Craig Dowd
Waratahs show Wallabies the World Cup way
Craig Dowd
May 27, 2015
Waratahs 32-22 Crusaders (Australia only)

Talk about having to eat your own words, but if I reflect on criticism made 12 months ago about the Waratahs' "soft underbelly" then there was no sign of it when they defeated the Crusaders on Saturday night. And that level of intent, carried through into the Australia team, will see the Wallabies as a real threat at the Rugby World Cup.

Will Skelton, for all his indiscretions and the shoulder flying around a few times - and under the spotlight he was quite lucky to get away with what he did, aside from the tackle on Sam Whitelock for which he has been suspended - led the physicality. If Michael Cheika can get him to perform like that, week in and week out, the Waratahs are going to be a team to be feared in the latter stages of the Super Rugby competition.

The Waratahs took it to the Crusaders and just beat them up. The warning bells are ringing that Australia are a big threat if they can replicate that sort of form. There was perfect forward play, a solid set-piece, and physicality around the field the rest of the world needs to take notice of. The Waratahs team on Saturday could be run out as a competitive international team and they would be competitive. But the Brumbies and Force have players who can contribute to the Wallabies side, and that is not to forget the overseas players they can pick. It makes it even more interesting.

Tolu Latu (B) and Will Skelton (R) delivered hugely physical performances against the Crusaders © Getty Images
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There were some cheap shots going in; but in thinking about it afterwards, if you asked a New Zealand forward to go out and perform like that we would have been proud of them. It's the enforcer element coming to light. Australia haven't really had an enforcer since Owen Finegan so Skelton, and a few others in that Waratahs pack, really laid down the example of the way the forwards should be: chewing on barbed wire and throwing men around.

The Whitelock incident was ugly but it was similar to that involving Brian O'Driscoll and Keven Mealamu and Tana Umaga in the first Test of the British & Irish Lions tour in 2005: two guys not working in synch who ended up putting O'Driscoll out of the Test and the tour due to a dislocated shoulder. The Waratahs can argue that the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing and so it became worse than what it was; and they have.

The Crusaders: the end of an era

It looks like the Crusaders dropping away represents the end of an era, as they are unlikely to the play-offs for the first time in 11 years. And their demise has led to a lot of helter-skelter comment about the older All Blacks; they are referring to Richie McCaw and Dan Carter. Don't worry, Richie and Dan will be on the plane to the World Cup; at the end of the day you don't leave that much experience at home. Whether they start in the World Cup final is a decision that Steve Hansen and his selectors will have to make. The All Blacks are going to be under pressure through the whole campaign, but I've got every faith in Steve Hansen as a result of what he's done since he's been at the helm. Let him steer the ship. Both Carter and McCaw have to be there.

Dan Carter had some nice touches when he move to No.10 against the Waratahs © Getty Images
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I do think that Dan Carter looked good when he went to 10 on Saturday. I saw something I hadn't seen earlier, he made a couple of breaks and he looked sharp, and I'm keen to see more of him starting at 10.

Fitness is a big part of rugby but it's not the only part

Looking at the Rugby World Cup, it has been interesting to note Stuart Lancaster's aim to make England the fittest team at the Cup. It is an interesting one.

Laurie Mains had our fitness levels up 12 months before the 1995 event, after some of the most gruelling fitness sessions we had ever done. But there comes a chance when you can cause injuries by pushing players beyond the limits. Your basic aerobic base should be put down months in advance, if not years in advance before you need it.

What they will be doing is sharpening the tool, and that's all you can do this close to the event. Professional players are fit and if they can get a little more out of them then go for it. Sometimes that is all it takes to win a Test match, but success generally comes down to the skill level, the technique and the game plan.

Fitness is a big part of rugby but it's not the only part; and if anything, I think the game has slowed down in the past 20 years. There are now that many stoppages in the game the fitness requirements are no longer what they used to be. You were constantly on the move 20 years ago, you never actually stopped, whereas now it takes three minutes to get a scrum done.

Augustine Pulu made a chief statement

What a statement Chiefs halfback Augustine Pulu made in the win over the Bulls in Rotorua. What a way to unleash frustration from sitting on the bench for that long behind in-form Brad Weber. He finally got his crack and he said, 'I'm still here, don't forget me'. He was something special to watch.

And so was Ross Filipo.

I was interested to see how Filipo was going to get on, but he was great and I think it just goes to show what can be achieved. He's looked after himself having only recently stepped back from a professional career, but I didn't think he was going to perform to the level he did. I don't know whether he had an All Blacks spot for the World Cup in mind, but he didn't look out of place.

Augustine Pulu made the most of a rare start against the Bulls © Getty Images
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The Chiefs played rugby that was good to watch, especially after being down 3-15. They really made a statement, especially without key players such as Brodie Retallick and Sonny Bill Williams and a couple of others; and not to forget that Aaron Cruden isn't available.

The Hurricanes, too, showed their class, especially their forwards. We all know they have an All Blacks backline, but on Saturday night the pack really stepped up against the Blues in difficult conditions.

And the Highlanders just keep chugging on, and didn't trip up in Perth.

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