A season of frustration is slowly getting going. But the Waratahs still have a long, long way to go before they can consider themselves Super Rugby contenders despite getting one over their traditional rivals the Queensland Reds.
After going into the sheds level at 17-17 in Townsville, it was the Waratahs that ran out of the blocks in the second half by scoring 18 points in as many minutes to set up their 32-24 victory.
The visitors had the chance to work for a three-try bonus point but opted for a penalty goal in the 76th minute. In the end, the Reds scored a late try themselves but it said plenty of the mentality of the Waratahs, who have struggled to make the leap from second to fourth gear all year.
Nonetheless, the Waratahs will leave feeling very good about themselves after breaking a four match losing streak to win back the Bob Templeton Cup.
Lalakai Foketi scored early in the second half against the Reds Queensland Country Bank Stadium, on May 06, 2023, in Townsville. Photo: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images
Up against three of the bottom five sides on their four-match run home, the victory saw them leapfrog the Reds into sixth spot and the next month will be about building momentum – and keeping their tight five fit – leading into the finals.
“It’s huge for us,” Waratahs captain Jake Gordon said.
“We spoke about that coming into this game, we’re competing with guys around the same mark as us, I think the Reds were one ahead of us so they’re almost double points, and they’re big games and I think we’ve got four to come.
“It’s an exciting time for us. We’ve just got to be more consistent, still not there, but trending in the right way.”
Reds co-captain Tate McDermott lamented the side’s slow start to the second half and their struggles at the set-piece, where they were well-beaten at the scrum particularly.
“They dominated us up front and we weren’t good enough,” he said.
“Just same themes, discipline. That try straight off a linebreak just off the first kick-off. That’s not good enough. We talk about coming out and putting on a good show. I just feel bad for the Townsville folk, we’ve come up here twice and let them down twice.”
McDermott was one of the Reds’ best, with the nippy halfback causing troubles for the Waratahs in the first half.
But the halfback didn’t have enough support and power in the midfield and in the tight-five, with the Reds’ attacking raids not bearing enough fruit as they would have hoped in the first half.
One player that did support him was Fraser McReight. The openside flanker, whose match-up with Michael Hooper was one of a number of intriguing battles, was the best player on the field.
McReight’s link play was as usual excellent, but his ability to get on the ball was again a feature of his match.
It’s his most improved area, with the hard on-baller’s timing paying off.
But unfortunately for the Reds they could do little with it as the Waratahs’ scramble defence holding up well, while their faltering scrum often allowing the visitors to clear their own line.
The Reds look dejected at full time after losing to NSW at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, on May 06, 2023, in Townsville. Photo: Kelly Defina/Getty Images
The visitors crossed after just six minutes when Dave Porecki scored from a clinical rolling maul.
His opposite number Matt Faessler ensured the Reds levelled the score when he scored after 12 minutes.
But the Reds shot themselves in the foot as Taleni Seu scored a simple try by spinning out of Taj Annan’s attempted tackle, with the outside centre a late call-up following Josh Flook’s tight quad.
The Reds started to work their way back into the match during the middle stages of the first half as McDermott and McReight got their hands on the ball while Suliasi Vunivalu refreshingly looked hungry for work and lively.
Indeed, the winger made his way centre field and scored a pick and drive try in the 33rd minute to help the Reds to a narrow lead.
But three points from Ben Donaldson’s boot on the stroke of half time from a scrum penalty levelled the scores at half time.
A brilliant bit of play down the short side after Max Jorgensen decided to run the ball back into the defence rather than kick was rewarded shortly after half time as Lalakai Foketi scored.
Harry Johnson-Holmes’ try after 58 minutes had the Waratahs in cruise control before Donaldson’s penalty extended the margin beyond two converted tries, before Peni Ravai got one back for the Reds.
“The first half was probably a little bit disappointing but the way we controlled the second half was really impressive,” Gordon said.
“I thought ‘Donno’ [Donaldson] controlled [the game] really well, got some our big forwards playing on the front-foot playing at the right ends of the field, and I thought our ‘A’ zone execution, which has been a work-on for us, tonight was pretty clinical.”
Guess
Roar Rookie
Nah I'm serious. It looked like he was meh. But it's more about tahs defence being good. Just glad they could shut him down. Otherwise it's like saying Smith is meh when he's playing against crusaders d :laughing:
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
Tate would’ve been quite dangerous if tahs defence hadn’t been so good. :laughing:
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Yes Dave, definitely worth a closer look at a different angle etc. I don't think anything was wrong with Fraser's leg, he was just giving time for the TMO to hopefully check on it but got no joy. He obviously thought it was worth checking.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Tate would’ve been quite dangerous if tahs defence hadn’t been so good. Pietsch almost cost them the game. Not forgetting it
savant
Roar Rookie
Offered up for discussion PK. Ive an open mind.
