‘Ignore ladder and tables’: Waratahs coach reacts to ‘disappointing’ loss

NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar spoke candidly after Friday night’s 28-21 loss to arch-rivals the Queensland Reds in Sydney, which was the team’s first defeat at home in 2025. That result is a costly blow for the Tahs, who only have three more matches to save their season.

With an unbeaten record from five matches at Allianz Stadium, the Tahs came into this round 13 clash with plenty of confidence in front of the Sydney faithful. The New South Welshman hadn’t won a match since April 11, when they shocked the Chiefs 21-14 at the same venue.

This derby between two traditional rivals couldn’t have been more significant for the Tahs, who sat outside the top six with the playoffs just around the corner. The Tahs would’ve moved into the top six with a winning bonus point, but it didn’t play out that way.

Henry O’Donnell and Jake Gordon helped the Waratahs take an early 14-nil lead, a perfect start as they took control midway through the first term. But a yellow card to Tahs prop Daniel Botha was a talking point, while  Tate McDermott and Riche Asiata crossed for first-half tries.

It was 14-all at the break, but the Tahs took the lead 10 minutes into the second half through Taniela Tupou, who received a yellow card later on because of a high shot. The Tahs’ second yellow of the night was another turning point, with the Reds making the most of it.

Josh Nasser and Lachie Anderson scored a try each late in the contest, with the Queenslanders snatching a dramatic win on enemy territory. Coach McKellar kept it honest post-game, saying the Tahs “weren’t good enough” on the night.

“It’s Super Rugby, you’re going to have momentum swings and changes within games, that’s what we get,” McKellar told reporters.

“The disappointing games have been where we start well and then we’ve just fallen off a cliff. That didn’t happen tonight at all.

“We were well in that game right up until the final whistle. It’s just disappointing because we were in a position to win it and should have but we weren’t good enough.”

The seven-point loss saw the Waratahs take hold of eighth place on the ladder, but there’s only four points separating the New South Welshmen and the Hurricanes in sixth. It’s not like the Tahs are out of the playoff race at all, but they do have a tough run home.

Fortunately for the Tahs, their record at home this season has been fascinating, having gone unbeaten before facing the Reds, while they’re yet to win a game away in 2025. They’re back at Allianz Stadium next week to face the high-flying Crusaders.

McKellar’s side then travel west for what will be a difficult clash with the Force out west, before rounding out their regular season at Auckland’s Eden Park against defending Super Rugby Pacific champions the Blues on May 31.

“We just spoke about that. Ignore ladder and tables, it hasn’t been a huge focus for us all year,” McKellar explained.

“We’ve back at home next week and we need to just front up with the same attitude at training and same in around our defence. We’ve got to defend well around the Crusaders and reduce their turnover attack opportunities.

“We’ve just got to improve taking our own chances when we do get them.”