Slick Tahs bury Canes
14 May 2010
The Waratahs produced their best performance of the competition to beat the Hurricanes 32-16 and book their spot in the play-offs.
The Tahs took to the field in a jersey that probably matches the wallpaper in Phil Waugh’s bathroom. Perhaps the jersey designers felt not enough people knew exactly what a Waratah was, or perhaps the coaches wanted to distract the Canes with a design so bad it put Stade Francais’ atrocity to shame.
The official line is that the Tahs donned the strip for charity, and they seemed to thrive in the new colours, hammering the Canes up front and scoring some spectacular tries thanks to their sublime support play. The wet conditions should have prescribed a tighter approach, but the Tahs’ tendency to look for the offload had the Canes’ defence scrambling.
The hosts went into this crucial match without their star scrummager, Benn Robinson, and were dealt a further blow when Dan Palmer cried off with injury in the 11th minute. Unfortunately for the Canes, they also lost captain Andrew Hore early on, a loss that seemed to have a greater impact on their scrumming prowess.
The Tahs bossed this set-piece and piled on the pressure through a relentless forward assault on the Canes’ line. The Kiwis were able to withstand the forward barrage and even managed to snaffle a couple of timely turnovers on their own line. But it was when the Tahs ran it from deep that the visitors struggled to get back on defence.
Great offloading complemented penetrative supporting lines until Kurtley Beale received the final pass to dot down. Lachie Turner then created something from nothing, chipping behind the Canes’ defence, collecting the ball, and sprinting upfield. The pass at pace was accurate as Drew Mitchell took the score to 18-6.
Piri Weepu managed to goal a penalty before the break, but the Tahs struck decisively after half-time. Having absorbed plenty of punishment in the first stanza, the Canes defence was lethargic and allowed Mitchell to cut the line. The Wallabies winger found Rob Horne in support and was on hand when the Tahs centre delivered the final offload.
The try and subsequent conversion took the Tahs to a 25-9 lead, and the way the hosts were firing, a Canes fightback seemed unlikely. The hosts had the better of possession and were winning the collisions, a battle that was made easier thanks to the tiring Canes defence.
Another chip over the top eluded a seemingly well-placed Cory Jane as Beale collected his own kick to score. The bounce of the ball was favouring the Aussies, and the try ensured they claimed a bonus point.
The Canes played themselves into the Tahs’ 22, but their desperation was exacerbated by elementary handling errors. Jane knocked the ball over the tryline, and while you could say that the slippery conditions were responsible, the Tahs were getting all their passes away despite the wet.
Turner was sin-binned in the 67th minute but the Canes failed to make the most of their numbers advantage. They spilled a pass from the resulting penalty and then butchered another opportunity when they ran it from deep. The Tahs defended spiritedly, but eventually conceded a try to David Smith.
The Sydney side has played some uninspiring rugby to date, but this performance confirmed why many teams consider them a threat. Their pack is difficult to stop once it gets going, and when they string a couple of passes together, ala the Crusaders, they can translate pressure into points.
They’ll continue to whinge following this win, as the five-point return takes them to second position on the log. Had the Bulls sent their first-string to Newlands and beaten the Stormers, the Tahs would have hosted a play-off.
The Stormers should beat the Bulls B team on Saturday to book a home semi-final, a result that will see Waugh’s charges traveling from Sydney to take on an intimidating outfit in Cape Town. The other play-off should see the Bulls hosting the Crusaders.
By Jon Cardinelli
478 Comments
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14 May 2010, 12:01 pm
@BlueBlood(BlueBlood)-46: the saders thumped the Brumbies today and on current form it would be better for the Bulls to play the canes in the semis than thos evil saders – remember they have the Bull beating formula.
14 May 2010, 12:02 pm
@The Analyst(The Analyst)-49:
Bulls will beat all comers. It’s just a question of who gets the honour of losing to them.
14 May 2010, 12:03 pm
Bulls vs Canes and
Saders vs Stormers semis…
All panning ot nicely for my predicted Bulls vs Saders final.
A worthy match to bring down the curtain on the S14.
14 May 2010, 12:03 pm
@RL(RL)-51:
No they don’t. They have the “run through the flyhalf at outside centre” formula.
And the “score tries against the Bulls when they are down to 14 men” formula.
14 May 2010, 12:04 pm
Tac
If Bulls gonna play saders almost anyway then it does`nt really matter who wins here.Canes will never beat stormers at Newlands.
14 May 2010, 12:05 pm
@Pienkdas de Villiers(Pienkdas de Villiers)-55:
Of course they will.
14 May 2010, 12:05 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-56:
Oh. I thought you said SADERS will never beat the Stormers at Newlands.
Canes? I have my doubts about them as well.
14 May 2010, 12:05 pm
Heavens Game
How do you get to that scenario??
14 May 2010, 12:06 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-45: Typical, because the Stormers lost to the Sharks the Bulls are beter, I’m sorry I forgot the Bulls played at Moftus and the Stormers played away.
14 May 2010, 12:07 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-54: well in the semis the Bulls will have to deal with a fair ref.
14 May 2010, 12:08 pm
The Canes say Newlands is their secong homeground…
14 May 2010, 12:08 pm
Curtley beale is the new quade cooper
14 May 2010, 12:08 pm
@RL(RL)-60:
Good. So that means Richie will get carded then?
14 May 2010, 12:09 pm
@mainland: they went to the same high school
14 May 2010, 12:09 pm
@RL(RL)-60:
Why do you have that link in your log on name? It would be less embarrassing to have a link to some x rated site, for goodness sake.
14 May 2010, 12:10 pm
@RL(RL)-51: don’t think they have the formula. they were lucky to come so close in that last game.
if they had gotten the 2 yellows they deserved we would have put them down easily.
