It will be a match few remember, but for Darren Coleman the Waratahs’ 12-10 loss to the Blues at home on Saturday night could prove more significant than first meets the eye.
After last week’s heartbreaking two-point loss to the Highlanders, the Waratahs once again went down by two points for the second straight week against New Zealand opposition.
Rubbing salt into the wound, it was a match ripe for the picking as the wasteful Blues blew chance after chance.
The Waratahs gave themselves one late opportunity of stealing the match when debutant hooker Jay Fonokalafi, who was pouring concrete just days ago, got on the end of a rolling maul to score and help cut the margin to less than a penalty in the 80th minute.
But another mistake with the home side’s attacking cleanout, where replacement back-rower Anton Segner got on the ball, saw Jordan Way penalise the Waratahs. Game. Set. Match.
Charlie Gamble was the Waratahs’ best but it wasn’t enough as they went down to the Blues at Allianz Stadium, on March 16, 2024, in Sydney. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon lamented his side’s inability to put the Blues to the sword but took comfort in knowing that they were making steady improvements even if the results weren’t there yet.
“To be fair, I think we’re a completely different team to we were this time last year,” he said.
“It’s a loss, we’re competing hard, we’re defending well, when we get quick ball we’re hard to handle, we just need to take those opportunities when they come.”
One of the positives out of the loss is that the Waratahs’ defence did dig in.
“We spoke about going to Tah Tough,” Gordon said.
“I think we’re making massive improvements there from that first trial. We’re expecting the more we play the sharper we’ll get, it’s just come to quicker.”
Whether it leads Coleman one step closer to be walked to the plank remains to be seen, but after being given until the end of March to prove his credentials, the Waratahs, who are one win from their opening four matches, now have a daunting task ahead of them with a trip to Fiji and Canberra ahead of them.
Coleman said he was confident the Waratahs were on the right track.
“The biggest difference between now and this time last year is we’re playing better footy,” he said.
“We were getting pumped by those teams last year. This time we can walk away thinking one or two things [change] and we win that game.
“Disappointed but proud of the boys in how they hung in … Philosophical, disappointed but excited.”
He added that he had no issues around the early decision date surrounding his future at the franchise beyond 2024, saying he “trusted the board”.
Charlie Gamble was the Waratahs’ best, with the openside flanker rewarded with a couple of crucial penalty breakdown wins.
Punchy centre Izaia Perese was also excellent in the defeat, regularly getting over the gain line and looking a constant threat in attack.
After blowing away the Waratahs 41-12 at Eden Park in last year’s quarter-final, the two-point victory was the Blues’ 10th straight over the Waratahs.
As much as the Waratahs will be left ruing what might have been, the Blues left more than a dozen points out on the field with playmaker Stephen Perofeta having a nightmare match.
The New Zealand international missed three straight-forward penalties and a conversion, as well as booting a penalty kick for touch dead in goal.
All Perofeta could do was laugh at his nightmare evening, which was somewhat saved by a desperate trysaving tackle on Triston Reilly in the 65th minute as the Waratahs began their late push.
The visitors also had a try disallowed in both halves.
The Waratahs had much of the early running, but couldn’t take their opportunities as the Blues, who lost Rieko Ioane in the second minute to a concussion, turned over the ball three times in the opening six minutes.
It took until the 22nd minute for the first points to be notched, as Tane Edmed, who had a mixed night, banged over a penalty.
The Blues warmed into the contest nicely, but couldn’t turn pressure into points.
Eventually, All Blacks prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi crashed over from close range to score in the 35th minute.
The Waratahs missed an opportunity to take some momentum into half-time when they failed to score any points despite bashing away at the Blues’ tryline at the Paddington end.
That theme continued early in the second half, as the Waratahs continued to thwart the Blues.
It took until the 57th minute for the Blues to eventually strike, as fullback Zarn Sullivan crossed out wide.
Despite having only 30 per cent of territory midway through the second half, the tide started to change in the second half as the Waratahs sniffed an opportunity.
It closed when Miles Amatosero was pinged for failing to release with time up.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Tahs could win, Crusaders could win also. Both wins would come by playing their ace, ie: a tight forwards up-the-guts hammer the opposition pack and no mercy with scrums and rucks. Win loads of penalties, at least three lineout-maul tries and snuff out any backline movements with rush at flyhalf and inside centre. You heard it here first. :silly:
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
If Oz have to work on Attack then the rest of us are in trouble. Oz have one of the best attacks in WR and lack of attacks are not what is causing them to lose games, nor the Tahs. Reds are wining because Kiss is focused on the right things. Oz can score from anywhere but once contact is made its anyone's guess if it will be recycled, turnover or give away a penalty. Red are securing their ball to carry on the attack which Tahs are not which is why DC is best to go OS for a few years and let Tahs get Friend.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Agreed they try harder at the end of their contract or in WC year but actually focusing on Joe's homework instead of what's in front is counterproductive. Tbh I wish someone send them some attacking clips :stoked:
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Going off of his time in Ireland and what he told players and what he told them when they didn't work on what he asked them to do. Joe works to many hours but he likes to make sure he has all his bases covered. At Ireland he was sending close to 100 players videos of areas that they need to work on. You had those in the squad who would be dropped if they didn't do it. You had those in training camps who if they did would be brought up to the squad or dropped if they didn't. Finally you had the players who were looking to get into the training camps that were constantly being feed info by Joe or areas that were holding them back. Most of the videos were about defense, the breakdown or penalties they had given away, not about attack. Maybe he has a different plan for OZ than he had for NZ and Ire but in both place they were the three areas he focused on. Will DC be around in 2025. Players may still be doing DC plan but you can be sure if they want to be WBs under Joe they are jumping up quicker from tackles and resetting in the Defense than they might in other areas that DC would rather focus on. All the Tahs players will be looking at the Rebels players knowing some of them will be coming to them next year being a test player will sure help keeping your spot, they are professional players and if you don't think they put themselves before the team then you don't understand professional sports. Usually the team doing well is part of their goal but as we see players play better at the end of their contract to get a better deal, players down tools on the field to get coaches sacked and suddenly improve no end when they are gone.
