Woeful Waratahs slammed after surrender to the Crusaders

The Waratahs have been so bad for so long that their latest humiliation was neither a surprise nor even upsetting to their few remaining supporters, writes JULIAN LINDEN.

The Waratahs have been so bad for so long that their latest humiliation was neither a surprise nor even upsetting to their few remaining supporters.

And that, right there, represents the ultimate indignity for a once-proud team that is supposed to be the best of the best from the state of New South Wales.

Forget the flattering 15-point margin at the end, Friday night’s 48-33 loss to the Crusaders at Allianz Stadium was a flogging and an embarrassment to the traditions of the blue jersey.

But the biggest affront was perhaps the silent reaction by the team’s dwindling number of fans, who had all parted with good money to witness this abomination.

If it wasn’t already the Waratahs last home game of the Super Rugby season, no-one would have been surprised if the stands were empty next time they ran out because this was a total shambles.

A dejected Tane Edmed looks on after the Waratahs’ loss to the Crusaders. Picture: Getty Images

There was a time when a one-sided NSW defeat would infuriate the masses, who would immediately let the players know by booing them off the park.

But no longer. Even their most loyal followers can’t conjure up the energy to bleat anymore because they know they’re wasting their breath.

Every year the Waratahs promise that this season will be different but every year they dish up the same disappointment.

Undefeated in their first four games at home including statement wins against the Chiefs and Brumbies, the Waratahs were talking themselves up as semifinal contenders as recently as a month ago.

Waratahs' Langi Gleeson celebrates a try. Picture: AFP

But four humbling defeats in a row later, their biggest challenge now is to avoid the wooden spoon after another limp capitulation.

In a woke world where no-one wants to call failure out for what it really is, credit then to the Waratahs coach Dan McKellar for his stinging rebuke of his players.

Asked what his halftime message was, McKellar cut straight to the heart of the matter: “We just have to show that we actually care.”

For Australian teams that pride themselves on fighting to the death, that’s the ultimate put down, but McKellar wasn’t being melodramatic.

As the silent hordes had witnessed, the Waratahs seemed to lack not only the the brains but also the will to mount a serious challenge to the visitors.

Crusaders’ Antonio Shalfoon and Waratah Miles Amatosero exchange heated words. Picture: Getty Images

Comparing the Waratahs to the Crusaders is, of course, unfair because the New Zealanders are a phenomenal club, with 14 Super Rugby trophies to show for it.

Few teams can contain them when they let loose but the Waratahs fell off so many tackles and made so many basic errors that they made them look like the Harlem Globetrotters.

As a contest, the match was over early with the Kiwis piling on five of their seven tries before the interval to secure themselves a bonus point.

With the floodgates open, the Waratahs did play better in the second half, finishing with five tries of their own, including two by combative backrower Langi Gleeson, one of the few NSW players who enhanced his reputation with places in the Wallabies team for the upcoming Lions series up for grabs.

Rivez Reihana makes a break for the Crusaders. Picture: Getty Images

The other Aussie who would have caught Joe Schmidt’s eye was veteran playmaker James O’Connor, who is now playing for the Crusaders.

Coming off the bench, O’Connor did all that was required of him and more, setting up a try, saving one with a smothering tackle and kicking two conversions and a penalty to ensure at least one Aussie walked out a winner.

“We pretty much did everything we said we weren’t going to do,” Waratahs captain Jake Gordon said.

“We knew it was going to be slippery. We knew possession was going to be up for grabs. We didn’t fight hard enough for it. Tonight was a really disappointing way to finish.“