Tahs thump errant Reds
26 Feb 2011
GARETH DUNCAN reports on the Waratahs’ 30-6 bonus-point win over the Reds in Sydney on Saturday.
It’s still early in the season, but you have to question the Reds’ form this year as they have been struggling to find that magic that made them play-off contenders in 2010. The main problem lies with Quade Cooper – when their chief playmaker is restricted, they become predictable on attack. This is what the Tahs did well in their victory as it provided them with the platform to control proceedings.
The Tahs enjoyed a strong start, dominating the Reds in the first quarter by exposing their defensive frailties and sniping the gaps with good interplay between the backs. The hosts also impressed on defence and by targeting Cooper, the visitors struggled to build momentum because of their lack of variety on attack.
The Reds heavies were no better up front and they were dealt a further blow when skipper and talisman James Horwill limped off midway through the first stanza with an ankle injury. With the Tahs pack having the upper hand at the breakdown, the Reds leaked penalties and this allowed flyhalf Berrick Barnes to kick his team into an early 6-0 lead.
Fullback Kurtley Beale, who played an influential role in the win as he rotated with Barnes in the flyhalf channel regularly, caught the Reds napping as his quick penalty tap saw wing Drew Micthell dive in at the corner. Cooper opened the scoring for the Reds with a three-pointer, but they fell further behind when flanker Dave Dennis bashed over after rushing through from a sneaky line-out move. Cooper made it 16-6 as he slotted his second penalty for the final action of the first half.
The Tahs continued to hold the ascendancy after the break and they ran in two more tries through wing Lachie Turner and replacement loosehead prop Benn Robinson to secure the four-try bonus point. If it wasn’t for a lack of composure and poor handling at the death, the Tahs could’ve crossed the chalk several times more.
The Reds were stale in the second stanza and failed to add to their tally. This performance will be a huge concern for the Queenslanders and head coach Ewen McKenzie will need to go back to the drawing before their clash against the Brumbies in a key Aussie derby next weekend. If they don’t rectify their problems soon, the Reds will be remembered as one-hit wonders.
Waratahs 30(16) – Tries: Drew Mitchell, Dave Dennis, Lachie Turner, Benn Robinson. Conversions: Kurtley Beale (2). Penalties: Berrick Barnes (2)
Reds 6(6) – Penalties: Quade Cooper (2).
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49 Comments
26 Feb 2011, 09:33 am
could be a thriller
26 Feb 2011, 09:34 am
Could be one sided
26 Feb 2011, 09:36 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-2: no way!
26 Feb 2011, 10:10 am
Fantasy team got stuck with the burglar due to sader / canes not playing
26 Feb 2011, 10:48 am
Watch Quade Cooper being targeted, he is the weak link
26 Feb 2011, 10:52 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-2:
After what they did to the Rebels last week… this should be another hiding…
26 Feb 2011, 10:53 am
Blowout
26 Feb 2011, 11:06 am
The Waratahs are way better than the Reds.
26 Feb 2011, 11:07 am
poor crowd. I thought these derbies are what the crowds want.
26 Feb 2011, 11:11 am
both teams’ offloading in the tackle has been great (Waratahs slightly better). SA teams hardly ever offload in the tackle, mostly always going to the “safety” of ground making it harder to break down defences.
26 Feb 2011, 11:13 am
half the tickets give aways to schoolkids
26 Feb 2011, 11:16 am
yep, this is going to be a big score.
26 Feb 2011, 11:20 am
where is Quade????
26 Feb 2011, 11:24 am
Reds are dropping like Australian flies.
26 Feb 2011, 11:44 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-9: Rebels had a great crowd though yesterday. Very good atmosphere there I thought.
Think Reds losing Braid might be a probably for them.
26 Feb 2011, 11:53 am
@Puma(Puma)-15:
ShArKs!!
26 Feb 2011, 11:56 am
sHaRkS!!
