Two days ago veteran flyhalf Bernard Foley said that without Israel Folau the Waratahs had to nail the detail and the execution every time they get the opportunity.
The quote was spot on, but yet again the application fell way short.
It was like watching a car smash – you could see it about to happen, but couldn’t do a damn thing to stop it.
Last night at Loftus Versfeld, the Waratahs had the chance to join the Rebels and Brumbies at the top of the Australian Conference – and blew it.
The Bulls won 28-21, but that included a perfect intercept pass from Nick Phipps to gift-wrap a try, Curtis Rona dropping the ball over the line midway through the second half and near full-time throwing a forward pass with a try on.
In between, Rona scored a try and with Foley’s touchline conversion, it was 21-all with ten minutes left on the clock.
Get the frustration picture?
But it gets worse.
In the first half not once, twice, or three times, but six times the Waratahs were full-on in attack on or inside the Bulls’ quarter-final but either lost possession or gave away dumb penalties to let the Bulls off the hook.
Yet the side can produce a dazzling first half backline try through seven sets of hands and finished off by Phipps, and a brilliant individual Kurtley Beale five-pointer in the second half leaving three Bulls defenders grasping at rarified air.
Which begs the question of how can the Waratahs be so switched on and so switched off within minutes of each?
Little wonder coach Daryl Gibson is sporting more grey hairs every week.
The debits were long, headed by the two penalties and a conversion Bulls captain and goal-kicker Handre Pollard missed but normally would have landed.
Those eight points would have made it 36-21 – a more realistic scoreline.
The 11 penalties the Waratahs gave away were costly, and so too were the 22 missed tackles and 13 turnovers.
And the Waratah scrum was monstered throughout the 80 minutes.
It’s also time to recognise Jake Gordon is the more consistent halfback, so send Phipps out to pasture and blindside flanker Lachlan Swinton is a hot-head who needs to cool down.
On the credit side, Michael Hooper became the most capped Waratah captain with 57, but his leadership needs more inspiration when his troops are bombing out with elementary mistakes.
(Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Tom Staniforth deserved his start as Rob Simmons’ lock partner with a strong performance, and it was encouraging to see prop Tom Robertson back in business after a lengthy injury break.
And while Karmichael Hunt and Adam Ashley-Cooper aren’t the fastest centre combination in the tournament, they are rock solid in defence, while Beale must inject himself into the backline more often.
All those negatives can easily be turned into positives as the Lions can see next week at Ellis Park.
It’s time for the frustration to end, and the Waratahs to turn in a performance befitting the big bucks they pocket each week.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
James A long time ago, in a far off galaxy, before the Chiefs came to be, I can still remember Going to Tahs' games for 1 reason - to see Auckland's Va'aiga Tuigamala storm the sidelines. The other thrill was to see Natal's skintillating backlines. Both a long time ago! Cheers KP
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Fionn If RA did not prod them, then Tander's 'thrust' takes on more significance, not less? Cheers KP
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Ironically, for reason you give, justification for relieving Michael H from captain duties. Pocock's failure to comment, is not inconsistent with DP, being a true man of inclusion.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
pub watch !
jeznez
Roar Guru
Nah. They’ll never stop. Even in that group Latu, Robertson, Hanigan, Dempsey, Hooper, Gordon are all capped and you can be sure a few others will join them in time.
riddler
Roar Rookie
Not at all. Always want to win. Context though is that the forwards are not flash. Missing folau. Playing in saffa land at altitude. The tahs have lost without those 3 conditions many a time. So to repeat, credit for being in it.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
At least that team will stop people referring to the waratahs as chock full of wallabies...
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
So Riddler ...... you're content with losing are you? That's exactly the attitude of the Tahs, and so often the Wallabies, that makes Aust Rugby so mediocre in 2019.
dazell
Roar Rookie
Handle the oversized pack???
jeznez
Roar Guru
Thought Foketi looked good when he came on - I'd be swapping him and Ashley-Cooper around quick smart. The biggest issue for me remains lock - now that they missed out on Frost and Skelton - I wonder if the Salakaia-Loto rumours have anything to them, if they do and if Tom Robertson switches back to TH then the side could look something like below as the senior guys move out and younger blokes come in: 1. Johnson-Holmes / O'Connor 2. Tuala / Latu 3. Robertson / Talakai / Vui 4. Hanigan / Holloway 5. Salakaia-Loto 6. Dempsey / Swinton 7. Hooper 8. Harris / Tafa 9. Gordon / Short 10. Harrison / Mason 11. J. Folau 12. Foketi 13. Newsome 14. Clark 15. ??? Izzy was obviously contracted for the back but we'll have to see the outcome of the hearing.
numpty
Roar Rookie
Bit harsh on DHP, his first outing was far from flawed. Sure, not exactly electric but that is what he provides, reliability and the fundamentals done well, like a family sedan. In saying that, I do think Hodge provides all the benefits of DHP plus a bit more. He is that bit quicker, bit bigger boot, hits a bit harder in D, and inserts himself into the line better. Banks on one wing, Speight on the other and DHP/beale off the bench depending on gameplan.
Stu B.
Guest
And this from a potential population of 7 mil, as Kearns has been heard to comment "get rid of it" then maybe Australia could get on with playing and expanding a national game.
Fionn
Guest
It’s a nice thesis, but you don’t whether it’s true. It’s all supposition. You could be correct that RA prodded them to come out in public and say it, but there is no evidence of this.
Harry Jones
Expert
Cheers, David. My Stormers have exactly the opposite problems from your Waratahs. Let’s merge.
David Lord
Expert
dazell, what about - handle the oversize to pack?
Muglair
Roar Rookie
So ordinary week in and week out but 6 losses at a total margin of 27 points. Admittedly we might be dragging the opposition down to our standard and then beating them with experience. Not so sure that filling the roster with wallaby backs to cover back-line depth was a better idea than getting a few big tough line busting forwards that get over the gain line. Still the coach will probably be given quite a few more seasons to see if he can fix the problem.
James
Guest
Auckland Blues have won 3 titles. More than the reds and Waratahs. Yet we mock them?
ScrumJunkie
Guest
They showed why they're the bottom team by the forwards. It looked like men vs boys. That was disgraceful. Gibson has made some awful recruitment decisions, they are just too small and too soft. I feel sorry for Kepu and Hooper.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
It's just going to get worse for the tahs cause they're a team of old fogies who will mostly be gone after the world cup.
James
Guest
Israel Folau was not the reason the Tahs lost. If that was the case why do tHe Tahs and Wallabies lost when he was playing. Beside he lets in points in a game than he scores.