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, 12:53 pm
and that is that,no hurricane miracle for tac.get ready tac,we are coming for you bully boys!
14 May 2010, 12:53 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-147:
I do hope you’ll man up and show your face here should your prediction not work out that way?
14 May 2010, 12:55 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-147:
That is what you will be hoping yes….since every one said the saders won’t beat brumbies since they had to travel to NZ from SA………ooooopppsss!!!!
Now you are sitting there knowing that Marius plonker is not the ref in the semi and you start to realize…..wait a minute….saders again in two weeks after we beat them with luck!!!?????
I was at that game….and I saw the speach Richie gave the circle after the game…pointing at the seats…..while the BUlls were doing a victory lap for the supporters……….
Watch this space!!
14 May 2010, 12:56 pm
Should the Stormers do the expected and win tomorrow, there’s going to be some WHINGEING in New South Wales.
Come on Stormers, even more reason to win. Nothing warms the heart like an whingeing Aussie who believes he’s been hard done by (which is pretty much always).
14 May 2010, 12:56 pm
so here’s a question. if the tahs end up on 43 points and so do the stormers, who goes to 2nd?
14 May 2010, 12:56 pm
@Kea-Cat(KEA)-120: i watched it closely and it looks like Danie lifted his upper body, compared to if his back was facing upwards and then he would have ‘dived’ downwards to break his fall, looking worse than it probably was.
14 May 2010, 13:05 pm
Stormers through to the semi’s , Tac, it looks like our trip to Soweto is becoming a reality
14 May 2010, 13:05 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-155: The team with the better points difference.
14 May 2010, 13:06 pm
@jamisz(jamisz)-158: ??? who is that?
14 May 2010, 13:06 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-155: Stormers will be second because of points difference is far superior
14 May 2010, 13:07 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-155: Stormers, as they have by far better +/- difference.
14 May 2010, 13:07 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-155: Stormers have a huge points advantage.
14 May 2010, 13:07 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-155: At the moments the stormers points diff is +166 and the Tahs are + 81. They are ahaed by 23 making it +104. The only way for the stormers to get to 43 is
1 Draw. PD remains 166
2 Lose by 7 and score 4 tries. PD goes to +159 minimum.
14 May 2010, 13:08 pm
Ok…so there goes the pressure….and the stormers can enjoy their game against the bully bees……
And TAC….39 was enough to make semis….what did you say???? 43??????? Hahahahahaha
14 May 2010, 13:08 pm
DRAGONS!!!!
Internet cleaning service in progress…. sorry lads.
Keo will be back soon.
14 May 2010, 13:08 pm
no chiefs= no freebies for bulls!go get them richie!
14 May 2010, 13:09 pm
So. It looks like the Bulls, Stormers, Tah’s and Saders will be the top 4 come end of the weekend.
14 May 2010, 13:09 pm
@Hoops(Hoops)-164: Suddenly Tac is kaking his pants that the Stormers mustn’t end 4th, Soweto beckons!!!!
14 May 2010, 13:10 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-160: @Nils(Nils)-161: @Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-162: thanks!
14 May 2010, 13:10 pm
Barnes will be the Aussie 10 in the 3Ns.. Cooper wont make it..
14 May 2010, 13:11 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-167:
Now that would be a classic. Not what the doctor ordered.
14 May 2010, 13:11 pm
@die denker(kemp)-165: glad someone else had that screen too… thought Id be banned
14 May 2010, 13:11 pm
@jamisz(jamisz)-163: In that case Stormers will have 41 point and away semi. Thay HAVE to win to stay at home.
14 May 2010, 13:12 pm
Is this the same referee as in the BS v Saders? Not impartial!
14 May 2010, 13:12 pm
next week: bulls vs saders, stormers vs tahs. week after that: stormers vs saders.
14 May 2010, 13:12 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-168: 171 was to you!
14 May 2010, 13:13 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-171: hey Bill… so who would you rather your team play?
14 May 2010, 13:13 pm
@scorpion(capestormer)-166: Amazing what can happen when the referee does not influence the game.
14 May 2010, 13:13 pm
can the reds still knock the stormers off the 4th spot? what is the PD?
14 May 2010, 13:14 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-172:
yeah, also thought i was the one being “cleaned up”!
14 May 2010, 13:14 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-177:
Bulls.
the easier game.
14 May 2010, 13:14 pm
Every time the Canes drop the ball, even when it is knocked metres backwards, it’s a Wannatarts feed!
14 May 2010, 13:15 pm
@Nils(Nils)-150: Yup, too right there.
14 May 2010, 13:15 pm
Stormers would I imagine be happy with the state of affairs.
Either way, they will play their semi in South Africa.
Saders with a possible second bite at the cherry with the Bulls if the Stormers win.
And those Crusaders are going to be HUNGRY.
14 May 2010, 13:15 pm
@AiDoc(AiDoc)-182: maybe the canes should stop dropping balls hey
14 May 2010, 13:16 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-181: Ive always thought you were wise counsel…
@die denker(kemp)-180: hehehehe theyd do the kiwi first mate lol
14 May 2010, 13:17 pm
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-184: i would actually be surprised if the saders don’t come back with a HUGE effort.
14 May 2010, 13:17 pm
@Hoops(Hoops)-153: Will do…
14 May 2010, 13:17 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-179:
Not unless they win by about a hundred
The Stormers are pretty much guaranteed a 4th or 2nd finish, barring some sort of seriously freakish result.
14 May 2010, 13:17 pm
so looks like stormers/crusaders final at newlands
anybody know when tickets will go on sale
14 May 2010, 13:18 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-179: Reds + 56 Stormers + 166
14 May 2010, 13:19 pm
Congratulations to the Stormers for making the Semis. I’m not going to berate all you nay-sayers (you know who you are) who, it seemed, were hoping against hope that the Stormers would turn out to not be the real deal this year. We have something left to prove but we have had a great season and will contest the semi finals. Where remains to be seen, but I will predict that it will be at newlands, with the finals either in Orlando, or at Newlands against the ‘Saders.
And congratulations to the Bulls for finishing top, but I already said that after the Bulls won last week.
Please don’t cry, Our success is not your failure…
14 May 2010, 13:19 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-187:
Question is, can the hunger and will to win overcome 3 hard games in 3 weeks, crossing numerous time-zones both ways on 3 occasions in the last month or so?
And I would think that even for a side like the Saders, that’s a bridge too far against a class outfit like the Bulls (who also have the benefit of a little break this week).
14 May 2010, 13:19 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-179: It will require a huge upset in Cape Town as currently Stormers point difference is better by 110.
So Stormers have to lose without any bonus points by at least 50 or something to give the smallest possible mathematical chances to the Reds.
14 May 2010, 13:21 pm
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-189: @jamisz(jamisz)-191: no chance then. stormers have to win….
14 May 2010, 13:21 pm
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-193: both the reds and saders have put big dents in the whole travel theory..
imagine if the saders win next week..
14 May 2010, 13:22 pm
The canes have had no answer to the rushing defence of the Tahs, credit to them, theyve won the collisions all night.
14 May 2010, 13:23 pm
anyone for a Tahs/Saders final?
14 May 2010, 13:24 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-196: “imagine if the saders win next week..”
I’ll be probably drunk celebrating
14 May 2010, 13:24 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-176:
, I have not come across a single Bulls fan who is looking forward to meeting the Stormers in Soweto. Tac called us “the Cosmopolitan” bunch whereas the Bulls are “traditional Afrikaans and conservative” lot.
For the Stormers to make it to the semi’s is an achievement on its own, no more calling us pretenders anymore!!!!!!!!
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