Misfiring Waratahs can forget about World Cup if they don’t improve, says frustrated coach

Waratahs assistant coach Chris Whitaker has weighed into the team’s disappointing form against the Brumbies, saying the squad needs to get it right before the next match with the Crusaders.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — MARCH 15: Jack Dempsey of the Waratahs Is tackled by Henry Speight of the Brumbies during the round five Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Waratahs at GIO Stadium on March 15, 2019 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Four matches into the new Super Rugby season and the Waratahs’ big name stars are still struggling to get the basics right.

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If they don’t get it together soon, missing the Super Rugby playoffs might be the least of their worries because there’s plenty of players lining up to take their places in the Wallabies at the World Cup if the new selection panel wants some fresh faces.

The Waratahs’ forwards have been going all right, at least holding their own despite being smaller than most opposing packs, and the defence has improved immensely since last year.

But the attack just hasn’t got going at all because the so-called superstar backline is badly underperforming, missing kicks, tackles, throwing wild passes and struggling to even hold on to the ball in Friday’s 19-13 loss to the Brumbies, never mind score tries.

“The attack hasn't been firing at the moment,” assistant coach Chris Whitaker said.

“When we hang on to the ball we’ve done some OK things but I think we had 16 turnovers on the weekend and that’s just too much.

“You just can't do it, especially with the style of play we want to do, we want to hang on to the ball and play some attacking rugby but if you want to do that you've got to cut down the errors.”

Folau Fainga'a of the Brumbies scores a try during the Brumbies big win against Waratahs.

There are some mitigating reasons why the team’s stars haven’t performed to their best, which are primarily linked to the fact they’re focused on this year’s World Cup.

Last week’s build-up to the Brumbies game was cut short because of a Wallabies camp but Whitaker said that wasn’t an excuse because the team had been given ample warning and had prepared for it.

This week, the team will have a full preparation before playing the undefeated, defending champions in a match that should prove a better guide to who gets picked for the World Cup than any other.

Waratahs players look dejected after conceding a try during against the Brumbies.

It’s a tricky time for the Waratahs to play the Crusaders because they had the weekend off after their scheduled match against the Highlanders was abandoned because of the mosque shootings in Christchurch.

The Crusaders players said they just weren’t in the right frame to play rugby but Whitaker said he expected it would be business as usual once the New Zealanders arrive at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Jack Dempsey of the Waratahs is tackled by Henry Speight on Friday night.

“They’re obviously the form team of the competition so it’s going to be a good test for our defence because they throw a lot at you,” he said.

“Having a week off, I don’t think it matters too much for either team. They’re playing such good football, so a week off at the moment will probably do them a favour.”

TAHS CRUISE INTO FINALS

The Waratahs thumped RugbyWA 31-0 on Sunday night to safely book their place in this year’s Super W finals.

Unbeaten with one round to go, the defending champions piled on five unanswered tries to join Queensland as the first two teams in the finals after the Reds women beat the Brumbies 12-0 in Brisbane on Saturday.

If NSW win their last regular season game against the Rebels in Bathurst next week they will leapfrog Queensland into first place on the ladder and be assured of hosting the grand final on April 6 as the Reds have a bye next week.

The Brumbies will host RugbyWA in the final round with the winner advancing to playoff, between the second and third placed teams, on March 30.

The Waratahs led 19-0 at halftime after five-eighth Chloe Leaupepe, No. 8 Grace Hamilton and winger Shanice Parker each scored tries and the visitors added another two tries in the second term with Leaupepe completing a double and outside centre Crystal McGuire finishing the rout.

Originally published as Misfiring Waratahs can forget about World Cup if they don’t improve, says frustrated coach