NSW need a miracle to make Super Rugby playoffs after loss to Jaguares

If there’s one small mercy for the Waratahs after Saturday night’s gut-wrenching defeat to the Jaguares, it’s that at least their season from hell should soon be over with NSW needing a miracle to reach the playoffs.

Waratahs captain Michael Hooper can’t breach the Jaguares defence on Saturday night. Picture: AAP

• Jaguares 23 Waratahs 15

IF there’s one small mercy for the Waratahs after Saturday night’s gut-wrenching defeat to the Jaguares, it’s that at least their season from hell should soon be over.

Mathematically, NSW still have a slim chance of squeezing into the playoffs if they win their three remaining games against the Rebels, Brumbies and Highlanders but after season where everything has gone wrong on and off the field, itl has finally taken its toll.

Admittedly, they haven’t had a lot of luck. All of their eight defeats this year have been by eight points or less and they’ve been plagued by off field dramas, first with Israel Folau then Tolu Latu.

But you also have to make your own luck in Super Rugby and they just haven’t done that when they have needed to, so now require other results to go their way to make the finals with the Brumbies eight points clear on the Australian conference standings and the Rebels seven ahead.

Waratahs captain Michael Hooper can’t breach the Jaguares defence on Saturday night. Picture: AAP

“It’s going to be very difficult from here on in, in terms of those three games but we’re very much still wanting to play the rugby we set out to play all year,” Waratahs’ coach Daryl Gibson said.

“That hasn’t changed for us. I know the guys will turn up and keep fighting and keep answering the bell.”

But you also have to make your own luck in Super Rugby and they just haven’t done that when they have needed to, so now require other results to go their way to make the finals with the Brumbies eight points clear on the Australian conference standings and the Rebels seven ahead.

IMPRESSIVE OPPONENTS

THERE was no shame in losing to the Jaguares on Saturday night. Packed with Argentine internationals, they’re the form team in Super Rugby, winning six of their last seven matches to climb to second place on the overall competition ladder.

Jaguares players celebrate their win over the Waratahs. Picture: Getty Images

The South Americans never trailed at any stage in the match, getting tries in each half from their lively winger Ramiro Moyano, and while the Waratahs pulled to with two points when replacement Curtis Rona crossed out wide, they were outplayed after spending most of the first half defending.

“It’s a great victory for us,” Jaguares’ coach Gonzalo Quesada said.

“We have had some good results lately and it was quite historic for us to win in Wellington last week against the Hurricanes so the challenge for us was to be able to put our heads together and have a good performance and we did that.”

KB

ON current form, Kurtley Beale deserves to start at fullback for the Wallabies this season.

No-one could have predicted that at the start of the year but then no-one expected Folau would be punted out of the game.

Beale was still finding his feet in the early part of the season when he was playing at inside centre but has been playing like a man possessed since being handed the No. 15 jersey so don’t be surprised if Michael Cheika gives him first crack at the job when the Rugby Championship kicks off.

DICKY KNEE

If the Waratahs are somehow to make the playoffs, they’re probably going to have to do it without Karmichael Hunt after he hurt his knee on Saturday night.

The former Queenslander only lasted two minutes before he got twisted in a ruck and signalled to the bench straight away that he was in a world of pain.

Karmichael Hunt is helped from the field after injuring his knee. Picture: Getty Images

He hobbled off with the assistance of two team medicos and the early diagnosis was that he suffered a suspected MCL, which will rule him out for the rest of the season.

Hunt only signed a one year deal with the Waratahs after being banished by Queensland but has made a big impression so it’s unlikely he has played his last game in the sky blue jersey.

FRIENDLESS

The Israel Folau saga obviously hasn’t helped but the diminishing crowds at Waratahs’ matches is a growing concern.

With Allianz Stadium being rebuilt, the Tahs have been taking their show on the road this season but the fans just aren’t following them and new ones aren’t showing up.

There was a decent turnout for the opening match of the season at Brookvale Oval but the three matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground and the one-off fixture in Newcastle were poorly attended and despite NSW Rugby’s push into Western Sydney, the two matches at Bankwest Stadium still haven’t caught the imagination.

JAGUARES 23 (Ramiro Moyano 2 tries Domingo Miotti 2 cons Joaquin Diaz Bonilla 2, Miotti pens) NSW WARATAHS 15 (1 penalty try) (Curtis Rona try Bernard Foley pen) at Bankwest Stadium. Referee: Paul Williams.