26 Feb 2011, 12:04 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-16: Yeah, can’t wait for our game. Weather brilliant right now, no clouds and not that humid, but humidity will pick up by this afternoon. A bit of a wind.
Should be a cracker, just the humidity later on probably will not allow for a great game. I am not too worried just hope we win, win by a point that is fine with me. This is a super Blues side. A bit nervous for our Sharks today. Hope we do it.
GO SHARKS GO.!!
26 Feb 2011, 12:10 pm
quades one chance to shine………..
26 Feb 2011, 12:15 pm
One things for certain – the Waratahs are guaranteed a home semifinal. They should easily finish 1 or 2 in the joint standings.
Big fish in a small conference pond.
26 Feb 2011, 12:15 pm
@Puma(Puma)-18:
Hi Puma,
How are you? Its good to here about the weather, lets hope the humidity is not too bad- mind you, it might just be in the Sharks’ favour – the blues backs are devestating, not sure whether the sharks will contain them if conditions are good for an open type of game.
I do however think the Sharks will win – they might only clinch it during the last quarter though, so you better have something on hand to calm the nerves this afternoon.
The Stormers? There is not much chance that the will lose at home against the overhyped Lions, so I am relaxed. The 3 new blokes in the team are all good, they should bring some new much needed energy to the side as well.
Good luck to your team.
26 Feb 2011, 12:18 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-21: no team has beaten the Blues more often than the Sharks. 10 out of 14 and 6 on the trot now. The Sharks know how to contain them, humidity or no humidity.
26 Feb 2011, 12:24 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-22:
I wont bargain on it as history don’t count for much in this competition – the problem with the Blues is that one never knows what team will pitch on the day- they are a bit like the French national team used to be.
Shark by about 7
26 Feb 2011, 12:52 pm
breaking news
juan smith out of WC
Achilles ruptured!
26 Feb 2011, 12:54 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-21: Howzit Rob,
Well the humidity will climb by 3pm and by 5pm it will be already 75%. So have to wait and see. Not great playing rugby in the humidity.
This is a class Blues side. Great everywhere but think we edge them in the front row. They have superb backs, we not too shabby, but our centres just don’t match theirs. Also they have Ali back. Read they were training with buckets of water……hahahaha. You know you just can’t get used to the humidity no matter how much you train in it. Not like playing up at altitude, there you have a advantage training at altitude.
Lions were on fire in the 2nd half last week. Their advantage is they have done all their training at altitude. Don’t underestimate that. I know Stormers have a better side, but these Lions have huge believe in themselves and that goes for a long way. They have probably one of the best coaches as well. I won’t be suprised if they win by 1 or 3. Though Stormers should win this one.
Are you also going to take part in the Argus?
26 Feb 2011, 12:54 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-20: Not so sure about the “big figh in little pond”. Tahs are belting teams simply because they are just playing so much better the everyone else at the moment. After what I’ve seen from the Bulls, Sharks, Chiefs, Hurricanes etc so far I’d just say they are playing round 8 or 9 round standard and most of the rest of the comp is playing rubbish (like the Brumbies, Reds and Rebels).
Don’t think any of the pools are particularly strong this time of year. Guess e will find out later. So far the Tahs have been the only standout team. I’m reserving judgement on the Blues and Crusaders for another game and the Stormers of course.
26 Feb 2011, 12:56 pm
Alberts has everything to play for then. Sad news that on Juan. A huge loss.
Alberts will have to stay injury free now.
26 Feb 2011, 12:59 pm
@jeest(jeest)-26: Tahs have only played Reds and Rebels. Can’t judge them until they have played, Bulls, Saders, Blues, Stormers and Sharks. Not sure who misses them from the SA conference or the NZ conference. I know Sharks play them.
Think this is probably just far to early in this tourney to make calls on teams. Some will get better and others may fade.
26 Feb 2011, 13:01 pm
@Puma(Puma)-28: That is true, but all I’m saying is that they are basically the only team that have looked quite composed and have been fairly clinical.
