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The NSW Waratahs have blown a big chance to claim the Australian conference lead with a costly Super Rugby loss to South Africa’s Sharks.
The NSW Waratahs’ latest stumble has left exasperated coach Daryl Gibson seeing red and his side’s Super Rugby season on life support.
Gibson was unable to hide his frustration after the Waratahs hit the self-destruct button in a demoralising 23-15 loss to the Sharks at Parramatta’s plush new Bankwest Stadium.
Lock Jed Holloway was sent off and flanker Jack Dempsey sin-binned soon after, leaving the Waratahs playing with 13 men against 15 for a crucial five-minute period in the second half.
“That was the critical moment for the game: 45 minutes in, 10-all and fairly even to that point,” Gibson said after the Waratahs lost to the South African side in Sydney for the first time in 19 years.
“It changed the nature of the game.”
Holloway was shown a red card for striking Thomas du Toit in the head when the Sharks prop held him off the ball, while Dempsey was yellow-carded for a tip tackle on winger Sbusiso Nkosi.
“Red card, it’s very clear the law, strike to the head with the forearm or elbow, the sanction is a red card or yellow so no grumbles about that,” Gibson said.
“It is disappointing. Those moments proved costly in the end … getting down to 13 (players) makes winning rugby more difficult.
“Should have had a bonus point, at least, out of that. Yeah, disappointing.”
With the Tahs down on troops, centre Andre Esterhuizen broke the deadlock before Curwin Bosch’s conversion and two penalty goals gave the Sharks a match-winning 23-10 lead.
Bernard Foley missed a sitter of a conversion attempt after crossing after fulltime to deny the Waratahs a precious bonus point.
Victors over the Melbourne Rebels last week, Gibson’s Jekyll and Hyde side had stressed about the importance of stringing back-to-back victories together.
Alas, instead of leapfrogging the Rebels to claim the Australian conference lead, the Waratahs head to South Africa on Sunday needing to beat both the Bulls and Lions on the Highveld to remain in the finals hunt.
“We’re certainly at a critical juncture. The season’s thrown a lot at us and it’s going to require us showing a great deal of resilience,” Gibson said.
“We’ve got a two-week tour now and it’s very clear what we need to get from that tour.”
But compounding the Waratahs’ troubles was a battered dressing room and the prospect of Holloway being suspended and other players being unavailable for the trip.
The biggest concern was back-rower Michael Wells, who was sent for scans for a leg injury.
“We’re fairly banged up out of tonight. It was a physical game,” Gibson said.
“We’ll see how we are afterwards.”
© AAP
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