If the Waratahs were to stand a chance of snapping their hoodoo at Eden Park they had to be absolutely clinical and take their chances.
They didn’t, and they paid the ultimate price as Leon MacDonald’s Blues dumped out Darren Coleman’s side 41-12 in Auckland to progress through to the semi-finals.
Case in point came in the 22nd minute, as winger Dylan Pietsch – one of the Waratahs’ most consistent players – lost the ball in contact as he attempted to put the ball down out wide.
At the time, the Waratahs trailed 7-10 after scoring early first Ned Hanigan. What occurred next was an all too familiar slow-motion car crash at Eden Park as the Australian side went into the sheds trailing 17-7 before conceding another 21 straight points to start the second half as the wheels fell off.
The loss summed up the Waratahs’ frustrating year, which barely got going.
Indeed, glimpses of fight throughout matches were coupled with poor execution of core skills.
Two stolen lineout inside the opening 20 minutes were compounded by another two stolen throws in the 56th and 57th minutes from Tolu Latu, while the Waratahs’ scrum struggled with Nephi Leatigaga shifted to tight-head prop after Harry Johnson-Holmes’ syndesmosis injury a week earlier.
Jed Holloway’s fumble in the 66th minute that was picked up by tryscoring machine Mark Telea summed up the Waratahs’ sorry night.
Holloway didn’t sugar coat the Waratahs’ season, which ended at the same point as last year but felt heavier after Coleman’s “top four” ambitions were stated bullishly before the season.
“To be honest, inconsistent,” he said.
“We started really slow, clawed our way back but tapered off towards the end. It’s disappointing. A couple of great men – Hoops [Michael Hooper], Te Tera Faulkner and Tolu Latu – finished their careers at the club and it’s disappointing we sent them out like that.”
Asked what let them down, Holloway hit the nail on the head as the Waratahs’ 12-5 penalty count came back to haunt them.
“Discipline and breakdown,” the Test forward said. “They made a mess of our breakdown and we paid for it and gave them a couple of easy exits through discipline. You can’t do that against a team of the quality that the Blues have.”
Blues skipper Dalton Papalii tipped his hat at the Waratahs by saying they had prepared like their season was on the line.
“They’re a good team,” he said. “It’s such a hard competition and making the quarters is something to be proud of.
“We knew it was going to be a grudge match and for us all week we didn’t want to leave a stone unturned, so the boys prepped well and we knew we were coming up against a good side and had to bring it.”
They might have started shakily, but Papalii’s side showed their ability to punish oppositions by continually breaking the Waratahs’ defence open.
They will almost certainly play the Crusaders in Christchurch in next week’s semi-final, with Scott Robertson’s side to host the Drua on Saturday.
“They’re pretty high,” said Papalii, having been asked how high his emotions were.
“We came in here wanting to get the ‘W’ and go onto next week, so I’m just proud of the boys’ efforts. There’s still work to be done, but I’m pretty happy with that performance.”
The loss came as no surprise. The Waratahs were up against history and a mounting injury toll before heading across the ditch.
Indeed, only once in Super Rugby history had the Waratahs beaten the Blues at Eden Park. Those scars will continue for another year.
After Coleman made some “sneaky” late changes to his side by promoting Tane Edmed at fly-half, shifting Ben Donaldson to fullback and Izaia Perese to outside centre and moving Joey Walton one position closer to the action, the Waratahs got off to a flying start.
Perese pounced on a loose ball from a clearing kick and broke away before finding Ned Hanigan who did superbly to reel in the high pass and score. Edmed converted and the Waratahs led 7-0 after five minutes.
The Blues got on the scoreboard when Beauden Barrett landed a simple conversion before Finlay Christie finished off a superb try as the home side went coast to coast by shrugging away some poor defence.
Pietsch had a golden chance to hit back for the Waratahs after a lovely cut out pass from Hanigan, but Barrett and Christie combined to dislodge the ball as the winger was made to pay for not diving early.
The missed chance was a momentum swinger, as the Blues continued to make inroads and eventually score through Nepo Laulala.
Needing to hit back, the Waratahs conceded twice inside the opening 15 minutes of the second. Talea’s runaway try killed off any hopes of the visitors making a comeback.
While Pietsch eventually had his try, touching down from a clever kick from Donaldson in the 70th minute, it was a matter of adding some respectability on the scoreboard.
Harry Plummer’s late penalty was a cruel blow, as the Waratahs’ stay of execution, if only for another minute, was delayed.
Wolla Wotsa
Roar Rookie
Not a tah fan at all,but that was dead-set a red card for me. Shoulder to head.No mitigating circumstances.
Wolla Wotsa
Roar Rookie
They are from NSWRA
Guess
Roar Rookie
They should’ve waited for Cron. Now they’re stuck with Coleman
Guess
Roar Rookie
You don't give cards for injuries dummy but for head contact . Try again
Cec
Roar Rookie
Yeah the ACT, the home of the most successful AUS SR franchise and destination of choice for so many interstate WBs ????????
Cec
Roar Rookie
Are you 100% sure that would have been the case? Without Hoops the Tahs win squat :laughing:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Whose expecting N Z to win anyway? With or without the SR reffing having any effect.
Ucnthandlethtruth
Roar Rookie
Well this is awkward
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Let's see how that goes at RWC23.
Big A
Roar Rookie
While we’re on the acronyms I’ll tell you what is complete BS - SRP is complete BS -
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Another Aus whinge eh Ken. All the ref's fault rugby in Aus can't win eh! Keep believing Ken. Another 10, 20 years... no need for RA to do anything.
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
BOK a specialist ophthalmologist (like Mark Loane). Practised at communicating with patients, and, with barrister Wayne Barnes, one of the two smartest refs going around.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Well it shouldn't be. Perhaps gardner needs a talking to
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Hikaru the TMOs look at everything behind the scenes now instead of stopping the game. Mainly because of fan whinging. Why do you think they didn't look at that? Was Hooper trying to milk it? I don't know but I know it was not a infringement.
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
Look at Leinster Academy. And, Atonio was picked up from Racing's (I recall ?)Academy by La Rochelle when they couldn't see his value - but he had been trained well physically and skill-wise
Chivas
Roar Rookie
And if you want to look at your head knock which wasn't there is a replay on this site which doesn't match your version of the event.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Stull pushing this rubbish.. wat hed it plenty of times... he connected with his shoulder... saying differently is garbage and if you really see that you need your eye sight tested.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Big comment... but complete BS.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Actually it was head on shoulder... Hooper thought BOK had told him and was confused because it was his shpulder... try watching a replay of it Hika. There is even one on this site you can see.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
And your support (like) of what Big A is promoting (ie conspiracy theory tgat kiwi chiefs are cheating, Hooper being a head on head clash and that there is something going on in the backroom between NZ teams and the refs... you are right there is not much intellectual about that..