Improved defence was key to Waratahs’ win over Crusaders

They were as leaky as an old tap last year but now the Waratahs have got their defence together and they’re so pleased with it, they’ve nicknamed it the Blue Wall. And one man is leading the aggressive charge.

The Waratahs and the Crusaders Super Rugby teams join together for a moment of silence for the New Zealand shooting victims. Pic: AP

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The Waratahs are so chuffed with the incredible improvement in their defence this season that they’ve already coined a slogan for it.

“The Blue Wall” has become their rallying cry to remind each other to stick together and hold the line when they’re under the pump.

After five matches using the new system, which Welsh defence coach Steve Tandy introduced, the Blue Wall has become nearly impenetrable, conceding just 13 tries for the second-best record of any side this season.

“It’s just blokes staying more connected with one another, just trusting that the fellas inside and outside of you have got your back,” loose forward Ned Hanigan said.

Ned Hanigan speaks to media on Monday. Pic: Getty Images

“It sounds simple but we’re really practising it and making sure you don't have those rogue guys. The blue wall is what we refer to it as.”

Tandy was brought into fix the Waratahs’ leaky defence from last year, where they gave up 59 tries, the worst of any team that made the playoffs.

He insists there are no great secrets to the system, which is based on simple principles of not overcomitting too many players to the ruck and keeping the line intact unless players are certain they can pull off a big tackle, but the key is having everyone working together.

“It doesn't matter what system you run, if everyone buys into it, then it's hopefully going to end up being right and we’re really buying into it at the moment,” Tandy said.

“It’s processing where the ball’s coming from and what’s in front of you to actually make educated decisions so if you're going to go and hopefully level someone then you're making it with a good decision as opposed to gambling.”

Karmichael Hunt did just that to great effect in Saturday’s 20-12 win over the previously-unbeaten Crusaders, flattening an opponent when he came on as a second-half replacement to give the whole team a massive boost.

Opposition clubs are finding it hard to get past the Waratahs. Pic: Getty Images

“Karmichael comes off the bench and it’s just carnage wherever he goes,” Hanigan said. “It definitely lifts the team.”

The Waratahs gave up just two tries, one in the last minute when the victory was already wrapped up, against a Crusaders team which has the best attack in Super Rugby to jump to the top of the Australian conference standings.

But this week’s opponents, the bottom-placed Sunwolves, present as big a challenge because of their highly unorthodox approach, which often rattles defensive systems because it’s harder to plan for.

The Sunwolves are the only side to have scored more than two tries against the Waratahs this season so Tandy said the players were working on a slightly differently strategy this week to build on last weekend’s win over the Crusaders.

“There’s so much growth still in us and I think that’s where very, very good teams look at what they did but how can they improve it and be consistent and have that blue wall,” he said.

“How can we consistently grow and get better? Can we be faster? Could we have had more turnovers? We’re constantly critiquing ourselves over where we can improve, otherwise I think we just stand still and you can’t stand still in this competition.”

Karmichael Hunt’s aggressive defence inspires teammates. Pic: Getty Images