Jed
Roar Rookie
And Lukhan.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
If the maul is moving sideways on a slightly forward trajectory or if it doesn’t move towards the goal line for more than 5 seconds… count it 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006.. if it is moving the ref typically allows it to run a bit longer, its not about 3-4 metres, its time. I think this was moving forwards and any time going sideways was pretty short.. so I doubt any fair minded person would challenge it. I know it doesn’t feel great when your side can’t repel a maul, but unfortunately it doesn’t make it illegal.. (I wish as the ABs have not had the edge in this department for a while). Players must not intentionally collapse a maul or jump on top of it.. Sanction Penalty. That’s a no-brainer. Irrelevant if anybody gets hurt.. its a hard and fast rule which is directly spoken to in the rules. He can’t say oh one of the reds players got concussed in an accident earlier in the game, I’ll let qld off a blatant breach of the rules because of something that occured and was ruled on. That doesn’t make any sense. If I were to look at those issues, anyone would say he got it exactly right… so it boils down to Angus had a poor game because he missed a tackle of Hooper (typically one of the cleanest players on the field) on McReight. Even if Hooper did manage to get a shot on McReight how you can then say that means he had a poor game is not right. The game wasn’t decided by this or impacted in any way. McReight didnt seem affected by it at all. I certainly don’t take Savants spin on the event is not correct… he leapt into it and led with his shoulder to the neck and head.. makes it seem like an exciting moment but it wasn’t as exciting as that or McReight would have been down and gone for an HIA. Hooper isn’t that much of a light weight that if he threw his body into something like that McReight wouldn’t have been genuinely hurt.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Have just watched the replay. From what they showed it's hard to see what contact there was to the head or neck, Hooper's left arm was halfway down Fraser's back and his head was behind Fraser on contact. His right arm or shoulder may have made contact with the neck but you can't see because of the angle. Fraser's injury from that contact was to his left ankle or calf, you can see him getting treatment for that at 27:20.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
He was in Townsville, on the bench but not dressed, presumably taken up there 'just in case'. Might have been better at home playing for the Two Blues.
Wrecked 'em
Roar Rookie
Know him well, do you ?
Big A
Roar Rookie
thanks for interacting Simon_Sez – Enjoy your Monday – the sun is shining and we have a new King – what more could we possibly want !!! Getting back to the point – i get what you’re saying that the game needs a bit of a revolution akin to BBL cricket a few years ago where we throw everything out and start new with blue team vs green team and yellow team vs orange and light blue vs pink. I’m a hard core traditionalist with everything and the older something gets the more i like it – but understand that times are changing and what we currently have ain’t working ……………………….. my only question to you is if we jazz the game up so much to make it unrecognizable, almost a new sport, then won’t that effectively unplug us from the rest of the world, i mean the only reason i’ve ever followed rugby is because of its global appeal vs NRL and AFL which hardly anyone else plays. You might be onto something though, the last few years ive been watching the 7’s guys when come into the 15 a side game – just about all of them exhibit superior fitness and basic skills and enthusiasm for the game – i’ve been thinking it’s because to succeed in the sevens you need to supremely fit. So maybe with your theory we compress the SRP season abit and the club season and create a 6-8 week window to play a BBL type rugby tournament of this 60 minute stuff that might strike a chord with the younger generation and draw new people to the game. I guess you only have to look at cricket – one could argue that the BBL is now bigger than test cricket and the Sheffield Shield is almost irrelevant – who’d have thought.
cinque
Roar Rookie
Thanks for that info. I only saw the highlights.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Neither, just a nickname for the guy. He's a bit of an old woman.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Thanks Savant I’ll go back and look althoughto be honest I would be surprisedit is as ypu say, just because Hooper is one of the cleaner players I have seen in the forwards.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
See Savant's comments above, 26 minutes in first half.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
I fully understand when a maul is formed. What I was saying is that Gardner wasn't consistent with his calling of it, often when the game was still in the balance the Reds often had the Tahs ball player held up in a maul situation but Gardner didn't call it. It was only at the end when the game was already decided he gave the Reds one. I don't believe Leckie brought Hooper's high tackle to Agnes' attention. As one, Gardner never misses a chance to be on the big screen and two, even with my poor video replay, I can see some shoulder to head contact.
PeterK
Roar Guru
I do not remember any head high from hooper, it certainly was not highlighted in any replays, since I don’t remember seeing it, just like others haven’t seen it, that is why I didn’t comment on it. What time in the game, is it on any highlights? What remains is the only areas you are critical is where it went against the reds (in your opinion) and not one area where it favoured the reds did the officals get it wrong. Just like erasmus.
PeterK
Roar Guru
did i say you said it? Of course by repeating the stan team you imply you believe it or at least offer it up as some sort of evidence.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Maybe I'm a bit more critical as the Reds lost, but Gardner & his TMO definitely had their issues. No comment Pete on Hooper's tackle, which was my main criticism before you asked for more? This year, yellow cards have a significant impact on the game. This could have easily gone to red as Hooper had no mitigating circumstances. At least I have one eye open, not like some officials that had none.
savant
Roar Rookie
I’m often wrong PK. Just ask my wife. However in this case I was merely reporting what the Stan team said.