In the aftermath of the Waratahs’ chaotic 22-17 extra-time win over the Western Force, NSW coach Dan McKellar allowed himself to look ahead to their final regular-season assignment: a daunting trip to Eden Park with finals hopes hanging by a thread.
“We’ve got to be smart about how we approach it as a coaching group to give the boys the best chance to go over there and achieve something pretty special,” McKellar said after Darby Lancaster’s acrobatic, 91st-minute match-winning try.
McKellar is right, although “pretty special” might be an understatement.
Eden Park is a graveyard for NSW rugby. The Waratahs have managed just one win at the venue in nearly a century, which came 16 years ago.
On Saturday, the equation is simple. The Waratahs must beat the Blues (2:35pm AEST kick-off), then cross their fingers and hope the Hurricanes do them a favour by beating Moana Pasifika a few hours later.
The last time the Waratahs beat the Blues, in any match, was in 2015 when Michael Cheika was in charge. The last time they pulled off a win at Eden Park, in 2009, Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh was NSW skipper.
The Waratahs celebrate after defeating the Blues at Eden Park in 2009 – the last time they came out on top at the venue.Credit: Getty
“This is a tough place to win,” Waugh said after the Waratahs came from 10-0 down to win 27-22 that evening. “I’ve been on the wrong end here too many times.”
That 2009 victory snapped an 81-year drought at Eden Park dating to 1928, when NSW defeated Auckland at the start of a 10-match New Zealand tour. One win there since Super Rugby began in 1996 does not make for encouraging reading.
As well as teams in sky blue, Eden Park has also haunted those wearing Wallaby gold for decades. The Wallabies’ hoodoo at the ground stretches back to 1986, though they’ll get another chance on September 27 in this year’s opening Bledisloe Cup fixture.
The Sydney-Perth-Sydney-Auckland itinerary is not ideal for the Waratahs after a physical clash against the Force, but McKellar’s men will not be short of motivation to get up for one more game.
“I think we’ll have a pretty light week. We’ll make sure we have a big focus on recovery,” McKellar said.
None of the current Waratahs were around for the 2009 win, but two members of the coaching staff were. Assistant coach Dan Palmer and head of athletic performance Tom Carter played in the match, in which Daniel Halangahu chalked up 17 points.
To qualify for finals, the Waratahs need to snap a 10-game losing streak against a Blues side featuring All Blacks veteran Beauden Barrett. It will take a once-in-a-century performance — and even then, sixth place would probably mean a trip to Hamilton or Christchurch to face the Chiefs or Crusaders in week one of the finals.
“You’ve got to go over there and be tactically really smart with how you play,” McKellar said. “They’re a quality side and have threats across the park. If you want to try and beat them at their game, you’ll come off second best.”
Some would argue the Blues are fallible after they went down 27-21 to Moana in round 14. But former Waratahs players would tell you that’s never the case at Eden Park.
“We’ve had a rough few weeks … but their attitude has been excellent, and we’ve bounced back,” McKellar said. “I’m sure it wasn’t pretty. It won’t go down as a classic, but it’s four points in the bank and we stay alive.”
