The Growden Report
Waratahs, Brumbies can't afford slack moments
Greg Growden
June 8, 2015
Cheetahs 33-58 Waratahs (Australia only)

The grandiose hopes of some in the Australian Rugby Union bunker that three of their franchises would make the Super Rugby finals has, as expected, not come to fruition. Getting two teams in - the Waratahs and Brumbies - is still a reasonable outcome considering neither Australian side has exactly been luminous this season; enlightening at times, but more often than not victims of splutters and occasional engine breakdowns.

The Super Rugby finalists are not usually determined until the last minute of the last game in the last round. But this time around, it is all cut and dried well before the finals - with three New Zealand and two Australian sides to continue alongside one South African side. The final round next weekend is still important as it will determine the order of the finalists - particularly for the Australian teams, as it will determine who tops their conference to claim the advantage of home finals and a week's rest.

The Waratahs and Brumbies are both locked on 47 points, so the finishing order will revolve around who wins, who gets the bonus point, who can be most convincing in round 18. If they are still together on the same number of points next Saturday night, the Waratahs will finish ahead of the Brumbies as the number of wins in the season is the first step to break a deadlock; the Waratahs currently boast ten wins, the Brumbies nine.

Then there is the matter of their final opponents. The Waratahs confront the ramshackle Reds in Sydney, while the Brumbies in Canberra are up against a formidable Crusaders outfit seething that they just missed out of the finals cut and wanting to give Richie McCaw and Dan Carter a winning farewell.

The Waratahs and Brumbies both enjoyed sizeable wins over the weekend, but each showed their flaws.

Force 20-33 Brumbies (Australia only)
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The Brumbies were cruising against the Force, for a time scoring tries virtually at will, before slackening badly in the final 10 minutes to allow their opponents two unnecessary tries. Performing for just 70 minutes can be very dangerous at finals time.

The Waratahs went on a try-scoring feast against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, but their defence was also shoddy at times - allowing several easy opposition tries in a very 'loose as a goose' performance; commitment in the defensive line was often lacking.

Israel Folau produced his best game of the season with ball in hand © Getty Images
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Thankfully for the Waratahs, their biggest name, Israel Folau, chose this moment to remind all of his resources and extraordinary skills in scoring three tries during an attacking master class. Without Folau, the Waratahs could have easily been facing a long lonely trip back home from Bloemfontein.

Jet-lag will be the problem this week for the Waratahs, but they will undoubtedly be revived by knowing they are playing their troubled arch rivals, who continued their Comedy Capers of a season against the Chiefs.

Reds 3-24 Chiefs (Australia only)
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This was supposed to be a game when the Reds properly farewelled two of their stalwarts - Will Genia and James Horwill - with an inspiring 'let's do it for them' performance. Instead, they were so inept that despite having the ball for virtually all of the first-half they had absolutely nothing to show for it; the Chiefs got the occasional sniff of possession and that was enough to plunder the Reds.

You really felt sorry for Genia and Horwill - especially as there was such a rousing start to the game, with the Test half-back running onto the field carrying his young child. That should have enthused everyone in their team. Instead, within minutes, the momentum was gone and you were again witnessing a team representing an organisation that has badly lost its way. Then during the half-time break, the cameras showed the Reds dressing rooms where one of the reserves players was doing most of the talking to the group. What a complete mess! Surely their head coach, Richard Graham, cannot survive.

At least there were slightly more entertaining than the Force, who are so infuriatingly boring, so predictable, so negative, and so find themselves where they deserve to be: stone, motherless last.

During the game, one of the TV commentators queried: "What can be done to improve the Force?"

The answer is so easy.

Get a new, inventive game plan. Otherwise, they will soon be playing in front of no one.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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