Waratahs Coach McKellar Fumes as Blues Mount Stunning Comeback
The NSW Waratahs have suffered a disheartening 35-20 defeat at the hands of the Blues at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, a loss that has left coach Dan McKellar visibly frustrated. The team, having started the Super Rugby Pacific season with two wins, has now endured three consecutive losses, plummeting them to seventh place on the ladder and out of the coveted finals positions. This mirrors last year’s struggles under McKellar, as the Blues secured their twelfth straight victory against NSW.
The match initially saw the Waratahs in a commanding position, with Jack Debreczeni’s boot extending their lead to 20-8 early in the second half. However, Vern Cotter’s Blues outfit responded with a relentless surge, piling on 27 unanswered points to snatch a crucial bonus-point victory.
“Pretty disappointed, 12 point lead,” McKellar stated to Stan Sport’s Morgan Turinui. “Attack-wise, probably looked our best tonight, for long periods of time. In that first 20-25 minutes we didn’t take our opportunities. But a 12-point lead, discipline, piggybacking them downfield – you give the Blues field position and entries into their A (attacking) zone, they’re going to hurt you.”
Skill Errors and Discipline Undermine Waratahs’ Efforts
McKellar pointed to basic skill errors and a lack of discipline as key factors in the Waratahs’ downfall. He suggested that his players are likely to face a stern talking-to following the disappointing performance.
“We spoke about it at halftime… discipline was right at the top of the list and obviously that message wasn’t clear enough,” McKellar admitted. “It’s individual choices. Do you want to give yourself half a yard to make sure you’re onside or do you want to take the easy option and be pinged for it?”
The Waratahs’ lineup saw a late change with centre Triston Reilly a scratching due to injury, replaced by Lawson Creighton in the midfield.
Facing a Tough Challenge Against the Brumbies
Looking ahead, the Waratahs face a formidable challenge with a trip to Canberra to confront the third-placed ACT Brumbies on Friday night. Despite the recent setbacks, McKellar expressed pride in his team’s resilience.
“I’ve been really proud of the reactions over the last couple of weeks,” McKellar said. “It’s difficult when you’ve lost a couple of games back-to-back. Brumbies vs Waratahs, down there – a big, big contest from a historical point of view. Individual contests as well that come within that game, so we’ll bounce back.”
Blues’ Clinical Second-Half Performance
The victory propelled the Blues into second place on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, trailing only the Hurricanes. The Blues showcased their attacking prowess by scoring five tries to the Waratahs’ two, turning a match that seemed to be slipping away into a comfortable win.
Once the Blues secured consistent, quality possession in the second half, they capitalised with ruthless efficiency. Wingers Caleb Clarke and Cody Vai were standout performers for the victors. Rookie Vai continued his impressive form, notching his third try in as many starts, while Clarke once again led the team in carry metres with an impressive 64.
Beauden Barrett was instrumental in orchestrating the comeback, and centre AJ Lam had a memorable outing, contributing two tries, making 31 metres in his charges, and beating six defenders. Lam’s influence was particularly significant as the Blues seized control in the latter stages of the match.
Key Performers for the Blues
Skipper Dalton Papali’i, despite departing the field injured after the first 40 minutes, made a significant impact with 18 tackles without a miss. Sam Darry delivered another strong performance in the lock position, registering 19 tackles with no misses, while Brad Slater was a force at hooker for the Kiwi side.
The Blues’ bench also played a crucial role in their second-half surge. Halfback Taufa Funaki was influential, with Josh Beehre, Marcel Renata, and Torian Barnes also making valuable contributions. Additionally, Payton Spencer, son of Blues legend Carlos, made his debut appearance off the bench, adding his impact to the team’s efforts.
Waratahs’ Bright Sparks Amidst the Loss
Despite the disappointing result, there were positive individual performances for the Waratahs. Young fullback Sid Harvey was outstanding, both with his running game, amassing a game-high 139 metres, and with his reliable kicking. Jack Debreczeni also had a productive match at flyhalf. Up front, loose forward Jamie Adamson was a standout in a pack that will likely be looking to put this performance behind them.
First Half Dominance, Second Half Collapse
The halftime statistics painted a stark picture of the Waratahs’ first-half dominance. They held 66% of possession, 75% of territory, made 12 entries into the 22 compared to the Blues’ four, and carried the ball for 339 metres to the Blues’ 50. However, their slender 10-8 lead deep into the half belied an exceptional defensive effort from the Blues.
The visitors made a remarkable 99 tackles out of 109 attempts in the first 40 minutes, digging in resolutely to prevent the home side from extending their try-scoring beyond two. The Waratahs were held up over the try line multiple times and missed several clear try-scoring opportunities under pressure. They were in danger of entering the break with only a slim lead until a late try from prop Dan Botha.
The Blues had initially taken a 5-0 lead through Fin Christie, who capitalised on an opening when Slater was held up just short of the line. This was answered by a penalty from Harvey and then a contentious try from Debreczeni just past the half-hour mark. The try was awarded despite claims that Miles Amatosero had dropped the ball forward in a tackle, with both the referee and TMO ruling it had gone backwards, allowing Debreczeni to score.
As the Waratahs appeared to be gaining the upper hand and the Blues were struggling to contain them, it seemed their dominance would be reflected on the scoreboard. However, Botha managed to ground the ball over the line in a scramble just before halftime, giving the Waratahs a 10-8 lead.
An early penalty from Harvey extended the Waratahs’ advantage to 20-8 after the restart. However, the Blues found their rhythm with approximately 30 minutes remaining. Vai, Lam (twice), and replacement loosie Torian Barnes crossed for tries as the visitors finished strongly, leaving the Waratahs to rue what might have been.
“That first half it felt like we were on a treadmill chasing the Waratahs,” noted Beauden Barrett post-game. “We were scrambling but managed to limit the damage at halftime.”
