Super Rugby R4 2025: Waratahs v Force @ SFS, Saturday 8 March

[Pfitzy]

You win or you learn

If you're lucky, you do both.

Yes there are things to work on but take note:

14 Chiefs
13 Waratahs
9 the chasing pack

Tahs are the only undefeated side at this point. And nowhere near their best.

 

[Braveheart81]

Tahs threads this year have been so strange. I normally flick though them an hour into the match, or towards the end and they are just so negative. I assume they are copping a flogging.

The I'll check the score and they will be winning by 15 points.

Most pessimistic fan base going

Yep. It's bizarre.

The Tahs weren't great but I think it was comfortably their best performance for the year mostly because they did a better job converting their attacking chances.

The Force produced the worst performance out of the three games that the Waratahs have played and that contributed to the lopsided result. I think you have to give the Tahs forwards some credit for their physicality. The Force couldn't get their short passing game going and kept dropping the ball.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Nic White also reverted to being just a dummy half this match. He seemed back to a bit of form to start the year. Kicking game was good but he poses no threat at the base. Teams can pressure Donaldson if you don't have to worry about White.

 

[BDA]

A few things from this game that stood out:-

1. O'Donnell was a machine. He's definitely got my attention now.

2. Tupou looks badly out of form. IMO it's quite obviously it's a direct result of his poor fitness. Hands on hips 10 minutes in, rushing out of the line to make a hit and missing completely, ineffective at the ruck. doing very little to assist in defence and attack and just seagulls. dropping the pill in contact - all telltale signs of him just being knackered from minute one. The coaches really need to get him to improve his fitness immediately.

3. Best performance from a Tahs side in years IMO. Leap years ahead of their first two outings.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

2. Tupou looks like a guy semi phoning it in. When are we going to hear an announcement about an overseas contract?

 

[Braveheart81]

He's routinely getting creased when he runs the ball too. Whether from a pass or a pick and go there's nowhere near the explosiveness he had previously.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Will a game at Suncorp fire him up? I hope so and reckon the competitor in him has to.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

A few things from this game that stood out:-

1. O'Donnell was a machine. He's definitely got my attention now.

I was gutted that this guy left the Force, I know he wasn't going to stay forever but I think we should have played him more and he has the potential to be a long-term Wallaby 13

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I was gutted that this guy left the Force, I know he wasn't going to stay forever but I think we should have played him more and he has the potential to be a long-term Wallaby 13

Got that look doesn't he. Big, strong carrier who makes the guys around him better. He had a couple moments v the Drua in defence but who doesn't and was his Tahs debut. Other than that he's a gun out there.

Even though it seems a position of depth I said i the pre season I though he and Ropata will push their way into the game day squad by the end of the year. hard to drop Henry the way he's going when JAS is available and Foketi back. Walton also stepped up for what seemed like his best game I can remember. Those 2 outplayed their centre counterparts. Stewart made one good line break but other than that not much.

 

[Micheal]

I really like O'Donnell too.

Surely we go for something like:

11. Jorgensen
12. Foketi
13. O'Donnell
14. Kellaway
15. JAS

I'm not sold on Lancaster or Walton -- both solid players and hard workers, but I don't think they have the ceiling required.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I think and hope Lancaster does. Only 21 so he will get better. Pietsch was 25 before he seems to have really clicked. Yes he had time in the 7s...

Walton is what he is and his performance was strong on the weekend. If it keeps up it he'll make it hard for Foketi which is a good thing.

 

[fatprop]

I really like O'Donnell too.

Surely we go for something like:

11. Jorgensen
12. Foketi
13. O'Donnell
14. Kellaway
15. JAS

I'm not sold on Lancaster or Walton -- both solid players and hard workers, but I don't think they have the ceiling required.

I thought Walton was quite good at 12 and worked well with O'Donnell - and the backline looked much more functional

 

[Hogan]

I thought Walton was quite good at 12 and worked well with O'Donnell - and the backline looked much more functional

The backline looked much more functional due to Creighton at 10. For some reason Edmed just couldn’t get them going. Maybe Tane is more suited to 12?

 

[Braveheart81]

The backline looked much more functional due to Creighton at 10. For some reason Edmed just couldn’t get them going. Maybe Tane is more suited to 12?

I'm not convinced.

The backline was fine but largely I think the Force played pretty poorly.

Creighton was fine but assuming that Edmed did lose the starting job due to illness I'd be reinstating him. Creighton threw a long pass for the first try to Jorgensen but the pass left Max with a lot of work to do to score.

The second and third tries he had no involvement.

The fourth try to Lancaster he was involved but not pivotal to the try.

I don't think Edmed did anything amazing when he got on but was fine.

The main issue to me is that Creighton's goal kicking was pretty poor which has been something Edmed has done well this season.

I guess takeaway is that if Edmed was genuinely dropped then you would persist with Creighton. If the decision was based around Edmed being sick and missing key sessions last week then I don't see any reason not to reinstate him in the starting jersey.

 

[Hogan]

I'm not convinced.

The backline was fine but largely I think the Force played pretty poorly.

Creighton was fine but assuming that Edmed did lose the starting job due to illness I'd be reinstating him. Creighton threw a long pass for the first try to Jorgensen but the pass left Max with a lot of work to do to score.

The second and third tries he had no involvement.

The fourth try to Lancaster he was involved but not pivotal to the try.

I don't think Edmed did anything amazing when he got on but was fine.

The main issue to me is that Creighton's goal kicking was pretty poor which has been something Edmed has done well this season.

I guess takeaway is that if Edmed was genuinely dropped then you would persist with Creighton. If the decision was based around Edmed being sick and missing key sessions last week then I don't see any reason not to reinstate him in the starting jersey.

I thought I read somewhere that McKellar was quoted as saying that he chose Creighton to help unlock the backline. He’ll hold his spot for this week’s game.