Waratahs’ finals hopes fade in Brumbies loss
Updated ,first published
The Waratahs may play another game against the Force in Perth next Saturday but their Super Rugby season ended with a 21-14 defeat to the Brumbies in Sydney on Friday night.
It’s deja vu for the Waratahs. Defeat against the Brumbies means they will fail to reach the Super Rugby Finals for a fourth consecutive year, barring a mathematical miracle.
The Waratahs made an admirable comeback from 21-0 down, the problem was that it started with Isaac Kailea’s try in the 62nd minute. NSW had 58 per cent possession in the game and made almost twice as many post-contact meters as the Brumbies, but they failed to make it count on the scoreboard.
Waratahs coach Dan McKellar is nearing the end of his second season at Daceyville and believes progress has been made during his tenure despite failing to reach the finals again.
“I think we’ve made great progress that the public doesn’t see, it’s within the four walls of the building,” McKellar said.
“You have to understand when we took over this group, it was a group that came last. [in Super Rugby].”
McKellar continued: “We’re really lacking in a lot of key areas to perform consistently at this level. We’ve made a lot of changes but we’re on the right track.”
“We are a long way from where we need to be, but progress doesn’t always come with results. [I] Understand that we need to get results.”
When asked if he would do anything different about this year, McKellar said he would evaluate at the end of the season.
“I’m not going to cut and change. I have a way of doing things and I think it works,” McKellar said.
“Otherwise I wouldn’t be here. I’m not going to listen to every sound coming from outside or listen to people outside the building because if I do that then I’ll be sitting with them. So that’s not going to happen.”
This game was a small sample of the Waratahs’ season. A huge amount of potential is ultimately stifled by inaccuracies and poor discipline.
Waratah’s playmaker Jack Bowen, whose contract is expiring, made his second start of the season, playing alongside his childhood friend and half-partner Teddy Wilson. Their familiarity enabled the Waratahs backline to be much more fluid in the early stages of the game and this should have been rewarded with points. The Waratahs worked hard to establish themselves in the right part of the field but just couldn’t do it.
Two early try goal opportunities were destroyed; A breakaway Charlie Gamble was easily stopped by the Brumbies’ defence, and minutes later winger Sid Harvey leaped a passing meter from the line. That moment shifted the momentum from the Waratahs to the Brumbies.
The Brumbies punished the Waratahs’ profligacy mercilessly and Wallabies hooker Billy Pollard scored the first try of the game after 20 minutes.
The Waratahs have consistently displayed poor discipline this season and Gamble’s yellow card for going offside was costly and careless. The NSW defensive attack faded and Brumbies second rower Cadeyrn Neville crossed for his side’s second try.
Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa marked his 150th appearance with a try ten minutes into the second half; It was a selfless and grueling move that defined his career, dragging his team over the try line in the rain.
Brumbies substitute Lachlan Lonergan was shown a yellow card for deliberately taking a knock, giving the Waratahs the opportunity to mount a comeback from 21 points down. After 61 minutes, NSW finally crossed the Brumbies’ try line through substitute prop Isaac Kailea, who eventually managed to clear from close range.
Despite Harvey initiating the conversion, there was a ridiculous interruption to the game for TMO to re-check the base. In the end, the TMO accepted that referee Ben O’Keefe was right and made the right decision.
The Waratahs’ biggest threat was constantly on the sidelines through their wingers and full-back Max Jorgensen. Jorgensen scored past Tom Wright’s tackle in the corner following a long pass from captain Matt Philip. Harvey converted from a tight angle to set up ten minutes from time for the Waratahs to save their season.
After all, it was too late now. Another promising Waratahs season ended in disappointment.
Watch every match Super Rugby Pacific lively and special Stan Sports.
