Latest news with #Waratahs'
The Advertiser
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Dream weavers: Waratahs off to Auckland with belief
Even they admit it: the Super Rugby Pacific finals have come early as the NSW Waratahs head to Auckland intent on busting a 16-year hoodoo against the defending champion Blues. A thrilling extra-time victory over the Western Force has breathed fresh life into the Waratahs' season. But they yearn to live a little longer yet. "Going over to Auckland is a massive opportunity," flyhalf Jack Bowen said on Tuesday as he reflected on the game-breaking cameo role he played in Saturday night's 22-17 win in Perth. "We were talking about it, we haven't won there since 2009 and the opportunity we have. This is our semi-final this week, to go over there and treat it as a semi-final and earn another week is really exciting." Tom Carter has been reminding everyone in the building that he is the only Waratahs staffer to have won at Eden Park. But he forgot that fellow assistant coach Dan Palmer was also in the triumphant Tahs team of 16 years ago that was captained by former Wallabies star and now Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh. Whatever, the Waratahs' class of 2025 have full belief they can pen their own chapter in the record books with another famous upset on Saturday to force their way into the six-team finals. "It's a big game for both teams and I think, probably outside these walls, no one's expecting us to go over there and get it done," Bowen said. "So it takes the pressure off us and eases us up a little bit. "But it's a massive challenge that we're going to be up for, and we've got to go over there and beat them. They're not going to beat themselves. "So we've got to go and attack them. A lot of Aussies sides over the years, and especially when I've been over there, we've gone over there just to have a swing and see what happens. "Whereas we've genuinely got the belief this week that we can go over there and beat them and earn ourselves another week. "It's such a cauldron there and such an iconic place in rugby, so to go over there and get a win this weekend would mean everything to us." The Waratahs wouldn't be in such a privileged position if not for Bowen's last-gasp heroics. It was the son of a gun, former Wallabies No.10 Scott Bowen, who delivered the probing kick for winger Darby Lancaster to touch down seven seconds after the "super time" siren had sounded at HBF Park. But, while still unable to wipe the smile off his face, the 21-year-old admits he was as much relieved as elated to have set up the match-winner after missing a 74th-minute penalty goal that would have earned the Waratahs victory in regulation time. "I was really confident going into the kick. Like, as a kicker, you want to kick those kicks, and that's what you dream about as a kid, having those shots to win," Bowen said. "So I was really confident, and once I obviously missed that, I knew I had to make up for it somehow. "Yeah, get the ball to Darby and see what he can do. "But I thought the whole team as well moved the ball really well for how wet it was out there, and we were just really composed, which was massive in extra time because you don't get to play in extra time too often." Even they admit it: the Super Rugby Pacific finals have come early as the NSW Waratahs head to Auckland intent on busting a 16-year hoodoo against the defending champion Blues. A thrilling extra-time victory over the Western Force has breathed fresh life into the Waratahs' season. But they yearn to live a little longer yet. "Going over to Auckland is a massive opportunity," flyhalf Jack Bowen said on Tuesday as he reflected on the game-breaking cameo role he played in Saturday night's 22-17 win in Perth. "We were talking about it, we haven't won there since 2009 and the opportunity we have. This is our semi-final this week, to go over there and treat it as a semi-final and earn another week is really exciting." Tom Carter has been reminding everyone in the building that he is the only Waratahs staffer to have won at Eden Park. But he forgot that fellow assistant coach Dan Palmer was also in the triumphant Tahs team of 16 years ago that was captained by former Wallabies star and now Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh. Whatever, the Waratahs' class of 2025 have full belief they can pen their own chapter in the record books with another famous upset on Saturday to force their way into the six-team finals. "It's a big game for both teams and I think, probably outside these walls, no one's expecting us to go over there and get it done," Bowen said. "So it takes the pressure off us and eases us up a little bit. "But it's a massive challenge that we're going to be up for, and we've got to go over there and beat them. They're not going to beat themselves. "So we've got to go and attack them. A lot of Aussies sides over the years, and especially when I've been over there, we've gone over there just to have a swing and see what happens. "Whereas we've genuinely got the belief this week that we can go over there and beat them and earn ourselves another week. "It's such a cauldron there and such an iconic place in rugby, so to go over there and get a win this weekend would mean everything to us." The Waratahs wouldn't be in such a privileged position if not for Bowen's last-gasp heroics. It was the son of a gun, former Wallabies No.10 Scott Bowen, who delivered the probing kick for winger Darby Lancaster to touch down seven seconds after the "super time" siren had sounded at HBF Park. But, while still unable to wipe the smile off his face, the 21-year-old admits he was as much relieved as elated to have set up the match-winner after missing a 74th-minute penalty goal that would have earned the Waratahs victory in regulation time. "I was really confident going into the kick. Like, as a kicker, you want to kick those kicks, and that's what you dream about as a kid, having those shots to win," Bowen said. "So I was really confident, and once I obviously missed that, I knew I had to make up for it somehow. "Yeah, get the ball to Darby and see what he can do. "But I thought the whole team as well moved the ball really well for how wet it was out there, and we were just really composed, which was massive in extra time because you don't get to play in extra time