Rugby Australia has thrown a lot at the Waratahs, but probably not as much as what Dan McKellar wanted to throw at the coaches’ box window on Friday.
The Waratahs were flat-out poor at the start of the game, and while the fluffed restarts in the second half added another layer of frustration, the guilty parties (Langi Gleeson and Miles Amatosero) should get a pass because at least they showed the requisite hunger levels for the rest of the game.
In contrast to McKellar, former Tahs coach Rob Penney was almost a picture of serenity in the Crusaders’ box – for very good reason. Penney is the first to admit that senior Crusaders such as David Havili have a massive influence within that team, telling the coaches what the group needs each week. McKellar has an enormous challenge building and developing a similar group in NSW, although Matt Phillip and Pete Samu should help next year.
The Wallaby under threat from JOC
The most noticeable thing about James O’Connor this year has been how light he looks on his feet. The Crusaders have an attack that requires the No 10 to do a lot of work off the ball – sometimes he isn’t the first receiver, or second receiver, but the third receiver as O’Connor showed for the Crusaders’ last try against the Waratahs on Friday. You have to be fit to get into position and Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will be loving what he is seeing from the veteran playmaker. O’Connor’s rise in influence for the Crusaders has coincided with Ben Donaldson’s drop-off in form. If you were picking a Wallabies bench tomorrow and looking for a No 10 backup with a bit of versatility, JOC would be the man.
James O’connor celebrates the Crusaders win over the Waratahs.Credit: Getty Images
Say it ain’t so, Allan
The sight of Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa hobbling off the field against the Reds was grim indeed – he really is in the “indispensable” category when it comes to the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions. It didn’t immediately look like a season-ender, but it was another reminder of the fragility of the Wallabies’ campaign. While the Lions could absorb a few injuries – they have already lost their likely captain Caelen Doris – the Wallabies look light in a few positions. Meanwhile, in France, Will Skelton’s La Rochelle are on the fringes of the top six in the Top 14, where they have to finish to earn a playoffs spot. Schmidt will be death-riding them over the final few rounds.
Wallabies form team of the week
- James Slipper (Brumbies)
- Josh Nasser (Reds)
- Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)
- Jeremy Williams (Force)
- Nick Frost (Brumbies)
- Rob Valetini (Brumbies)
- Fraser McReight (Reds)
- Langi Gleeson (Waratahs)
- Tate McDermott (Reds)
- Declan Meredith (Brumbies)
- Corey Toole (Brumbies)
- Ollie Sapsford (Brumbies)
- Len Ikitau (Brumbies)
- Lachie Anderson (Reds)
- Tom Wright (Brumbies. Player of the round)
Reds have flattered to deceive
The Queenslanders do a lot right as an organisation, but they were poor against the Brumbies in Canberra and for a squad with 19 internationals in it their current position on the ladder is underwhelming. They don’t look like championship contenders and the imbalance in the squad is starting to hurt them. They went into the season with two young No 10s and while Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is an obvious talent there is a drop when Tom Lynagh is unavailable. Yes, injuries have hurt the Reds but everyone could say the same thing and at this stage of the season you have to look hard to see where any progress has come from.
Gardner caught up in rugby’s most ridiculous protocol
The can of worms opened up by World Rugby’s decision to allow officials to go back 1000 phases after a try is scored reared its ugly head again in the Moana Pasifika v Blues game on Saturday.
Moana Pasifika had scored a thrilling try, but Australian referee Angus Gardner and his officials spotted a foot in touch multiple phases beforehand. But that was only the half of it. In the build-up, Moana Pasifika had actually lost the ball to the Blues – they were literally no longer in possession of the footy. But they promptly won it back and scored the try several phases later. Yet Gardner and his officials ruled this was still part of the attacking build-up, and disallowed the score. This mess is all so easily prevented – go back to the protocol that you can’t go back more than two phases.
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