Horror Super Rugby season could lead to Cup carnage for Tahs stars
Crashing out of the Super Rugby playoff race might only be the start of the problems for a bunch of Waratahs stars — with World Cup hopes fading after a disastrous season.
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Crashing out of the Super Rugby playoff race might only be the start of the problems the Waratahs face after their loss to the Jaguares on Saturday night.
It could also cost some players their spot in this year’s World Cup squad.
Australia’s new director of rugby Scott Johnson has already made it crystal clear that current form, rather than past performances, will be the single most important factor in deciding who gets picked for the Wallabies.
Coming off the back of the worst international season in 60 years, that will raise the hopes of long suffering Wallaby fans but it could be bad news for the Waratahs hoping to go to Japan.
With the Brumbies and the Rebels both on course to make the semis, their players will all get extra time in the shop window to press their claims but if the Waratahs miss the playoffs, as now seems certain, they will have just three games to convince selectors they deserve to wear the green and gold on the world stage.
Critically, two of their remaining matches are against the Rebels and the Brumbies, meaning they will go head-to-head against the players vying for the same spots.
As Kurtley Beale, one of the leading contenders to take over Israel Folau’s vacant job of Test fullback, put it: “We understand for derby games it’s always personal.”
Beale will go head-to-head against Dane Haylett-Petty, his main rival for the No. 15 jersey, when the Waratahs travel to Melbourne to face the Rebels on Friday.
There’s is just one of a handful of key match-ups between wannabe Wallabies that the selectors will be paying close attention to and the player all know what’s at stake.
“You can definitely see there’s one-on-one battles happening throughout the year which has been awesome,” Beale said.
“You can see guys really stepping up in certain positions so but as players, you’re playing against your mate in the opposition.
“It’s always a tough encounter and it’s always an enjoyable one when you get one over them so no doubt they’ll be looking to fire at us after we got them in Sydney so we’ve got a big, big challenge ahead of us.”
For some, the next three weeks will also mark the end of their long careers with the Waratahs.
Sekope Kepu, Nick Phipps and Curtis Rona have all signed for London Irish and others are expected to join the overseas exodus.
Beale returned to the Waratahs at the start of last season on a two-year deal that is about to expire and said he’s weighing up his options before deciding his next step.
“I haven’t really thought about that too much, obviously leave it up to my management,” he said.
“There’s a few things happening around the traps so it’s a massive year for me, I’m just trying to make sure that I get my body right now and just focus on week in week out, it’s a massive game for me.”
Originally published as Horror Super Rugby season could lead to Cup carnage for Tahs stars