1. The Waratahs' weak point is also a Wallabies problem.
There
were echoes of the Wallabies' loss to England last year in the
Waratahs' defeat to Highlanders; deep kick-offs and tactical kicks to
the Waratahs' left corner to trade off Bernard Foley's comparatively
weak kicking game, the lack of another option due to Kurtley Beale's
injury, and the inability of Israel Folau to provide that sort of role
from No.15. England exploited it well once it dawned on them how much
easy territory they could gain, and the Highlanders were onto the
strategy from the first kick of the game. Foley had a poor night – every
bit as hard on the nerves as Quade Cooper can be – and his struggles
would not have been lost on either England coach Stuart Lancaster or his
Wales counterpart Warren Gatland.
The Wallabies should never
share a coach with a Super Rugby side – and the argument for
absolute separation of the roles is never made more strongly than when
the same issues are seen across both sides.
2. Pocock and Hooper were removed from the equation.
The aforementioned Lancaster and Gatland will have filled their
notebooks with ideas about how to nullify Australia's opensides, because
the Hurricanes and Highlanders did it expertly.
The general
chatter will be about Pocock being 'outplayed' by Ardie Savea – and the
younger of the Savea siblings is obviously a rare talent – but really it
was the Hurricanes' pack combined efforts that took Pocock out of the
game. They hit him quick, hard, and low at the breakdown before he could
really get set over the ball; it was physical and highly accurate.
The
Highlanders' methods were different, chopping the Waratahs' big men in
half on the advantage line, but the net effect was the same; it denied
the Waratahs any chance to play to their No.7's strengths.
3. Potgieter outrage overblown.
Craig
Joubert was forced to make a difficult call when Jacques Potgieter -
eyes not on the ball - collected Patrick Osborne with an arm in the act
of scoring a try.
It's an interpretation. Cows will come home well before arguments are settled on this one. But when you get a decision like this the thing you hope for is consistency. And Joubert did provide it.
A few weeks ago in New Plymouth the Chiefs' Tom Marshall was
sin binned and a penalty try awarded when he illegally hit Julian Savea,
who was diving for the corner. Was the Potgieter decision a call that
could be argued either way? Absolutely. Did it influence the match?
Naturally. Did it definitively alter the outcome? No. And so we move
on.
4. Rob Horne was the Waratahs player of the year.
The former utility has made the flank position his own, by virtue of his consistency, low error rate, surprising strength in the tackle and outstanding defence.
Those traits add up to an accomplished
performer at present, even though he does not have the magic hands or
top-end speed that define the competition's finest wingers. Throw is his
ability to shift into midfield and you can virtually book him a seat on
the plane to England.
5. Brumbies are so close but so far.
They
had the good grace not to make much of an issue about it, but tiredness
was an unwelcome companion throughout the Brumbies' game against the
Hurricanes.
The missed tackle count in the first half alone was alarming, and in Tevita Kuridrani's case – beaten on the outside by Nehe Milner-Skudder on one occasion, slipping off the much-improved Victor Vito on another – is starting to resemble a worry.
Regardless, the
semi-finals is a fair reflection on a campaign that did not build on
early promise. Surprisingly, the Brumbies' scrum has been an issue this
year, even when at full strength with Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander and
Scott Sio. The departure of Nic White, who has been such a central
figure for them, may be a catalyst to tweak how they play, because the
right balance is still elusive.
Team of the week
1. Brendon Edmonds (Highlanders)
2. Dane Coles (Hurricanes)
3. Ben Franks (Hurricanes)
4. Jeremy Thrush (Hurricanes)
5. James Broadhurst (Hurricanes)
6. Brad Shields (Hurricanes)
7. Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
8. Victor Vito (Hurricanes)
9. Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
10. Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders)
11. Julian Savea (Hurricanes)
12. Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes)
13. Conrad Smith (Hurricanes)
14. Waisake Naholo (Highlanders)
15. Ben Smith (Highlanders)
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/waratahs/why-waratahs-super-rugby-defeat-to-highlanders-spells-world-cup-trouble-for-wallabies-20150628-ghzm8d