Guess
Roar Rookie
As if others are winning :laughing: There are articles for other franchises. You being triggered by tahs isn’t tahs fault.
Guess
Roar Rookie
You realise you can't know any of this? You're just speculating. It's not about disappointing DC it's about following the team plan instead of personal goals
Bobby
Roar Rookie
He is not playing anywhere near world class. Average Super player so far !
El Flash
Roar Rookie
That's simple Dave. The Waratahs year in, year out get all the press. We constantly have to read why this was working & this wasn't. Who is in this week & who is out. How the Waratahs are going to deal with this opponent this weekend. There are 4 other franchises that would be lucky to get 50% of the coverage the Waratahs get, & yet year in, year out we witness this mob losing on a regular basis.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Never said the Tahs coaches did, what I said is I doubt Joe sent them any video clips of their attack but will have of their defence and breakdown work (be it as cleaners or ball presentation). These players want to play for Oz so will work in the areas Joe is telling them. Tahs only need to be top 8, but if Joe thinks a player is ignoring his advice they can kiss their test games goodbye. DC probably won't get a renewal (especially if Kiss takes the Reds on a run) so what Tah is worried about disappointing him.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Why does it get your knickers on such a twist?
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
They got pinged pretty much straight from the kickoff after getting within FG range
Guess
Roar Rookie
Sr is about sr, not wallabies but I don't see how tahs getting to playoffs contradicts best wallabies Jeez I hope it's not as bad as you make it sound. It would be really wrong to interfere with sr coaches plans by making players focus on impressing national coach. He might as well then coach sr teams. Tahs have been playing like that before his arrival anyway. They aren't trying to impress him lol
Lr6050
Roar Rookie
Absolutely, I think it’s a great idea. It will always make the game here better with more cultures. Cron seems to go for New Zealanders that are a bit past their prime at the Force but there’s always the next Bakkies or Potgeiter in the Currie Cup.
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
Fair point Dave. I apologise if I over-egged it a bit. I just tire of the constant ref bashing. The only dodgy call made was when the Blues scrum was in motion and expecting the half back to clear it. That is a blatantly poor call and to give the penalty to the opposition. As Hooper said he would have been filthy with that decision. Apart from that the ref controlled the game fairly well. I wasn’t suggesting that the Tahs were horrible in the forwards, they just lack urgency around the ruck, but as you point out no worse than the Blues. To win tough games I believe it is important to win the breakdown and tbh the only team doing that effectively right now is the reds. I mention it because I do think this Tahs side and forward pack is good. I just don’t think they will take out the comp unless they can dominate in this area. The Tahs are average to good in the backs, but haven’t quite sorted out their centres where they lack a little cohesion and creativeness and Perese for his strong running is a problem if he can’t step up to doing more of what a complete centre does. He runs and tackles solidly, but doesn’t create space and free up his outsides… it is not a natural part of his game at this stage. In the forwards, they have the muscle to arm wrestle with the best, but lack a little bit of speed and accuracy around the rucks for mine. If you look at the reds they get this through McReight and Wright predominantly with good inputs from Faessler. They need to as they are a lighter pack. However, I think this where the Wallabies and Tahs struggle. And when they do try to put more pressure on at the breakdown, there accuracy is not there and they give away penalties. My team the chiefs aren’t a lot better in this facet of the game. They are lucky enough to have strengths elsewhere, but they are vulnerable to teams which have more urgency like the Reds.
RoadBike
Roar Rookie
It's the NSW Waratahs Pathways and Academy - it is verging on corrupt - only a few slip through the net on merit, numerous are signed on anti-merit through their Dad's mate on the sponsorship gig, or their Dad's mate at one of the GPS Schools. Those overlooked (and there are many) get signed by Brumbies, Rebels and Force.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
When Joe was with Ireland every week he sent a short video of clips that players needed to work on. Those who didnt, didnt get call ups. Joe after the loss to NZ in 2013 he finished every training session with a 10 minute defend your line to make sure it never happened again. Joe prizes defence over attack as he believes his tactics will get scores. If players don't show they can't defend in SR they won't get picked. Is SRP about getting the WBs to be the best they can or is it for Tahs to make the playoffs.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
I think when teams (well coaching atleast) do up where they are looking to target points to get X amount they aren't writing down 14 wins. I am sure a BP against the Blues will be seen at the end of the season a good result.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
The more i talk about this the more sense it makes …It’s pretty common for Saffas especially Afrikaners to go to say France and Japan and wax lyrical about interesting culture learnings etc but that seems wear off and they get genuinely homesick ..Perth has a large expat SA community , similiar weather , closer cultural behaviours..Also by having a smattering of big name SA players it will attract more said expats to matches ..I mean both the Aussie govt and industry aggresively recruit skilled South Africans to your shores ..They add real value to your country ..Why not some rugby players too???
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Remember Tiaan Strauss ..
RoadBike
Roar Rookie
I think Ned H is a genuine #6, I think Gamble is built like a #2, and should play there if he can throw - he is certainly not a (genuine) #7. Gleeson is like Katy Perry (hot and cold) - excellent when on form, disappears when not....my opinion.