Could the Waratahs deliver the upset of the season?

The team sheet announced by the Reds suggests they are treating this weekend’s match against the Waratahs as anything but a bankable win.

While many would see an easy justification to rest some of the roster’s big names, such as Taniela Tupou, Hunter Paisami, James O’Connor and Liam McReight, ahead of two more evenly matched games – against the Rebels in Melbourne and the Brumbies at home – the Reds have shown their oldest rival respect by naming a strong 15 and choosing to rest only a couple of first-choice forwards in Harry Wilson and Angus Blythe.

It must be said that the workload these two players have had during the first round robin has been sizeable, and the Saturday night off is well earnt. However, their teammates will be expected to earn their pay.

Alex Newsome. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

We need only cast our memory back to last August when a very similar Reds outfit suffered a heavy 45-12 loss at the SCG. The Reds were considered clear favourites for the match, but from the first whistle it was clear they had not turned up to compete. As the Waratahs broke away on the scoreboard the Reds were too slow to react, with inclement weather arriving and shutting the lid on any hopes of a fightback.

While the argument can be made that the quality of the 2020 Waratahs side was greater than the 2021 roster, it is clear from the replays that the Waratahs developed a strategy to dismantle and exploit the Reds game. This was not something the Reds anticipated, and they will be cautious of falling victim to it again.

Rob Penney has the intellect and patience to devise a strategy that can once again unravel the Reds at their best. His team is admittedly much weaker in 2021. We are reminded each weekend of the consequence of losing senior players such as Michael Hooper and Rob Simmons. The Waratahs will also go into Saturday’s match without the likes of Jack Dempsey and Lachlan Swinton, while captain Jake Gordon continues to nurse an injury on the sidelines.

However, players such as Carlo Tizzano and fill-in captain Alex Newsome have proven they have both the grit and the determination to keep their team in the game. They now need to stand as leaders and execute their coach’s strategy. There is enough flair on the park to suggest that if the Wrratahs forwards can ensure the fundamentals are achieved, the likes of Will Harrison, Jack Maddocks and Izaia Perese will put the team in a commanding position.

The Reds must expect this. Their forward pack is unlikely to be challenged for outright dominance, and they should deploy a ‘blade to the throat’ relentless attacking game.

The Wrratahs should look to gain parity in the forwards battle but only in key areas prior to unleashing their backline and testing the Reds defensive structures. The Reds backline is prone to loose decision-making in defence. Although Paisami, Petaia and Dungaunu are capable of making game-stopping hits on opposition plays, they create space to exploit. This is where Harrison, Maddocks, Perese and Ramm must be clinical in delivery and timing.

In the forwards Tizzano, Holmes and Harris must disrupt the Reds ruck and clearance to reduce the Reds natural uptempo game. If Tate McDermott can be put under pressure around the ruck, clean delivery to James O’Connor will be disrupted, minimising the attacking risk posed by Reds loose forwards and centres.

The Waratahs are on the ropes but not the canvas. How they get up is entirely up to them. The heavy defeats they have suffered this season and the compounded injuries do sting. However, they still have the opportunity to play smart football and put more fancied opponents under uncomfortable pressure.

This Saturday it is clear they are not facing the Reds reserve-grade side, and the Red’s will look to make amends for last August and collect the bonus points. The Waratahs scrum will go backwards, their backline will suffer crowd-grimacing hits, but the team must stick to their coach’s strategy and execute.

While the wooden spoon is inevitable and a win over the Reds seemingly insurmountable, a smart game plan tailored to their opponents’ weaknesses and the Waratahs’ few strengths may see them just pull off the greatest upset of the season.