too often." Even they admit it: the Super Rugby Pacific finals have come early as the NSW Waratahs head to Auckland intent on busting a 16-year hoodoo against the defending champion Blues. A thrilling extra-time victory over the Western Force has breathed fresh life into the Waratahs' season. But they yearn to live a little longer yet. "Going over to Auckland is a massive opportunity," flyhalf Jack Bowen said on Tuesday as he reflected on the game-breaking cameo role he played in Saturday night's 22-17 win in Perth. "We were talking about it, we haven't won there since 2009 and the opportunity we have. This is our semi-final this week, to go over there and treat it as a semi-final and earn another week is really exciting." Tom Carter has been reminding everyone in the building that he is the only Waratahs staffer to have won at Eden Park. But he forgot that fellow assistant coach Dan Palmer was also in the triumphant Tahs team of 16 years ago that was captained by former Wallabies star and now Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh. Whatever, the Waratahs' class of 2025 have full belief they can pen their own chapter in the record books with another famous upset on Saturday to force their way into the six-team finals. "It's a big game for both teams and I think, probably outside these walls, no one's expecting us to go over there and get it done," Bowen said. "So it takes the pressure off us and eases us up a little bit. "But it's a massive challenge that we're going to be up for, and we've got to go over there and beat them. They're not going to beat themselves. "So we've got to go and attack them. A lot of Aussies sides over the years, and especially when I've been over there, we've gone over there just to have a swing and see what happens. "Whereas we've genuinely got the belief this week that we can go over there and beat them and earn ourselves another week. "It's such a cauldron there and such an iconic place in rugby, so to go over there and get a win this weekend would mean everything to us." The Waratahs wouldn't be in such a privileged position if not for Bowen's last-gasp heroics. It was the son of a gun, former Wallabies No.10 Scott Bowen, who delivered the probing kick for winger Darby Lancaster to touch down seven seconds after the "super time" siren had sounded at HBF Park. But, while still unable to wipe the smile off his face, the 21-year-old admits he was as much relieved as elated to have set up the match-winner after missing a 74th-minute penalty goal that would have earned the Waratahs victory in regulation time. "I was really confident going into the kick. Like, as a kicker, you want to kick those kicks, and that's what you dream about as a kid, having those shots to win," Bowen said. "So I was really confident, and once I obviously missed that, I knew I had to make up for it somehow. "Yeah, get the ball to Darby and see what he can do. "But I thought the whole team as well moved the ball really well for how wet it was out there, and we were just really composed, which was massive in extra time because you don't get to play in extra time too often."
West Australian
27-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Dream weavers: Waratahs off to Auckland with belief
Even they admit it: the Super Rugby Pacific finals have come early as the NSW Waratahs head to Auckland intent on busting a 16-year hoodoo against the defending champion Blues. A thrilling extra-time victory over the Western Force has breathed fresh life into the Waratahs' season. But they yearn to live a little longer yet. "Going over to Auckland is a massive opportunity," flyhalf Jack Bowen said on Tuesday as he reflected on the game-breaking cameo role he played in Saturday night's 22-17 win in Perth. "We were talking about it, we haven't won there since 2009 and the opportunity we have. This is our semi-final this week, to go over there and treat it as a semi-final and earn another week is really exciting." Tom Carter has been reminding everyone in the building that he is the only Waratahs staffer to have won at Eden Park. But he forgot that fellow assistant coach Dan Palmer was also in the triumphant Tahs team of 16 years ago that was captained by former Wallabies star and now Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh. Whatever, the Waratahs' class of 2025 have full belief they can pen their own chapter in the record books with another famous upset on Saturday to force their way into the six-team finals. "It's a big game for both teams and I think, probably outside these walls, no one's expecting us to go over there and get it done," Bowen said. "So it takes the pressure off us and eases us up a little bit. "But it's a massive challenge that we're going to be up for, and we've got to go over there and beat them. They're not going to beat themselves. "So we've got to go and attack them. A lot of Aussies sides over the years, and especially when I've been over there, we've gone over there just to have a swing and see what happens. "Whereas we've genuinely got the belief this week that we can go over there and beat them and earn ourselves another week. "It's such a cauldron there and such an iconic place in rugby, so to go over there and get a win this weekend would mean everything to us." The Waratahs wouldn't be in such a privileged position if not for Bowen's last-gasp heroics. It was the son of a gun, former Wallabies No.10 Scott Bowen, who delivered the probing kick for winger Darby Lancaster to touch down seven seconds after the "super time" siren had sounded at HBF Park. But, while still unable to wipe the smile off his face, the 21-year-old admits he was as much relieved as elated to have set up the match-winner after missing a 74th-minute penalty goal that would have earned the Waratahs victory in regulation time. "I was really confident going into the kick. Like, as a kicker, you want to kick those kicks, and that's what you dream about as a kid, having those shots to win," Bowen said. "So I was really confident, and once I obviously missed that, I knew I had to make up for it somehow. "Yeah, get the ball to Darby and see what he can do. "But I thought the whole team as well moved the ball really well for how wet it was out there, and we were just really composed, which was massive in extra time because you don't get to play in extra time too often."
