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, 15:08 pm
@Fern(Fern)-342: Yes, I agree. i was just being tounge in cheek. A good mate is a DA Cabinet minister and he is always working. I popped into his house the other day to check out his new porsche and he had his whole crew scurrying around like busy bees…..
14 May 2010, 15:09 pm
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-340: Waikato is renown for its forward packs, well from my memory anyways.. though they have lacked for the last couple of years now…
Mils has that old school mentality I think..
14 May 2010, 15:10 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-351:
i wouldnt mind a place at that through
14 May 2010, 15:11 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-335: Rest in peace.
uyalala kahle umalume. uyadlala umbhoxo njalonjalo izulu
14 May 2010, 15:12 pm
@Fern(Fern)-353: Lol I was kidding about the Porsche by the way…..
14 May 2010, 15:12 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-352: Ok, well now poppa, you see? we can get along, i knew there was a level headed bloke in there.
14 May 2010, 15:12 pm
@Fern(Fern)-353: How do you mean?
14 May 2010, 15:13 pm
I’ve heard of the raging bull, but next week it’s the Crusaders who will be raging at Loftus after last weekends game.
14 May 2010, 15:13 pm
Where is my mate Tac
Stormers vs Waratahs….. no debate, home win
Bulls vs Crusaders…. sweaty palms, very likely a ‘Saders win
Stormers vs Crusaders… absolute hammering, Stormers S14 Champs
Simple…
14 May 2010, 15:13 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-355:
I know.I wouldnt mind earning 25K for going to a couple of meetings every month.
14 May 2010, 15:14 pm
@Kea-Cat(KEA)-358: Sorry Soweto not Loftus.
14 May 2010, 15:14 pm
Nils – loser of France/ABs will meet aust in the semis shoul all things progress to seeding..
I too am pleased the ABs have France in their group.. because Scotland did us no favours playing their second string last time..
14 May 2010, 15:15 pm
Oh, damn the Wallytahs are through. They have robbed their way to a place in the playoffs.
Boringtahs.
14 May 2010, 15:15 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-344: serving….
14 May 2010, 15:16 pm
@Bod(bod)-359: You presume “The best team in the S14″ wins against the Bulls B side then?
Of course… Its gonna be a walk in the park…
14 May 2010, 15:16 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-362: Probably a beter road for NZ.
14 May 2010, 15:16 pm
@Nils(Nils)-349: If NZ lose to France they might have a better chance of winning the Cup.
14 May 2010, 15:18 pm
@Kea-Cat(KEA)-361: hahaha, the Saders haven’t experienced the locations yet, they might just find themselves more intimidated than at loftus. is there still barbwire around the Orlando pitch?
14 May 2010, 15:18 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-365:
You are slowly but surely catching on to it…
The best team in the S14 is gonna win it…
14 May 2010, 15:20 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-344: girlfriend/ partner…..not married
14 May 2010, 15:20 pm
@Bod(bod)-369: Gotta win tomorrow first. Then brokeback wet dreams can go wild
14 May 2010, 15:20 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-1: nice prediction
14 May 2010, 15:21 pm
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-368:
I think the ******* Bulls will be more worried about barbed wire than the Saders will…
14 May 2010, 15:23 pm
@Bod(bod)-373: bit agro huh BOD? you got an itch you cant scratch or something?
14 May 2010, 15:24 pm
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-367: No matter, they will not have Frogs till final again anyway.
As Saffas have to deal with Irish/Aussies first. For me it is much harder task than dispatching England/Argentina.
14 May 2010, 15:27 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-362: Right, that’s why better beat France in the pool and let others worry.
14 May 2010, 15:27 pm
@Nils(Nils)-375: Bok vs France final NZ WC 2011. Simple.
The World Champions ’87 might miss this one, I tell ya… Better make sure no Soozies live in NZ and ensure no-one with the surname Barnes is given a visa. The AB’s might scrape into the Semi this time round…
14 May 2010, 15:28 pm
so looks like bulls vs saders semi at Orlando
stormers vs tahs at newlands (glad its not the brumies)
Final Bulls vs stormers at Orlando….final score 18-12 stormers
….it has been written
14 May 2010, 15:29 pm
Nothing could be better than winning the trophy, first dispatching the champions and then the upstarts from CT. Or vice versa. Against the all odds.
