Whilst the Waratahs were never the most dominant championship winning side ever they were great value for money and on route to the Super XV title showed plenty of endeavour and bags of guts (Foley’s try vs the Brumbies anyone? ).
Oh, and they also played some exhilarating rugby along the way.
I think it’s safe to say though, that the Waratahs have struggled to replicate that form this year. But if you’re going to throw it all out there, then against the New Zealand conference leaders away from home is about as good a time as any to do it.
To be fair both teams delivered some amazing rugby in a fantastic game, but we’re going to take a look at Peter Betham’s try, as think it highlights some of what’s been missing from the Waratahs campaign this season.
I feel like I say this all the time but as with a lot of tries in this day it comes from a turnover, but it’s the decision making on ball and during the subsequent 11 phases or so that really flag this try up as special.
It’s worth paying close attention to Nick Phipps throughout the sequence, his passing and his preemptive support lines are really interesting.
Something that’s bothered me a lot about the Tahs this season is their indecisiveness in attack and I’ve felt a lot of that has come from the constant interchanging of Beale and Foley at 1st receiver. I think in attack a team needs a clear leader and even with a ball playing 12 you still need your fly half to step in and push the team where it needs to go, so pay close attention to Bernard Foley in this whole sequence as even when playing at 2nd receiver his decision making is absolutely on point, but it’s his impact when finally stepping into 1st receiver that stops the move breaking down into nothing. It’s a small but important intervention.
Special mention must go to Betham as well who shows great finishing to get the 5 points, it’s a shame he’s leaving the Waratahs, but he’s a perfect signing for Leicester Tigers if he can show half the passion he shows after scoring this try the fans will take him to heart.
