Waratahs must be wary of yo-yo effect as they begin belated finals charge, writes Iain Payten
IF the Waratahs’ win over the Rebels was chicken soup for the soul, their victory over the Reds was a heart-jolting shot of vodka, writes Iain Payten.
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​IF the Waratahs’ win over the Rebels was chicken soup for the soul, their victory over the Reds was a heart-jolting shot of vodka. It is now time to get the party started for NSW, or some semblance of a run towards the playoffs at least.
Coming from behind to win in a brutal derby has the potential to do wonders for the Waratahs’ confidence, which this time last week was somewhere between non-existent and fully ablaze on a petrol-fuelled bonfire.
The win contained snatched moments of skill - Michael Hooper’s decoy try was a gem - but it was the tough stuff that secured it: industry and muscle at the breakdown, leg drive in contact and reliable set-piece platforms.
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After identifying urgency as the area lacking against the Kings, it was fitting the game was won with a 27-phase defence set and Will Skelton diving on a loose ball.
But before the vodka is chased by a crate of champagne, the Waratahs need to be wary of two things: the yo-yo effect and over-inflation.
The Waratahs were always going to come out firing after a post-Kings week from hell, chock full of criticism and ridicule. It would have been worrying if they didn’t.
But after riding that emotional rollercoaster for all it’s worth, the Tahs have to now guard against a drop off. Too many NSW seasons have seen that cycle: lose badly, fire up and win, level out, lose badly again, fire up again .... you get the drift.
Facing the Blues at home this week, the Waratahs need to find a way to maintain the rage without the world on their back.
One way to do that is admit they didn’t play well enough to beat the Blues.
The Tahs can’t over-inflate the quality of their win against the Reds. It’s always tough to triumph in Brisbane, for sure, but the reality is Queensland are a 2-7 side and clearly struggling.
Again there was that much dropped ball from NSW that a better team would have made them pay, particularly with the defensive holes they left open and a never-ending stream of turnovers.
NSW seemed to determined to give up all attacking ball in the last 20 minutes and it was only Queensland’s inability to exit smartly that kept them sniffing near the Reds’ posts. That and an aggressive impact from the NSW bench.
Nick Stiles’ penalty count gripe doesn’t hold much water - a count that one-sided points more to an indisciplined team than a crook referee - but there were definitely a few fortunate 50-50s that NSW would be wise to give thanks for.
Winning can fix everything. But only if you keep doing it.
REDS FULLBACK IN HUNT FOR WALLABIES START
If we are picking purely on form, the Wallabies fullback should be a former NRL player who switched to AFL for a while. You know, Karmichael Hunt.
(Chill, Force fans, we’ll get to Dane Haylett-Petty).
There can be no denying Israel Folau is not in his best form in 2017. But another strangely underwhelming night at Suncorp Stadium was made all the more stark by the sight of Hunt running around like a man possessed.
Hunt was in everything. In attack he is constantly threatening, running support lines and trying to offload. In defence he stands in the front line and few in Australian rugby would whack harder. His urgent voice in revving up teammates is also chalk-cheese to Folau.
There are a few technical issues but overall, Hunt and rugby are finally clicking and there seems little doubt he’ll be in the Wallabies squad in June.
But where does he fit?
This is where rubber hits the road with Michael Cheika’s form v experience selection debate. Folau hasn’t got the runs on the board this season but he’s been Cheika’s fullback since day dot.
On form, Haylett-Petty is also ahead of Folau, but he showed value on the wing last year, too. He will be in the team.
And Hunt?
Cheika will stick with Folau at no.15, no doubt. But his old Queensland Origin teammate is a special for jersey no.23 and a second-half impact role.
WALLABIES FAREWELL FOR SMITH?
Okay, it’s time to start this up: George Smith for a Wallaby farewell in June.
It was made clear - again - on Saturday night that Smith is no ordinary human. Despite being 36, Smith was in everything and if he wasn’t the best player on the field, he was equal-best with Michael Hooper.
So if we are talking Wallabies selection on form, come on down Mr Smith.
What other country in the world would have an 111-Test veteran in superb form and wouldn’t ask if he’s free for a few Test matches?
Hooper may be first choice but there is no genuine back-up option in the Aussie ranks with Sean McMahon injured and David Pocock on leave.
Sure, it may not make sense from a long-term perspective but why not ask Smith for a June swansong and figure out the rest later?
It could be a fitting farewell on home soil. The last Test Smith played was in the third Test v the Lions in 2013, and he was knocked out in the first few minutes. It wasn’t the way he should’ve gone out. Now’s the chance to correct it.
REDS WIN JUMPER BATTLE
The Reds’ retro jersey was a beauty and again by way of contrast, it made the current Waratahs jersey look even more ridiculous. It boggles the mind that someone got paid to think this: “You know what would look good? Let’s chuck a Tetris pattern and maybe some dark blue sleeves on there.”
Canterbury offer the designs apparently but cop the tip NSW and all teams everywhere: you can’t beat the originals. Check out NSW’s 2014 jersey - sky blue and a crest. Perfection.
You want to re-connect with your team’s identity and history? Stop listening to marketers and brand consultants.
Don’t worry about making a merchandising impact. We are not talking NFL jersey sales here. No-one is going to buy a new Waratahs jersey every year, let alone one with a Tetris game on it.
HIGGINBOTHAM’S AUSSIE BID
Fullbacks aside, there was much for Michael Cheika to think about in the Reds-Tahs game. For some reason he hasn’t ever shown much love to Scott Higginbotham and again left him out of the Wallaby catch-up camp last month, but the Queensland veteran is in brilliant form. On top of excellent ball-skills, Higginbotham answered criticism of not hitting enough rucks by repeatedly smashing into NSW rucks. There is a shortage of fit and firing no.8s in Aussie rugby and Higginbotham fits the bill.
The sight of Stephen Moore muscling up would have been welcome to Cheika and so too the steady NSW scrum, with Sekope Kepu and Tom Robertson back in.
The promise of youngsters Lukhan Tui and Izzy Perese was also a good sign.
Quade Cooper showed glimpses of his old magic but Bernard Foley again walked away a points victor. His composed kicking game, both from the tee and to play field-position in the last 20 minutes, got NSW home.
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