Perth Now
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Dream weavers: Waratahs off to Auckland with belief
Even they admit it: the Super Rugby Pacific finals have come early as the NSW Waratahs head to Auckland intent on busting a 16-year hoodoo against the defending champion Blues. A thrilling extra-time victory over the Western Force has breathed fresh life into the Waratahs' season. But they yearn to live a little longer yet. "Going over to Auckland is a massive opportunity," flyhalf Jack Bowen said on Tuesday as he reflected on the game-breaking cameo role he played in Saturday night's 22-17 win in Perth. "We were talking about it, we haven't won there since 2009 and the opportunity we have. This is our semi-final this week, to go over there and treat it as a semi-final and earn another week is really exciting." Tom Carter has been reminding everyone in the building that he is the only Waratahs staffer to have won at Eden Park. But he forgot that fellow assistant coach Dan Palmer was also in the triumphant Tahs team of 16 years ago that was captained by former Wallabies star and now Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh. Whatever, the Waratahs' class of 2025 have full belief they can pen their own chapter in the record books with another famous upset on Saturday to force their way into the six-team finals. "It's a big game for both teams and I think, probably outside these walls, no one's expecting us to go over there and get it done," Bowen said. "So it takes the pressure off us and eases us up a little bit. "But it's a massive challenge that we're going to be up for, and we've got to go over there and beat them. They're not going to beat themselves. "So we've got to go and attack them. A lot of Aussies sides over the years, and especially when I've been over there, we've gone over there just to have a swing and see what happens. "Whereas we've genuinely got the belief this week that we can go over there and beat them and earn ourselves another week. "It's such a cauldron there and such an iconic place in rugby, so to go over there and get a win this weekend would mean everything to us." The Waratahs wouldn't be in such a privileged position if not for Bowen's last-gasp heroics. It was the son of a gun, former Wallabies No.10 Scott Bowen, who delivered the probing kick for winger Darby Lancaster to touch down seven seconds after the "super time" siren had sounded at HBF Park. But, while still unable to wipe the smile off his face, the 21-year-old admits he was as much relieved as elated to have set up the match-winner after missing a 74th-minute penalty goal that would have earned the Waratahs victory in regulation time. "I was really confident going into the kick. Like, as a kicker, you want to kick those kicks, and that's what you dream about as a kid, having those shots to win," Bowen said. "So I was really confident, and once I obviously missed that, I knew I had to make up for it somehow. "Yeah, get the ball to Darby and see what he can do. "But I thought the whole team as well moved the ball really well for how wet it was out there, and we were just really composed, which was massive in extra time because you don't get to play in extra time too often."
