The Waratahs lost to the Sharks only because of their failure to adapt.
You could argue it wasn’t a failure to adapt, but rather a stubbornness to stick to a plan A. Trouble is, their plan A likely still involves Israel Folau, and he’s not coming back.
A week after the kickathon versus the Rebels, they employed the same kind of tactics but preconceptions about S’busiso Nkosi’s catching under the high ball ensured every time boot met with the ball it went into the dark Parramatta sky.
When quizzed early in the second half in a Fox Sports interview Darryl Gibson stated: “Obviously the high ball, we know their winger’s a little bit suspect there, so we want to keep putting pressure on them and getting those possessions down their end.”
A one-dimensional game plan, and as long as it worked early on, they’d be flogging it for the full 80. But after a couple of nervy ones early for Nkosi, he tidied up his game, meaning that any high bombs were just free ball given away a few metres further downfield.
In a past life, Israel Folau might’ve had a chance at contesting them, but who out of Cameron Clark, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Karmichael Hunt or Curtis Rona is realistically taking those?
It’s one thing to “play down their end” with long (unlikely, I know) touch-finders from Bernard Foley or Kurtley Beale, but it’s another thing to hand over the ball to anyone who can catch it.
Saying that the only play that wasn’t premeditated was Jed Holloway’s moment of madness would be harsh, but possibly fair.
The real reason for this kicking spree was to fill the void left from their lack of gainline success. After that weekend, the Waratahs are equal third in terms of kicks from hand – marginally trailing the Stormers and Sharks, while matching the numbers from the Jaguares, for whom kicking is typically a strength.
NSW’s struggles making ground were mentioned pregame, added to the ultra-physical South African side, and you’ve already got some problems, which makes it inexcusable when some your key forwards in Holloway and Jack Dempsey are getting carded.
All it does is make Michael Hooper’s job even harder, and the scrum becomes a liability. But they know this, they’re professional rugby players.
This Waratahs team has lost three from their last four games, and now take on arguably the hardest stretch of the year: the South African tour.
They play the Bulls at altitude, before the Lions in Johannesburg; neither are unwinnable fixtures, but NSW will need much-improved gainline success and improved discipline.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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