Think they miss the Stormers this year.
26 Feb 2011, 13:04 pm
glad stormers dont play tahs….they on fire!
26 Feb 2011, 13:11 pm
@grant10(grant10)-30: Stormers might be too ?? Would be a shame to have to wait to the finals to see them play if the Stormers play as well as last year and the Tahs keep this up.
26 Feb 2011, 13:12 pm
Thats not good news on Smith he was superb during the Tri nations, a big loss.
26 Feb 2011, 13:13 pm
@grant10(grant10)-30:
That is then how rubbish this type format of competition is, when a team does not have to play one of the top teams.
26 Feb 2011, 13:16 pm
@grant10(grant10)-30:
We will really see where they after next weeks away game against the Crusaders.
26 Feb 2011, 13:17 pm
@grant10(grant10)-24:
Just proves how true my notion of decreptitude is then for these ancients.
No younger player readily ruptures a strong, healthy achilles tendon.
26 Feb 2011, 13:23 pm
@jeest(jeest)-29: Yeah, for now they looking the business. So too does the Blues. After today we will know more.
I think this format is flawed. Said it all along. How can some teams play top teams and miss playing very ordinary teams? How can we call this a fair tourney? Flawed to me.
Sharks play, Tahs, Blues and Saders. All the top overseas sides.
26 Feb 2011, 13:25 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-32: A huge, huge loss.
Now hoping no other injury to any top players. Go read this (Last Man Standing) by danretief. Very, very good read. I agree with him.
here is the addie. http://www.danretief.com
26 Feb 2011, 13:26 pm
Exactly. What a rubbish format that the Stormers miss playing the best Aus team completely.
26 Feb 2011, 13:26 pm
Did the Cheetahs play him with an injury to start with?
26 Feb 2011, 13:28 pm
@Puma(Puma)-37:
He always gives the Ab loosies a good tickle up when we play, cheers will have a read.
26 Feb 2011, 13:29 pm
Lions miss the Rebels.
Stormers miss the Tahs.
Fair?
26 Feb 2011, 13:34 pm
Total rubbish competition that only Americans can concoct and put on a negotiating table.
26 Feb 2011, 13:48 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-38:
That’s why this format is flawed.
We could’ve just used the same format as last year where you play every team. And then it would’nt have been necessary to increase the length of the comp from 16 weeks to 21.
But come the play-offs you can’t avoid playing the top teams at some stage or another.
26 Feb 2011, 13:48 pm
Hey!! Jock, where are you?
You can watch your Hearts against Aberdeen in 10 mins. on http://www.vipstand.me
26 Feb 2011, 13:59 pm
@ET.(ET.)-44:
Are you enjoying the cricket?
The Pakkies are looking to post a competitive score against the Lankans.
26 Feb 2011, 14:11 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-45:
I certainly am doing so.
Actually watching Pak. suffocate themselves with Misbah whilst Afridi and Razzaq sit in the hut.
With just 6 overs left i would want those destroyers at the crease for me and not slow-coach Misbah.
27 Feb 2011, 00:11 am
@Puma(Puma)-28:
Hey Puma
How are you doing?
The rebels are not a bad side even though they got belted 43-0….they did not deserve that score.
I predicted a rebels win against the brumbies…as the rebels have a good balanced side. strong forwards and a good backline. They lacked cohesion in the first game.
The rebels have a few more scalps coming their way this year…its going to be tough predicting their games which is the exciting part of this years S15.
The Tahs are good but need a barometer game…but looking at the SA side games it bodes well for the tahs BUT as we all know RSA derby games lack structure as it seems these games are about evening out physical scores.
27 Feb 2011, 02:02 am
@ET.(ET.)-35: How ancient is Dan Carter, oh learned one? He suffered the same injury in 2009. The only one who is decrepit around here is you.
27 Feb 2011, 04:58 am
2 from 2 = 10
Thank you very much
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