14 May 2010, 12:10 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-57: I would give the B side another go in the semi if they hit the straps 2morrow!!
2 weeks rest would be better!
14 May 2010, 12:10 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-61: lol.naughty naughty
14 May 2010, 12:10 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-52:
Gees Tac …. a bit confident mate? Did you see Crusaders play?
14 May 2010, 12:10 pm
@BlueBlood(BlueBlood)-46: They going to be pretty difficult i tell you, not writing the Saders off though, lets just hope the Bulls get out of neutral for a change
14 May 2010, 12:11 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-65:
14 May 2010, 12:12 pm
@BlueBlood(BlueBlood)-66: where does the two yellow come in, are you also saying the Bulls didn’t deserve the two yellows they got.
14 May 2010, 12:12 pm
The Bulls are **** scared of playing their first team against the Stormers, so they need an excuse, ergo they are playing their second team.
Secretly, Tacitus is shitting his Pierre Spies underpants that the Bulls will face the Stormers in the final.
14 May 2010, 12:13 pm
@The Analyst(The Analyst)-69:
As Sean Fitzpatrick said after last year’s final: The Bulls would have beaten the All Blacks on that night. And I was there, so I know what he was talking about.
So bring it on, Crusaders, Waratahs, Stormers, or all three combined.
It is play off time, and the Bulls are done with fun and games.
14 May 2010, 12:13 pm
@Pienkdas de Villiers(Pienkdas de Villiers)-58: Canes draw (go through on more bonus points). Stormers lose with a bonus point.
14 May 2010, 12:14 pm
bulls probably shitting in their pants at the prospect of playing the crusaders again.playing their second stringers tomorrow might come back to hit them big time in the arse i reckon…could be a case of being to clever for their own good!
14 May 2010, 12:14 pm
What are the Tah’s wearing? Their jerseys have flowers all over!
14 May 2010, 12:15 pm
The Crusaders have just flown home and will probably have to fly all the way back to SA. That’s a tough ask!
14 May 2010, 12:15 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-73: no not really, the sponsor had a word with the Bully boys and it was decided that the Vodacom Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls would give the sponsor better air time hosting the semis. Simple really.
14 May 2010, 12:15 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-73: “ergo” hmmmm and you want to be taken serioulsy on a rugby site?
14 May 2010, 12:16 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-75:
Do you believe in fairies??(lol)
73 (WP FOR ONE MORE WEEK.)
Bring it on!
14 May 2010, 12:16 pm
try time tahs
14 May 2010, 12:18 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-74: As i said earlier in the year, the Bulls have not yet clicked for 80 ins this season (and they are still on top), I’m just waiting for that magic game where everything just falls into place.
14 May 2010, 12:18 pm
@Pienkdas de Villiers(Pienkdas de Villiers)-81: ‘Strues Bob
14 May 2010, 12:18 pm
The way I’d like to see it end:
Tahs to win
Stormers to win
Stormers to beat the Tahs in the semis
‘Saders to beat the Bulls
Stormers to beat the ‘Saders.
AND THE UNIVERSE IS AS IT SHOULD BE.
14 May 2010, 12:19 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-74: so the bulls were having fun and games?
14 May 2010, 12:19 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-77: Pyjamas?
14 May 2010, 12:19 pm
S14 is riddled w obstructive runners. ReaLly bad. Watch when the full back considers running when he fields a deep kick, the back will start running laterally 15 in front of him
14 May 2010, 12:20 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-85:
Is that universe by any chance located on a Disc carried on the backs of four elephants standing on the shell of a Giant Turtle swimming through space?
14 May 2010, 12:21 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-85: But according to some under the shadow of Table Mountain, a Stormers S14 win is a foregone conclusion.
Everyone can go home now, competition is over…
14 May 2010, 12:21 pm
Plenty of hot air from the stormers fans here, always welcome during winter.
14 May 2010, 12:21 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-85:
Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves here
Still the “small” matter of a pumped up and hungry Bulls b-side to get through tomorrow.
All we need is the win for that home semi, but stranger things have happened.
14 May 2010, 12:21 pm
@RL(RL)-82: who scored?
14 May 2010, 12:23 pm
2 more tries for that Tahs, and then the Canes fightback and win by less than 7.
Perfect.
14 May 2010, 12:24 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-89: You may think so, but it’s not as far fetched as you may think.
Consider the likelyhood of the following on the balance of probabilities:
Tahs should beat the canes. Tahs go the third after the weekend. (Likely)
Stormers beat the Bulls second stringers (likely)
Saders beat the Bulls (possible given last week)
Stormers vs Saders at Newlands? If past meetings this year is abything to go on, it’s more likely than the Bulls beating the ‘Saders at Orlando
14 May 2010, 12:24 pm
@Kea-Cat(KEA)-72: owen franks and richie, definite yellows.
not saying we didn’t deserve our yellows.
and lets not forget richie breaking early from the scrum to charge down steyn’s drop goal. watch the clip. its there for the world to see.
thats a penalty. 3 points. game. the try was justice, nothing more.
14 May 2010, 12:25 pm
looks like stormers will be in fourth position after this game.bulls wiil have a choice,either stormers or crusaders but i think no matter what that they will be up the creek next week with no fcukkin paddles in sight.
14 May 2010, 12:25 pm
tickets for Sale! a friend of mine is selling 2 tickets for tomorrows game at newlands, Jan pickard stand level 1, any offers?
14 May 2010, 12:26 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-90: Firstly, that’s how I said I’d LIKE it to end. and secondly, if you think about it dispassionately, my post (95) isn’t out of the realms of possibility.
14 May 2010, 12:26 pm
@gunther(gunther)-91:
And I assume you’ve read all the “balanced” postings by Tacitus and co have you?
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