World news – Winless Waratahs beaten by rebels continue to plunge into crisis

The winless Waratahs have plunged further into crisis after being beaten from start to finish in a record loss to the Rebels.

It’s the third time in just four games this season that NSW has been worst Defeat against an Australian rival.

The 34- and 51-point losses against the Reds and Brumbies were understandable as these teams have established themselves as the best in Australia. The Rebels didn’t deserve this day.

They just scratched home against a Force side that narrowly defeated the Waratahs on their last start. Question marks remained about their position in Super Rugby AU.

These question marks were cleared at halftime in the first rugby game at AAMI Park after 378 days. The home team had a 23-0 lead after 40 minutes. It was the biggest lead the Rebels had at halftime in the club’s 10-year history.

Four games in the season there were no question marks about the Waratahs and the tenure of coach Rob Penney.

You face the Reds and Brumbies for the next fortnight. It would take the bravest of players to tip NSW to end this two-week run with something other than two more losses besides their names.

News this week, a Trans Tasman Bubble is being erected in time to deal with Trans -Tasman super rugby music to suit most ears.

The Waratahs must secretly fear the cricket results that await them when they face the power of the New Zealand franchise.

The Waratahs looked capable with the ball in hand and even then they only scored both attempts in the last five minutes, but every other part of their game was bad.

Defensive rounds were way too frequent. Neither the scrum nor the lineout worked well. Their game management was not at super rugby level. They look exactly like a team that doesn’t know how to win – and maybe doesn’t even know where to start.

Jack Maddocks’ opening kick, missing 10 meters, was an omen for the night of the Waratahs.

The rebels would hold off a Waratahs attack set in their own half, step out, put pressure on a set piece, recapture possession, and then NSW would give away a penalty in their own half.

Matt To ‘omua stepped forward, put the ball over the black spot, and jogged back halfway.

Lachie Anderson scored Melbourne’s first attempt. The former Australian Sevens representative benefited from a very well crafted team change that began halfway when the clean lineout ball turned into a break for Stacey Ili.

After To’omua scored more points from the tee, he entered one try of the year and finished the game as a competition two minutes before break.

The Rebels took their foot off the Waratah’s throat in the second half. Another To’omua penalty and a try by Jordan Uelese were the only points added to the half-time record.

The Waratahs escaped the extra undesirable day of being the first NSW team to score no point against the rebels scored when Jeremy Williams and Maddocks scored belated consolation attempts.

The Waratahs are a mess. The 19-point lead could easily have been 49. Penney’s days as a coach could be counted, but the task in front of any leader on that team would be nothing short of gigantic.

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