34 SPORT MONDAY APRIL 8 2019 Tahs up for the fight but fail to find winning formula DANIEL GILHOOLY upset win over the Crusaders Gibson’s men have lost home derby against the Rebels “We’re scrapping well, we’re the Super Rugby list,” he said. two weeks ago are fading fast more ground on the Australian on April 20. competing at the moment and “It’d be a wonderful library DARYL Gibson believes the after the Waratahs’ shock loss Conference-leading Mel- “All the games we’ve lost that gives us a chance.” of tries too if you go through NSW Waratahs have a stack of to the Sunwolves and their bourne Rebels and only cling this year, we’ve been in. It’s dis- Gibson reserved his kindest them. It’s a real credit to him.” improvement in them after hot-and-cold outing at Eden to eighth place overall cour- appointing we couldn’t close words for fullback Israel Folau, Bernard Foley became the their 32-29 Super Rugby loss to Park on Saturday. tesy of the four bonus points out that game,” Gibson said. whose first-half try took his ca- competition’s sixth player to the Blues in which “scrapping NSW fought back from 17-0 accrued for their narrow losses. “Do I think we’re far off? I reer tally to a Super Rugby re- clear 1000 points. However, well” was the best compliment down, and managed to cross They have a bye week to think we’ve still got some cord 60. the Test five-eighth was more he could muster. for four tries, but lacked the formulate a way of winning the growth in us, a lot of growth, “He replaces some pretty intent on finding solutions to The positives from their poise to overhaul the Blues. tight ones before a crunch and that’s a positive thing. legendary tryscorers there on the Waratahs’ patchy form. Cheika cagey on new deputy WALLABIES coach Michael be someone I think that will be Cheika says he is in no hurry to with the players, on field a lot, appoint a new attack coach not build a lot of strategy, more after Stephen Larkham was getting players to embrace axed, and suggested the team strategy and understand it so has some cards up its sleeve it’s automatic on the field,” said heading into the World Cup. Cheika. Larkham was dumped in The two-time world cham- early February after disagree- pions, who made the 2015 final, ments with Cheika over strat- will head to the tournament in egy and game philosophy Japan this year with few giving following a wretched 2018 in them much chance after their which Australia won just four poor season last year. of their 13 Tests. But Cheika suggested the Reports last week said Scott Wallabies could have some Wisemantel, who is working surprises in store. with Eddie Jones at England, “Maybe you want to turn up had been targeted as a replace- this year with something a lit- ment, but Cheika said those tle bit different,” he said. being considered were “in “I’m not saying that we’re Australia”. going to do that but maybe we “There’s no major hurry, will.” we’re not training yet are we?” One area he could be look- he told Fox Sports on Saturday. ing at is whether to start with “There’s a few things that I both Michael Hooper and want to unfold first and I prob- David Pocock. Tim Bateman, of the Crusaders, tries to shake off a Brumbies’ tackler Picture: GETTY IMAGES ably reckon about May some- The combination has been a time in the lead-up to another point of contention, with Aus- camp. I’ve got a few people in tralia’s lineout often exposed Brumbies pay dearly for another lapse mind,” he added. “I’m not when both start and Pocock going to tell you that because generally plays out of position the people don’t know. They’re at No 8. ANOTHER sleepy Super spell. Leading 7-0 at the break McKellar was disappointed other team. in Australia.” “I think this year we’ve cer- Rugby period has cost the through captain Christian a near-faultless first-half “I said at halftime ‘we’ve got Fox said Waratahs coach tainly got some other options Brumbies, who concede they Lealiifano’s try and unfortunate performance was ruined by a a fantastic opportunity here Daryl Gibson – Cheika’s for- around the back row,” Cheika didn’t respond well enough not to be further ahead, coach diversion from the game plan and a fantastic challenge in mer New South Wales assist- said. after troubling the Crusaders in Dan McKellar warned his after halftime. front of us as a group’,” ant – was a potential short- “I think sometimes having Christchurch. Brumbies a response from the It isn’t a new problem. McKellar said. term option for the World (Hooper and Pocock) playing The table-topping Crusaders hosts was inevitable. The Brumbies have “We knew that they would Cup, while Wallabies great together will be really useful went on a second-half rampage It came quickly via three conceded 12 tries between come out and lift but the Matt Giteau has also been and sometimes, having one in their 36-14 win on Saturday, unanswered tries as the halftime and the 60-minute reality is we couldn’t go with linked to the role. coming off the bench will be having played second fiddle to momentum swung in mark of their matches this them in that key 10-15 “The person we bring in will really damaging as well.” the Australian outfit in the first devastating fashion. season, four more than any minutes.” Wessels ignores ladder Miotti triumphs on debut MELBOURNE Rebels coach on Saturday night. DEBUTANT Domingo Miot- The 22-year-old replace- Dave Wessels knows his team Playing at fullback, Reece ti’s electrifying impact off the ment fly-half scored two tries are leading the Australian Hodge bagged a hat-trick to bench and first tries in Super in the last eight minutes, and Super Rugby standings but underline his World Cup cre- Rugby have delivered a mem- converted one of them, for the don’t ask him by how much. dentials. orable 22-20 win for Argenti- Jaguares’ first victory at Lof- The Rebels opened up a But Wessels has made a na’s Jaguares against the tus Versfeld. seven-point margin on their point this season of not look- Bulls. The Jaguares were trailing nearest rivals, the NSW Wara- ing at the competition ladder Miotti changed the game 20-10 when Miotti arrived and tahs, as they ran in six tries in a after they were burnt last year, after coming on to spur the took control and they twice commanding 42-15 win over fading to finish ninth overall Jaguares to a come-from-be- fought back from sizeable def- the Sunwolves at AAMI Park and just miss the play-offs. Rebels fullback Reece Hodge hind victory on Saturday. icits. Jaguares fly-half Domingo Miotti NTNE01Z01MA - V1.