NZ view: Waratahs are deserved favourites for Super Rugby title but Crusaders still a chance

THEY’RE the form team in Super Rugby and it seems NSW Waratahs have finally won over the game’s toughest critics – New Zealand’s rugby media.

Super Rugby Rd 18 - Waratahs v Highlanders

THEY’RE the form team in Super Rugby and it seems NSW Waratahs have finally won over the game’s toughest critics – New Zealand’s rugby media.

The Waratahs secured top spot with a dominant 44-16 victory over the Highlanders last Sunday and enter this weekend’s final round with an unassailable seven-point lead at the pointy end of the Super ladder.

They’ve won six on the trot for the first time in Super Rugby, picking up a bonus point on each occasion, lead the competition for tries scored and perhaps most importantly, have virtually a full squad to choose from.

The stats suggest the team that finishes first at the end of the regular season almost has one hand on the trophy, a fact not lost on those across the Tasman.

Writing for the Taranaki Daily News, veteran coach Ian Snook believes 2014 is the year of the Waratah.

“Michael Cheika has pulled together a huge pack of forwards, a set of game breaking backs and joined them together with a clever halfback and first five,” Snook wrote. “The mix and the form suggests that this will be the year of the Waratahs.

“The previous frontrunners, South Africa’s Sharks, have haemorrhaged two losses in their last two games against local opposition who are sitting near the bottom of the table. They now face the Stormers again in the last round, but this time in Cape Town.

“Another loss will almost definitely push them to third and no chance of a home final should they get that far…So there it is. The Waratahs and Crusaders will be the top two finishers, the Sharks and the Brumbies next, with the Highlanders and Chiefs at fifth and sixth which means the following week the Chiefs will be in South Africa and the Highlanders in Canberra.”

“In the end, it won’t matter though. The Waratahs will be too big, too skilful and too clever for any of the other sides.”

The Waratahs have been unstoppable over the past six weeks with their powerful, hard-working forward pack laying a sound foundation for a star-studded backline.

And behind it all has been coach Michael Cheika who despite a couple of off-field indiscretions has moulded a talented squad into a team worthy of competition favouritism.

“It is satisfying to see the team we picked at the start of the season as the one to watch - the Waratahs - have come through and won the minor title,” former All Blacks prop Craig Dowd wrote in his ESPNscrum.com column.

“They have got the X-factor through their backline, they’ve got a solid platform, and Michael Cheika has earned his stripes over in Ireland and round the traps.

“Cheika is a well-respected coach, and he’s done great things this year; he’s bonded the team with great talent, and the Waratahs are now a side who bite if you don’t treat them with respect.”

The Waratahs have certainly earned the respect of Sky Sport New Zealand commentator Tony Johnson, who also paid tribute to the improved showing of the wider Australian conference.

“The Waratahs have claimed pole position for the Super Rugby playoffs and they deserve it,” Johnson wrote.

“Their thumping victory over the Highlanders was proof that when they get forward momentum they are a difficult team to stop, and right now there is confidence oozing out of them.

“No longer, either, can fans in New Zealand and Australia point to a weak Aussie conference as the reason for getting their best teams into a favourable spot for the playoffs.”

The veteran rugby commentator’s seal of approval came with a warning however as he pointed to the successful game plan the Blues implemented on ANZAC Day as the formula to upsetting the Sydneysiders.

“They’re not unbeatable - the Blues showed that at Eden Park, where they got into them physically up front to the point where their giant lock Will Skelton was withdrawn from the contest at half-time,” he continued.

“They also bottled up Kurtley Beale and cut off the supply line to Israel Folau to the point where the brilliant fullback was virtually a non-factor.

“But the fact is that not too many teams have been able to do that.

“For all the star power they have in the midfield and beyond, the spark is coming from their halves. Nick Phipps has had something of a rebirth at halfback - he’s a feisty critter, while outside him the twinkle toed Bernard Foley is really taking advantage of holes created by backline defences on alert for Beale, Foley and Ashley Cooper.

“It’s also helping them that guys like Sekope Kepu, Wycliff Palu and Tatafu Polota Nau are having long spells without injury, which has been rare in recent years.

“So after years of flattering to deceive these Waratahs have earned favouritism and they appear confident and assured enough to be able to cope with it.”

Looming large as always however are the Crusaders, and providing they negotiate a tough south island derby with the Highlanders on Saturday the seven-time champions are in the box to secure second spot.

They welcomed back Dan Carter recently and should be boosted by the inclusion of All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw for the semi-finals – an addition that throws doubt on the clear favouritism of the Waratahs the New Zealand Herald’s Chris Rattue believes.

“Congratulations to the Waratahs, who will finish top of the Super 15 which brings a bit of glory and playoff advantages,” Rattue wrote.

“The Waratahs’ sparkling victory over the Highlanders in Sydney was a decent spectacle and another vote for the advantages of daylight rugby. It was way better than the error-ridden stoush between the Crusaders and Blues.

“The bad news for the Waratahs is they are not clearly the best side in the Super 15…The Waratahs have a history of flattering to deceive which is also hard to ignore.

“If the Crusaders can put out their best side, and Todd Blackadder gets his selections right, they are probably the side to beat. Even then, their form is ridiculously erratic.”

Originally published as NZ view: Waratahs are deserved favourites for Super Rugby title but Crusaders still a chance