Crusaders smash Waratahs' finals hopes as coach goes off on his players

Coach Dan McKellar has questioned his side’s commitment after watching the NSW Waratahs’ finals hopes all but evaporate in a 48-33 Super Rugby Pacific loss to the Crusaders.

McKellar was unable to disguise his anguish as the Waratahs suffered a fourth-straight defeat – and second in a row at Allianz Stadium, which had been the side’s fortress until last week – to remain anchored in eighth spot.

Friday night’s must-win game was as good as over at halftime after the Crusaders piled on five tries to one to take a 31-7 lead into the break.

“A pretty passive defensive display,” McKellar said.

“(We) didn’t want to fold around the corner, guys (were) loping on the short side, losing collisions and they took advantage of it.

Fixture

Super Rugby Pacific

Waratahs

33 - 48

Full-time

Crusaders

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“We’ve just got to run hard, tackle hard and show that we actually care.”

McKellar’s halftime spray seemed to have worked, with back-rower Langi Gleeson grabbing his second try of the game and lock Miles Amatosero storming over in the space of eight minutes to pull the Waratahs back to within 10 points.

But the comeback was fleeting, with McKellar left furious in the coaches’ box when Gleeson knocked on from a restart shortly after the Waratahs had dragged themselves back into the contest.

All Blacks ace Sevu Reece wasted little time punishing the hosts for their error, running in the Crusaders’ sixth try of the night to join retired Hurricanes star TJ Perenara as Super Rugby Pacific’s all-time leading try-scorer.

A last-minute consolation try to winger Triston Reilly proved merely that after flanker Tom Christie had run in the Crusaders’ seventh.

The Waratahs’ big loss came with superstar fullback Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii sidelined with a broken jaw.

But McKellar refused to use injuries as any excuse, insisting the lame first half was all down to attitude.

“What we spoke about all week, we didn’t do,” he said.

“We didn’t look like doing it. What was it – 33-7 at halftime? We gave ourselves too much to do.

“Yeah, the first 40 minutes was tough to watch. Incredibly disappointing.

“There’s not much more I can say there.”

In one of the few positives for Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, veteran playmaker James O’Connor once again impressed during a 25-minute cameo off the bench for the Crusaders.

After revealing last week that O’Connor was on his radar for a call-up for Australia’s hosting of the British and Irish Lions, the 34-year-old set up Christie’s try and also saved one with a fine cover tackle on Reilly.

Crusaders coach Rob Penney as well as captain and All Blacks stalwart David Havili both had no doubt O’Connor – the Wallabies’ No.10 during the 2-1 series loss to the Lions in 2013 – would “100 per cent” do the job for Australia if he earned a recall.

“Him being able to come on and finish games is exactly what you need in big Test matches,” Havili said.

“He’s been there, done it before, and certainly if I was picking the team, he’d be there.

“He’s just a great person to have on your team.”

Penney added: “Certainly from all the things that a coach wants from your player, he’s territific value. He’s been awesome.”