14 May 2010, 15:29 pm
Robzim….my apologies….i have tried long and hard to get us all tickets…..
I could only arrange 2 though for Justrugby and myself….
Sorry mate….i tried till late last nite but an oke had 9 and wanted to sell all in 1 foul swoop….and succeeded….
But Justrugby and i got lucky at the death and will be there….
cubannas here i come….bulle …moenie kak maak nie!
14 May 2010, 15:31 pm
@Nils(Nils)-375:
pool A
New Zealand
France
Tonga
Canada
Asia 1
pool B
Argentina
England
Scotland
Georgia
Play Off winner
pool C
Australia
Ireland
Italy
Russia
USA
pool D
South Africa
Wales
Fiji
Samoa
Namibia
QF1: W Pool C v RU Pool D
QF2: W Pool B v RU Pool A
QF3: W Pool D v RU Pool C
QF4: W Pool A v RU Pool B
SF1: W QF1 v W QF2
SF2: W QF3 v W QF4
14 May 2010, 15:31 pm
bulls team for tomorrow looks formidable on paper but will lack cohesiveness esp on defense…still worried though…not a forgone conclusion like most pundits are suggesting
14 May 2010, 15:32 pm
@grant10(grant10)-380: You could have bought one for me and dispatched it by DHL.
Am running out of bogroll on Mud Island
14 May 2010, 15:32 pm
Ok
So I see there is nothing left here on Keo……time for some birre with the sharks game…and then we have massive spit braai with the Stormers vs Bulls game……
Weekend set up nicely now!
14 May 2010, 15:33 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-357: thanks for everything…deal done….really appreciate it!
14 May 2010, 15:34 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-371:
What is this “Brokeback” ****??
Its normally the territory of the less than informed or closet dwellers
I exclude you from that stigma…
14 May 2010, 15:34 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-381: so it looks like NZ/France/Eng/Arg vs SA/Wal/Aus/Ire semifinal.
14 May 2010, 15:34 pm
@Nils(Nils)-375: England have beaten Australia at 3 of the last 4 RWCs, Argentina have beaten Ireland at 2 of the last 3 RWCs. I do understand why you say it however, I just don’t agree.
14 May 2010, 15:34 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-383: will get you one for the final….should be a cracker…saders and stormers…could be a classic.
14 May 2010, 15:36 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-381: I see the seventh and eigth seeds from the last world cup have quite, lets say, cluttered pools…
I suspect the proper order of the draw would have been:
pool A
France
New Zealand
Tonga
Canada
Asia 1
But since NZ are hosts…
14 May 2010, 15:37 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-381:
so then:
QF1 Aus vs Wales
QF2 Eng vs France
QF3 Boks vs Ireland
QF4 Nz vs Argies
SF1 Aus vs France
SF2 Boks vs Nz
Final France vs Boks
In Nz id Back the Boks to retain the Bill
14 May 2010, 15:37 pm
@grant10(grant10)-385: Any time mate. Just making the circle beeeega!
14 May 2010, 15:38 pm
@grant10(grant10)-389: lol. My supply of bogroll will be plentiful then… Better be a big sized ticket
14 May 2010, 15:39 pm
@Nils(Nils)-387: well if SA win pool D, they will face the winner of Pool A if both win their 1/4, loser ABs/France meet Eng in the 1/4
14 May 2010, 15:40 pm
@Bod(bod)-386: Brokeback = Stormercane… No stigma implied… It was a good movie…AC will show it to his team for motivation before the game against the Bulls B side tomorrow…
14 May 2010, 15:41 pm
@Mustard(Mean Mr Mustard)-391:
SA have won 1 (one) game here this Millenium.
3 in a row.
Yeah right.
14 May 2010, 15:41 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-395: To give them a good rogering then???
14 May 2010, 15:42 pm
@Mustard(Mustard)-391: Good man… Its hard educating our Kiwi brothers-in-rugby
14 May 2010, 15:42 pm
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-388: Right, just remember, they have to play either New Zealand or France. Fine in case of the Frogs who have been whipped by Pumas and Poms in recent years, this however does not apply regarding to the hosts. England had the upper hand only in 02-03 when they had a Golden Era, Pumas – never.
14 May 2010, 15:43 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-394: unless Scotland or Argie beat us in one game, which is possible because all the teams in our group are very physical. Georgia and Romania have front fives as good as most of the major nations. Group B will be a war of attrition.
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