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'There will be some repercussions': Changes expected after Waratahs 'comprehensively' beaten by Reds

Waratahs head coach Rob Penney. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The to-do list is long for NSW Waratahs coach Rob Penney after watching his team get “comprehensively beaten” by Queensland just one week out from their Super Rugby season opener.

The Reds were excellent across the park in their 28-19 win in the regional Queensland town of Dalby.

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Scores were locked 7-7 at halftime before the Reds broke the contest open with three quick tries after the break, the scoreline flattering the visitors thanks to two consolation tries at the death.

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While Penney acknowledged that Queensland class, he left no doubt there would be a thorough examination before they cross the ditch to face last season’s champions the Crusaders on Saturday.

“Passes were at ankles, behind shoulders … and the Reds didn’t have quite the same issues that we did,” he said.

“That consistency factor and skill execution, minute-by-minute is something that’s been a little problem in previous seasons and something we’re endeavouring to work on.”

The return of Wallabies quartet Kurtley Beale, Rob Simmons, Michael Hooper and Jack Dempsey meant there were going to be some teething problems.

Beale played 70 minutes at fullback and produced a night reflective of the team in general.

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“They played really well and comprehensively beat us,” Penney said.

“It was a mixed bag across the park all day.”

The Reds won the set piece battle too, something that can’t afford to happen against the Crusaders in Nelson next weekend.

“It’s the heart and soul of your team and we did have some wobbles,” he said.

“But we’re good enough to be better, we just weren’t tonight and there will be some repercussions.”

– AAP 

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Flankly 2 hours ago
'Absolute madness': Clive Woodward rips into Borthwick in wake of NZ loss

Borthwick is supposed to be the archetypical conservative coach, the guy that might not deliver a sparkling, high-risk attacking style, but whose teams execute the basics flawlessly. And that's OK, because it can be really hard to beat teams that are rock solid and consistent in the rugby equivalent of "blocking and tackling".


But this is why the performance against NZ is hard to defend. You can forgive a conservative, back-to-basics team for failing to score tons of tries, because teams like that make up for it with reliability in the simple things. They can defend well, apply territorial pressure, win the set piece battles, and take their scoring chances with metronomic goal kicking, maul tries and pick-and-go goal line attacks.


The reason why the English rugby administrators should be on high alert is not that the English team looked unable to score tries, but that they were repeatedly unable to close out a game by executing basic, coachable skills. Regardless of how they got to the point of being in control of their destiny, they did get to that point. All that was needed was to be world class at things that require more training than talent. But that training was apparently missing, and the finger has to point at the coach.


Borthwick has been in the job for nearly two years, a period that includes two 6N programs and an RWC campaign. So where are the solid foundations that he has been building?

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