Sydney Morning Herald
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Waratahs reach breaking point as McKellar blasts ‘comfortable' culture
On paper, the Waratahs had the spine of a highly competitive team, and they won their first five games at home in Sydney, including major scalps against the Chiefs and the Brumbies. Away from home, though, the Waratahs repeatedly and inexplicably got intense stage fright, losing every game and conceding an average of 41 points. Their fragility on the road was clear, yet the slump could not be stopped. Against the Crusaders on Friday, in front of the worst crowd of the season (11,284) at Allianz Stadium, the home comforts that had once provided so much hope were destroyed in a disastrous first half where they conceded 31 points. At the same time, over the road at the SCG, 39,082 fans watched the Sydney Swans beat Carlton. McKellar has had one season with this playing group and after the game gave notice that things had to change. 'It's definitely not an ability thing; there's no way it's an ability thing,' McKellar said. 'I've been here a while now, a number of months now, and I think there are some things that are going to take time to change. 'There are some people that are too comfortable, and that needs to change. Because if you're too comfortable, just happy to be here and wear the tracksuit, that will change.' Gordon also referenced 'systemic issues' at the Waratahs. 'You've got to want to do it day in, day out, week in, week out,' McKellar said. 'A lot of guys are doing that. There's a few that aren't. It's in daily habits. If we look at the Waratahs as a whole over the last few years, there are things that need to change. It will take time, that's the reality.' Against the Crusaders, the Waratahs' first-half defence was meek and the attack dysfunctional. Suaalii was badly missed, and given the former Rooster has played just seven games of Super Rugby, it gives an idea of the unrealistic load he is already carrying on his young shoulders. There was an irony in the fact the Waratahs' worst performance of the season came against Rob Penney, the Crusaders coach who was deemed surplus to requirements by NSW in 2021. Penney, like McKellar, quickly understood the enormity of the challenge at the Waratahs: unrealistic expectations coupled with an inability to turn the squad into a consistent outfit. Loading The consequences of the Waratahs' failure this season go beyond the borders of NSW. In a darkened coaching box at Allianz Stadium, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt looked stunned at what he was witnessing in the first half. Against the British and Irish Lions, in front of sold-out stadiums, each Wallaby selected will be under immense pressure to perform. The Crusaders provided a small flashlight, compared to the beaming spotlight that will shine down on them throughout the Lions series. In the wreckage of the worst defeat of the season, loosehead prop Angus Bell emerged with significant credit, carrying relentlessly and underlining his case as the Wallabies' most important player. Langi Gleeson's two tries also presented an open-and-shut case for his inclusion in the Test squad to face the Lions, despite his impending departure for Montpellier. Taniela Tupou also found some form when it was desperately needed. There is a slim mathematical chance the Waratahs can still make the finals, but it is largely irrelevant. It is often said that when the Waratahs sneeze, rugby in Australia catches a cold. Now, the symptoms are far more serious: the coach has diagnosed a malaise in his playing group that must be treated immediately.
The Age
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Waratahs reach breaking point as McKellar blasts ‘comfortable' culture
On paper, the Waratahs had the spine of a highly competitive team, and they won their first five games at home in Sydney, including major scalps against the Chiefs and the Brumbies. Away from home, though, the Waratahs repeatedly and inexplicably got intense stage fright, losing every game and conceding an average of 41 points. Their fragility on the road was clear, yet the slump could not be stopped. Against the Crusaders on Friday, in front of the worst crowd of the season (11,284) at Allianz Stadium, the home comforts that had once provided so much hope were destroyed in a disastrous first half where they conceded 31 points. At the same time, over the road at the SCG, 39,082 fans watched the Sydney Swans beat Carlton. McKellar has had one season with this playing group and after the game gave notice that things had to change. 'It's definitely not an ability thing; there's no way it's an ability thing,' McKellar said. 'I've been here a while now, a number of months now, and I think there are some things that are going to take time to change. 'There are some people that are too comfortable, and that needs to change. Because if you're too comfortable, just happy to be here and wear the tracksuit, that will change.' Gordon also referenced 'systemic issues' at the Waratahs. 'You've got to want to do it day in, day out, week in, week out,' McKellar said. 'A lot of guys are doing that. There's a few that aren't. It's in daily habits. If we look at the Waratahs as a whole over the last few years, there are things that need to change. It will take time, that's the reality.' Against the Crusaders, the Waratahs' first-half defence was meek and the attack dysfunctional. Suaalii was badly missed, and given the former Rooster has played just seven games of Super Rugby, it gives an idea of the unrealistic load he is already carrying on his young shoulders. There was an irony in the fact the Waratahs' worst performance of the season came against Rob Penney, the Crusaders coach who was deemed surplus to requirements by NSW in 2021. Penney, like McKellar, quickly understood the enormity of the challenge at the Waratahs: unrealistic expectations coupled with an inability to turn the squad into a consistent outfit. Loading The consequences of the Waratahs' failure this season go beyond the borders of NSW. In a darkened coaching box at Allianz Stadium, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt looked stunned at what he was witnessing in the first half. Against the British and Irish Lions, in front of sold-out stadiums, each Wallaby selected will be under immense pressure to perform. The Crusaders provided a small flashlight, compared to the beaming spotlight that will shine down on them throughout the Lions series. In the wreckage of the worst defeat of the season, loosehead prop Angus Bell emerged with significant credit, carrying relentlessly and underlining his case as the Wallabies' most important player. Langi Gleeson's two tries also presented an open-and-shut case for his inclusion in the Test squad to face the Lions, despite his impending departure for Montpellier. Taniela Tupou also found some form when it was desperately needed. There is a slim mathematical chance the Waratahs can still make the finals, but it is largely irrelevant. It is often said that when the Waratahs sneeze, rugby in Australia catches a cold. Now, the symptoms are far more serious: the coach has diagnosed a malaise in his playing group that must be treated immediately.
