJ
Guest
I wonder, with a professional athlete, if this technical deficiency couldn't be improved with better mentoring?
Dave from Mt Druitt
Guest
Got to agree with you. Tend to feel while Folau does some good things on the field they over shadow his deficiencies especially his poor defence and lack of pace which allowed two try’s by the Sunwolves.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Good league instincts perhaps and that’s probably why his rugby ones arent as good. I played rugby from 6 to about 42 before taking up refereeing but I did play league for 3 years at about 32 and the games are very different. I see him having to think about where to be at times and that slows things down. Don’t get me wrong I think he’s good and he has a lot of potential but I just think Kerevi is better and I think Meakes could also be better as they have more rugby experience and so better instincts
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I'm all for BPA starting. I wouldn't be against Tatafu on the bench either, for the experience. As for the third hooker, if Uelese has an excellent season then maybe it will be him. At this stage though, FF has to be the man. His last test was awesome too. Then he was inextricably dropped. Baffling.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Yeah, we just have to go slowly with him. He was injured all last season and now injured for the start of this one. BPA first choice for me, probably FF the benchie for now and we can see if Uelese can get himself fit and firing - would be a weapon coming off the bench if he gets up to form.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Also, he is a very good scrummager. If Uelese can have a season without injury then who knows with him too. He was a beast when he came on for the Wallabies a few years ago.
The Crow Flies Backwards
Roar Rookie
Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems the Tahs have switched off after Coach Gibson signed a contract extension. AAC back on board. A bit of player power muscle flexing again?
AJ
Guest
Very interesting comment Sam, would love to hear more. A friend of mine was playing rugby league in Toowoomba during the late 80s when Bennett came back from the Raiders. He said the whole coaching philosophy and manual was completely turned on it’s head by Bennett and it went right through every single rugby league team in Qld.