The script was perfectly written for a fairytale ending after a brutal season for the Waratahs. With a minute left after a heroic 19-point comeback, 20-year-old NSW debutant Jack Bowen reached down and carefully adjusted his kick shirt just inside his own half, confident he could kick the winning penalty with your team. aim against older and fiercer rivals the Reds.
Bowen slipped slightly with his foot and the kick missed, shortly after the whistle the Reds celebrated a 27-26 win and the 12,018 fans quickly left Allianz Stadium, as did the Waratahs players, ready for this season to remember. banks forever and draw a line under it once and for all. It is often the hope that hurts the most.
The one point defeat summed up NSW's season perfectly, there was often so much hope and promise but the Waratahs always seemed to stumble when they needed to execute at the crucial moment. The team has become well acquainted with upcoming casualties. In round three, the Waratahs lost 21-23 to the Hurricanes, in round four they fell 10-12 to the Blues and then in round five, they lost an excruciatingly tough 39-36 encounter to the Drua in Fiji . It's arguable that this string of shutouts punctuated his season.
In his final game for the Waratahs, coach Darren Coleman reflected after the game on missed opportunities in a difficult season. “Once we started playing good football, they (the crowd) really got behind us,” Coleman said. “It kind of makes you regret what we didn't do, or what we couldn't get, because I think Sydney is really expecting this team to do well. It's a shame I couldn't deliver, but I really hope the next one does, because they will achieve this articulation.
The Waratahs have often looked incapable of having a dull game in Super Rugby, taking their fans and coaching staff through the emotional ringer in almost every round. Against Queensland in the first half, the Waratahs ran out of energy, ideas and execution as they went into the dressing room 19-0 down, thankful it wasn't worse. In his final game, Coleman was seen coaxing his players to show some pride after Waratahs center Lalakai Foketi admitted in a half-time interview with Stan Sport that his team's effort was not I was.
The comeback was thrilling and was largely spearheaded by Bowen at five-eighth, helping his side score four tries to the Reds one in the second half, showing bravery with ball in hand and instinctive touches from his boot Coleman paid tribute to his young debutant and the manager highlighted his skills.
“Yeah, I bit the egg on my face, we didn't give it a chance earlier,” Coleman said. “In a way, we've all seen it in Jack, he's an exciting attacking player and he brings speed to the game.
“He just needs to grow a little bit, be more consistent with his kicking and his control of the game and if he can get those parts of his game (right), he's definitely going to go on and be a good player.”
With ten minutes remaining, it looked like Dylan Pietsch had done enough to get the Waratahs home with a brilliant try after Izaia Perese's break. Reds five-eighth Tom Lynagh quickly responded with a 47-metre penalty to give his side a one-point cushion. The Waratahs had chances to close out the game but once again, in a season of so many near misses, they missed when it mattered most.
Paddy Ryan of the Waratahs takes on the RedsCredit: Getty
