The Queensland Reds beat the NSW Waratahs for the first time in 11 matches on Friday night, winning 32-26.
As a Waratahs fan, I’m surprisingly upbeat.
Considering how things stood at the 30th minute with the scores at 19-10, it could have been worse. Moments earlier, Angus Bell was shown the cheese, being harshly singled out for the failures of the Waratahs’ front row. The Reds then took the penalty rather than hammer home their forward dominance.
From here, the Tahs held on until the break and then had an impressive resurgence in the second half, with greater defensive line speed disrupting the fluidity of the Reds’ attacking game. Despite some late moments of ill discipline giving away simple penalties that lost the game, the young Waratahs were valiant in defeat.
And if we’re being realistic, can we ask much more than that?
In retrospect, 2020 was not the greatest of years to purchase my first ever NSW Waratahs membership. With Allianz Stadium being renovated, the Waratahs took two of their three home games out of Sydney. And then COVID-19 hit.
The Waratahs started the season with little positives. A heavy loss away to the Crusaders was followed by an insipid defeat to the Blues, whose success in Super Rugby Aotearoa perhaps casts that game in a different light. A sole victory against a poor Lions outfit at home was followed by back-to-back thrashings at the hands of the Chiefs and Brumbies.
For those last two games, I felt like I was watching players who were giving up. They knew they were poor and didn’t seem to have the collective will power to address the inherent flaws present in their team.
The forward pack was lacking in ball-carriers. Jack Dempsey was seriously out of form and while both Rob Simmons and Tom Staniforth are workhorses, they are not players who will reliably crash over the gain line.
Lachie Swinton had an abrasiveness about his play that often gave way to ill discipline, while Michael Hooper did what Michael Hooper does, working tirelessly for a cause that was ultimately futile. One man can’t do it all.
In the backs, things weren’t much better. Will Harrison showed moments of excellence interspersed with poor decision making. Kurtley Beale was horribly out of form, while Jake Gordon and Karmichael Hunt were ineffective at providing Harrison with support and direction. And please, don’t get me started on the lack of a quality outside centre.
However, despite these much publicised weaknesses across almost the entire team, I had and still have hope.
Why, you ask?
Partly, because the Waratahs can’t get much worse.
Partly, because the Super Rugby AU competition is essentially meaningless.
Mostly, because there is a changing of the guard happening at the Waratahs.
Gone is Kurtley Beale into a well earned pay day in France. In his place is Jack Maddocks, rightfully taking the 15 jersey that he is most suited to play. He showed on Friday what he can bring to this role.
Angus Bell has had a breakout season and deserves his starting jersey, despite struggling against one of the most powerful scrummagers in Super Rugby in the form of Taniela Tupou.
Mack Mason has been deemed surplus to requirements, meaning that Will Harrison has the full backing of the coaching unit to learn and mature in his role, despite the inevitable mistakes he’ll make.
The same backing has obviously been given to Mark Nawaqanitawase and James Ramm. While Nawaqanitawase wavers between highlight-reel finishes and defensive head-scratchers, Ramm has shown a strong all-round game so far in his limited appearances and has genuine speed.
Throw in players such as Will Harris and Carlo Tizzano, and you are starting to see a promising squad developing.
What then should we expect from the Waratahs?
Firstly, they have to beat the Western Force in both games. Even better would be to pull off one or two wins against the other Aussie Super Rugby teams.
Finally, they have to restore some pride to the jersey. They must obviously and overtly improve in their commitment and ability to perform to a game plan, working hard to cover for inevitable mistakes that will come. On Friday we saw perfect examples in the form of Swinton’s defensive effort and mongrel, as well as Harrison and Maddocks’ efforts in chasing down Tate McDermott’s break.
Show us long-suffering fans that you care, and we’ll keep the faith.
For there is nothing more tantalising than hope.
Roger Bayliss
Guest
I too am a long suffering Tahs fan. I was heartened by the game, but why do the Tahs continue to kick away possession needlessly, especially in the last 10-15 minutes of the game?
Big Dog
Guest
I think Staniforth is a more effective ball runner and scrummager than Holloway, otherwise I agree with your comments.
Pegasus64
Roar Rookie
Hi “dad” is one of the best scrum coaches in the country! The fact he was up against one of AUS best tight heads with power to burn may have played against his young frame – remember he is just 20!
Pegasus64
Roar Rookie
MikeJ - I know the Law variations model league but they have different reasoning behind them; If you have the 22m-50m and 50m-22m then it forces the back three to cover territory and, hopefully, opens up attacking space. Unfortunately, the players and coaches haven't yet figured out how to find this space yet with ball-in-hand - too many times it reverted to a pod of 3 hitting it straight up and allowing the defensive line to easily realign. I am hopeful that in time they'll make better use of the variations and find some attacking ball-in-hand mojo!
Double Agent
Guest
I'm so old I can remember being flummoxed (that was a word back in the day) by the delightful and exotic and almost un-pronouncable name of Zinzan Brooke.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
On a couple of occasions, I thought Maddox acted like a jerk; pretending to be injured and getting resentful when Tupou helped him up after a charge down attempt.
pm
Roar Rookie
Yeah, he can be as dominant as anyone as a ball runner, scrummager and (cleanly) clearing bodies at the breakdown. Needs to stick to putting all his energy into that and upping his tackle count. He'll be as good as any frontrower in the world if he does
jeznez
Roar Guru
Just my wish, certainly nothing I've heard any reporting on.
Double Agent
Guest
Did I read on here somewhere that Robertson was switching to 2?
Jacko
Guest
james its a stop gap comp...how do you think a larger comp could have been arranged so quickly when players are all contracted? The shifting to a 6 or 8 team comp would have meant major contract negotiations with all Aus Sr contracted players so not doable in the timeframe and in the current financial situation
Ex force fan
Guest
The Tahs will certainly be favourites against a Force Team next eeek with not even a single For e player realistically being considered for Wallaby selection... although the Force has nothing to loose in what I agree is a meaningless competition.
Ex force fan
Guest
There is too many Force player in that team.
Double Agent
Guest
Makes you wonder what Penney was thinking re Beale.
Double Agent
Guest
Driving rain? Wasn't it played at Forsyth Barr?
soapit
Roar Guru
No idea. You'd have to ask the players
Double Agent
Guest
So how come the Rugby guys call their Papalii "Papa Lee Eee" and the NRL guys call their Papalii "P'Parley" ? Which one is correct?
JAMES G HASLAM
Guest
Ando hit the nail on the head with "the Super Rugby AU competition is essentially meaningless". A five team comp will not catch on......ever. Surely Union in Oz can do better.
Val Saunders
Guest
Why do we always look at the negatives? Sure Tupou did some silly things (and Thorn was off the mark with his comments) as he deserved 10 mins in the bin for the same offence that he'd been penalised for earlier in the game but his scrummaging was great. Why do we not acknowledge that Bell was simply out scrummed by a better prop! Its certainly happened before in Australian rugby. Give Tupou praise, tell Bell to practice harder and provide him with good coaching and watch him improve (hopefully) as the season progresses. Lets stop making excuses!!
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Great effort for a first up article Ando. Time will tell...
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Probably taken...so Cyclops the Second?