Waratahs crush Blues
The Waratahs were convincing 37-16 winners of their Super 14 clash with the Blues in Sydney on Saturday.
The Waratahs were convincing 37-16 winners of their Super 14 clash with the Blues in Sydney on Saturday.
The home side produced a workmanlike performance to deny the Blues any sort of decent possession.
As the match went on the Waratahs' confidence grew as they ran in five tries for their first offensive bonus point this year.
The Blues just couldn't get going. Having seen only 25 per cent of the possession in the first-half they changed ends 18-8 down.
They managed to get their hands on the ball a little more in the second half but their deficit obliged them to make some risky decisions which ended up compounding their worries.
Despite all the goings-on off the field concerning their coach, the Waratahs were well worth their win.
Ewen McKenzie has already received his marching orders and will leave at the end of the season because his bosses in New South Wales reckon the Waratahs' brand of rugby at the moment isn't exciting enough.
McKenzie's critics will not be able to deny the efficiency and effectiveness of the home team's play. They showed patience when needed and dealt some killer blows when the Blues made mistakes.
What happened to the Blues side that was running tries in from all over the park earlier in the season ?
You can't do much if you don't have the ball and although the visitors managed to drag that possession stat back to 60-40, when they did have their hands on ball the Waratahs defence was excellent and some of the Blues' decision making was below par.
So dominant were the 'Tahs that the Blues were forced to resort to some illegal tactics on the ground which eventually earned Keven Mealamu a yellow card for his side's constant infringements while off their feet.
Nick Evans had a rare off day, especially with the boot. The opposite was true for Waratahs fly-half Kurtley Beale who made sure that his side got full reward for their efforts by keeping the scoreboard ticking over and the home side out of the Blues' reach.
The Waratahs line-out was quite literally head and shoulders above their opposition and it's no wonder Dan Vickerman is the Super 14's leading line-out stealer. He added a few more to his already impressive stats.
The 'Tahs started a bit like the team everyone expected would run out – indecisive and lacking in confidence, and it cost them an early try.
Hats off to their captain Phil Waugh who opted for a line-out instead of a penalty after a quarter of an hour. His team repaid his confidence when Benn Robinson crashed over to cap close to ten minutes of play that belonged entirely to the Waratahs.
Blues captain Troy Flavell got one back for the visitors a few minutes later after Nick Evans stepped around both Waratahs centres and kicked a perfectly weighted grubber ahead which left Lachie Turner isolated.
As Flavell dived onto the ball, Tom Carter came flying in and their clash of heads could well have been heard in Auckland.
Prop Tatafu Polota-Nau rounded off the half with a great try, showing real pace for a front-rower as he galloped 30 metres on his own and left the Blues defence a little embarrassed.
The 'Tahs continued to grow in confidence in the second-half and when Polota-Nau's house mate, Wycliff Palu, went over it was clear the team in light blue were the better side on the day.
Lote Tuqiri had made the hard yards to setup Palu's try and he was rewarded with one of his own when he ran a perfect angle to earn the 'Tahs a bonus point.
A special mention must go to David Lyons who earned his 100th Super Rugby cap to complete a memorable day for the Sydney-siders.
Man of the match: Take a bow Dan Vickerman. The Waratahs dominated the line-outs which went a long way in denying the Blues possession
Moment of the match: The Waratahs scored a few good tries, but Polota-Nau's try gets the vote of everyone who loves to see big men run.
Villain of the match: Nothing to report.
The Scorers
For the Waratahs
Tries: Robinson, Polota-Nau, Palu, Tuqiri, Mumm
Pens: Beale 2
Cons: Beale 3
For the Blues
Tries: Flavell, Stanley.
Pens: Evans 2
Yellow card: Mealamu (playing the ball on the ground)
Waratahs: 15 Sam Norton-Knight, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Ben Jacobs, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh (c), 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Dan Vickerman, 4 Will Caldwell, 3 Matt Dunning, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Al Baxter, 18 David Lyons, 19 Beau Robinson, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Rob Horne, 22 Alfie Mafi
Blues: 15 George Pisi, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Anthony Tuitavake, 10 Nick , 9 Danny Lee, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Troy Flavell (c), 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Nick White, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Justin Collins, 20 Taniela Moa, 21 Ben Atiga, 22 Rudi Wulf.
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Touch judges: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Grant MacNeill (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)
Assessor: Andrew Cole (Australia)