May 3, 2024

Super Rugby LIVE: Waratahs aim to get season back on track against Hurricanes

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Waratahs season on life support after 41-12 loss to Hurricanes

Waratahs coach Darren Coleman is confident that his NSW side can salvage their season and secure a Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final spot despite suffering another ugly defeat on Friday night.

The Waratahs are licking their wounds after recording their worst loss of the season and heaviest ever against the Hurricanes in Super Rugby history.

In a season of near misses for NSW, this was far from that as the men in sky blue watched the Hurricanes open up a 31-0 lead before putting the finishing touches on a 41-12 win in Wellington.

The margin of defeat (29 points) surpasses the Waratahs’ 42-17 loss to the Hurricanes in 2001 and is less than ideal with four regular season games remaining.

The Hurricanes continued their nine-year winning streak over NSW in a game where Salesi Rayasi scored a second half double for the home side.

“It’s probably the only game this year where I didn’t feel we were in it,” Coleman said. “That game was all done after 25 minutes. I don’t think we played good footy at any point tonight.”

It is remarkable to think the Waratahs could lose eight of 10 matches this season but remain a mathematical chance of playing finals.

NSW, still in 11th place on the ladder, will need to win three or four of their remaining fixtures against the Brumbies (home), Western Force (away), Moana Pasifika (away) and Queensland Reds (home) to sneak into the top eight.

“I believe you have to hurt after a loss. We’re well aware of what the next four weeks holds. We’ll definitely have a positive mindset,” Coleman said.

“The beauty of the comp is we have four games to go. We win those four and we’re in the play-offs. Although I am hurting at the moment – and the team is as well – we will dust ourselves off and give it a shake on the way home.

Brett Cameron of the Hurricanes scores a try.Credit: Getty

“They were exceptional there. We couldn’t stop their roll-on or their offloads. We weren’t physical. That was an impressive first bit of footy.”

The Waratahs rested regular starters Max Jorgensen and Charlie Gamble and looked incapable of making a dent in the Hurricanes’ defence in a scoreless first half for NSW.

Waratahs assistant coach Chris Whitaker did not mince his words at half-time with his team down 26-0 and looking bereft of answers against a rampaging Hurricanes outfit coming off a narrow loss to the Brumbies in Canberra last week.

“We’re coming second at the moment by a long way,” the former Waratahs great told local broadcasters.

By full-time, debutant Vuate Karawalevu (65th minute) and 50th gamer Hugh Sinclair (75th minute) had tries to their names to add some respectability to an unflattering scoreline.

“I thought the way they played with speed at the start of the game was hard to stay with,” said Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon. “We knew they were powerful and we had trouble containing them. They are a quality team. We do some good stuff and then let ourselves down. We need to do it for longer.

Waratahs No.10 Will Harrison.Credit: Getty

“It’s a sprint this competition. We’re going to have to move quick. It’s a big week for us.”

Trailing 31-0, you could have forgiven the Waratahs for lining up a penalty with 17 minutes remaining to get themselves on the scoreboard.

Only once since Super Rugby began in 1996 have the Waratahs finished a match without scoring a point. That took place in 2018 when the Waratahs were humbled 29-0 by the Lions in Sydney.

Karawalevu’s five-pointer down the right edge was a sigh of relief for the team and a nice moment for the outside back who was once contracted by the Sydney Roosters.

At times, the Waratahs’ defence was diabolical. They missed 41 tackles compared to the Hurricanes who did not complete 15. First tackles just did not stick.

The Waratahs’ season is on life support heading into a clash with the Brumbies in Sydney next Saturday.

Another loss might also seal Coleman’s fate, with NSW officials set to make a call on his future after the season.

Despite a front-rower shortage and a team down on confidence, Coleman is trying his best but the team has gone backwards since last year and need to show some spark in May or start to contemplate where they might go for an early holiday.

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6.56pm

Full-time stats: Waratahs miss 41 tackles

6.53pm

Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon reacts to his side’s 29-point defeat

Jake Gordon has just had a chat on Sky after that one-sided result.

“I thought the way they played with speed at the start of the game was hard to stay with,” Gordon said. “We knew they were powerful and we had trouble containing them. They are a quality team.

“We do some good stuff and then let ourselves down. We need to do it for longer.

“It’s a sprint this competition. We’re going to have to move quick.”

6.47pm

Full-time: Hurricanes thump Waratahs 41-12

The Waratahs’ dismal season has continued after another underwhelming performance in Wellington.

The Hurricanes piled on the first five tries of the match to highlight the stark gap between the sides.

Vuate Karawalevu and Hugh Sinclair scored late five-pointers for the Waratahs to add some respectability to the scoreline before TJ Perenara grabbed a five-pointer of his own right at the death.

Seven tries to two. Tough times at NSW, who remain in 11th spot. Their season is officially on life support.

Hurricanes 41, Waratahs 12

Fergus Lee-Warner of the Waratahs looks on. Credit: Getty

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6.41pm

Sinclair bags a try for NSW

In his 50th match, Hugh Sinclair finds his way over the tryline. A nice moment for him despite the one-sided result.

It’s a lovely cut-out pass from halfback Jack Grant to Sinclair who does the rest.

It won’t be enough.

Hurricanes 36-12 Waratahs (after 77 minutes)

6.33pm

Debutant scores first try for Waratahs

There it is.

The Waratahs have found a score in Wellington as debutant Vuate Karawalevu crosses down the right side. His teammates are delighted.

Tane Edmed, who has replaced Will Harrison, misses the conversion.

Within a minute, Rayasi grabs his second five-pointer for the Hurricanes with an acrobatic effort near the left corner post.

Not the greatest defence there from Karawalevu who’s probably still on a high from his try on debut.

Hurricanes 36-5 Waratahs (after 70 minutes)

6.29pm

Rayasi scores to make it 31-0 over the Waratahs

A simple right to left shift from the Hurricanes sees Triston Reilly gets turned inside out.

Salesi Rayasi plants the ball over the line for his side’s fifth try as the conversion goes right.

The Waratahs just can’t strike a blow.

Fun fact: the Waratahs have only gone scoreless once in their Super Rugby history since 1996. That occurred in 2018 when they went down 29-0 to the Lions in Sydney.

Hurricanes 31-0 Waratahs (after 63 minutes)

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6.23pm

The Hurricanes almost have their fifth try

The Waratahs have been camped on their own line for the start of the second half.

No.10 Will Harrison is doing his best to control the game but isn’t getting a lot of help from the Waratahs forwards. The Tahs have only had 37 per cent possession and 39 per cent territory in this match.

NSW win a lineout five metres from their line but halfback Jack Grant’s box kick is charged down.

It’s put down over the line by the Hurricanes but the TMO says it’s a knock-on, by the slimmest of margins. A little let-off there for NSW and a questionable option so close to their line.

Hurricanes 26-0 Waratahs (after 58 minutes)

Waratahs No.10 Will Harrison. Credit: Getty

6.10pm

The second half is upon us

Waratahs assistant coach Chris Whitaker delivered somewhat of an understatement at half-time.

“We’re coming second at the moment by a long way,” the former Waratahs great told local broadcasters.

The Waratahs need their first tackles to stick and get some points on the board to get the confidence up. Players look like they’re just playing within themselves at the moment.

A poor pass from No.12 Lalakai Foketi goes through Dylan Pietsch’s hands and into touch. The NSW coaching box is not a happy camp at the moment. Tough to watch.

Hurricanes 26-0 Waratahs (after 45 minutes)

5.56pm

Can the Waratahs salvage this match?

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