Waratahs Crushed at Eden Park, Ending Finals Dream in Super Rugby Pacific
Well, that’s the season done and dusted for the NSW Waratahs—and in the most crushing fashion imaginable. into their final regular-season match against the Blues at Eden Park, the assignment was simple on paper: win, and keep the finals dream alive. But as we all know, Eden Park isn’t just any rugby venue. It’s a fortress, and for the Waratahs, it’s been more like a haunted house—one they haven’t escaped victorious from since 2009. That trend continued brutally on Saturday.
The Blues absolutely dismantled the Waratahs with a 46-6 thrashing, the largest-ever margin between these two sides. It was clinical, ruthless, and—if you’re a Waratahs fan—downright painful. The match was hanging in the balance late in the first half with the Waratahs just four points adrift. But then came a quick one-two punch. First, a slip-up by young Jack Bowen on a clearing kick. Then, a piece of magic from Beauden Barrett and a Rieko Ioane double strike either side of halftime that blew the game wide open. From there, it was a runaway train.
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Rieko Ioane finished with a hat-trick, equaling Doug Howlett’s try-scoring record for the Blues. Mark Tele’a grabbed a brace, and the Waratahs just couldn’t hold the line. The defensive gaps were too wide, the kicking too imprecise, and the Blues far too sharp. You could see the class difference in every phase. Barrett orchestrated like a conductor, with Ioane and Tele’a dancing to every beat.
Despite the Waratahs showing some heart—especially through try-saving tackles by Andrew Kellaway and Teddy Wilson—it was never going to be enough without key players like Suaalii, Jorgensen, and captain Jake Gordon. The young halves combo of Bowen and Wilson were brave but completely outgunned by their All Black counterparts.
So what does this mean for the Tahs? They finish eighth, just outside the finals, but still a step up from last year’s wooden spoon finish. However, the gap between them and the top teams remains gaping. Injuries played their part, sure, but so did lack of experience and inconsistency. It’s clear that new head coach Dan McKellar has a big off-season ahead of him. There’s already talk of changes—some underperforming players likely won’t return, and veterans like Bernard Foley might be asked to step in if younger talents move on.
For now, though, it’s back to the drawing board. This loss wasn’t just a defeat; it was a reality check. The Waratahs have talent, but they need depth, direction, and a harder edge if they’re going to challenge teams like the Blues in hostile territory.
As Hugh Sinclair said after the game, “We just couldn’t get a sniff.” And in Super Rugby, that’s all it takes—one bad sniff, and the season’s gone.
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