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.”
My2cWorth
Roar Rookie
Mostly @stillmissit players do actually revert to the old karate chop to break a jersey hold, elbow to the face was not the way to do it but probably reflected the Tah's frustration at not being able to gain the upper hand in a home match in front of home crowd, 10-10 at that stage and the Tah's struggling up-front. As far as milking the incident, I saw a milking incident or two during the match, this was definitely not one of them, this guy (Du Toit) weighs 130kg, literally an ox of a man, that hit would probably have taken your and my heads off at the shoulders... (Holloway weighs in @ 118kg), :-((
Gloria
Roar Rookie
‘Waratahs coach leaves Australian rugby supporters exasperated’.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Absobloodylutely FWD. Many here do not understand the basics of the game and lesson one is it's bloody hard to win a game if the forwards are going backwards and not competing at the breakdown.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
True Pete and I am wondering who will stand up for Wallabies? Certainly only a few from my estimation. If Scott Johnson reckons players pick themselves then none of the Tahs want to play in the RWC.
Lano
Roar Guru
Absolutely agree - this gratitutous back-slapping is pathetic. And hold the bad performers accountable. 100% with you.
bigmac
Guest
the tahs backline (beale foley) plays way behind the advantage line so it cannot get go forward momentum. big passes and clever movements look good but its pretty easy to defend against. the foley beale circus act needs an urgent revamp. quade for all his faults shows the way with the rebels.
freddieeffer
Roar Rookie
Don’t be frustrated Daryl Gibson, try wielding the damn axe; get-up these smarmy jokers with their palsy high fives when blunders are made. Instead of tolerating the self-congratulatory back-slapping and instantaneous group love-making, how about dishing out a few left and right hook combinations to these imposters? The Waratahs are just about unwatchable. Oh that’s right, so are the Wallabies. Guess what, that’s what the fans think too, judging by the woeful attendance figures.
TimO
Roar Rookie
Depends on what you mean by turning a franchise around. Cheika is more than capable of providing short-term motivation to a talented team that has lost its focus, but that's only a quick fix that lasts a season or two at best. I'm talking about something more sustainable. Culture and infrastructure. So the Tahs get their young players to reach their potential (micro-skills, game smarts, life smarts etc), so its a given that players will turn up to pre-season fully fit, so a young NSW player would rather be on the pine for the Tahs than starting for the Rebels or Brumbies. So players and coaches want to sign up.
jeznez
Roar Guru
All good mate. Didn’t think you had. Thought it was relevant calling out as towards the end Link had lost Waugh and the dressing room. To be fair until they announced he wouldn’t be renewed he had the side playing a very limited game plan. Only after they said he’d finish at the end of the season did he throw caution to the wind and get the team playing freely. Think it was a big learning experience for McKenzie and Wld reaped the benefit.
PeterK
Roar Guru
yes he wasn't renewed, never meant to imply he was sacked.
jeznez
Roar Guru
McKenzie wasn’t sacked either. He finished his second or third contract with the squad
PeterK
Roar Guru
Cheika wasn't sacked, only under Cheika and McKenzie have the tahs shown grit and hunger.
TimO
Roar Rookie
If they brought in a coach who had what it took to turn the Tahs around, the players would revolt and he's be sacked within a year (less if he was a kiwi).
jeznez
Roar Guru
Poor Daryl is exasperated? How does he think the fans feel? What a load of tripe from the team. Cannot stand the basic structure of attack that sees the ball either kicked away (and gee doesn't Gordon telegraph his box kick) or a few phases going nowhere then a long looping cut out to shift it wide. The final five minutes of the game the guys got desperate and had a crack up the guts and finally the try came - this despite repeated infringements by the Sharks through that period. Why on earth did it take so long to realise that with less men and slower outside backs the Tahs were never going to run around the Sharks? The only way was through the middle to draw the mismatch. Even if Hooper isn't a savvy enough tactician surely the likes of Foley, Hunt, Beale, Ashley-Cooper represents an experienced brains trust that we should expect to adjust tactics? Failing that the water boys are all miked up, surely Gibson sent a message? Why on earth did it take so long to put an alternate attack structure into the game?
ForwardsWinMatches
Guest
Correct, and leaving aside names/personalities, how can you expect a back line to function when the forwards can’t go forward and often go backwards? All the ball is static.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I like the bloke but he has selected and developed that squad, their shortcomings which have been obvious for three seasons now sit with him. Plus he still has a contract for next year! I had hoped that the Roets signing he trumpeted about was a one year filler for Skelton but seemingly not. Skelton has re-signed with Saracens and Roets has been coming off the bench for Manly.
PeterK
Roar Guru
the mobile but weak forward pack of the tahs found out yet again. Mind you their reload times are good, that is what counts as far as Cheika is concerned so expect Hooper and Dempsey to be in the starting xv for the wallabies. Dempsey has played well 1/2 a game at intl level and that is it. He is super rugby standard but thats all, he doesn't even stand out there. Hooper is a very poor captain. He at least sees what is needed i.e use your mobility and play away from the more powerful forwards BUT has no idea of how to do it. He is as bad as anyone he runs right into them and gets held up time and again.
Jacko
Guest
How do you expect the players to learn a karate chop when they cant catch and pass yet. And Foley always seems to miss the simple, yet critical, kicks for goal.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Ben: Disagree a bit with you. Du Toit deserved a yellow and that was the first one I have seen for this blight on the game, I also thought he was bunging it on, hoping to get a red card for Holloway, he was laying on the ground looking like he was going to die then had a good look at the ref and replay and lay his head down - job done. Holloway deserved a red but that jersey holding annoys any forward currently playing or past. I would train for a karate chop to break their bloody wrist that would stop them. Beale is a train going nowhere and Hooper tried but was monstered. I thought that the Sharks played a very solid game with a powerful pack and speed out wide, hardly the smartest game plan but effective. The Crusaders will unpick them but it will be no walk in the park.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
Ok After another pretty typical Tah effort at home they now play Bulls and Lions in SA. Very low chance of winning either game imo. Then they'd come home with 3 losses in a row and no chance of making finals unless Rebels do likewise. Then Tahs play Reds in Brissy. I'd back Reds for that game. That would definitely be season over :)