The early red card to Highlanders winger Tevita Nabura was crucial on Saturday night, but was it decisive? Probably not.
The Waratahs looked switched on from the opening minute and while the highlights reel will focus on the second half tries, the foundations were laid early on.
Drought-breaker: The Tahs celebrate on their way to the first Australian win over a New Zealand team in 722 days.
Photo: AAP
Twice in the first 20 minutes the Waratahs pinched Highlanders lineout ball – first to Michael Wells and then Rob Simmons.
Their tight five were punching on to the ball, and the backs caused inexperienced Highlanders No.12 Sio Tomkinson some real problems.
The red card clearly made the job easier but the Waratahs looked the better side regardless and Taqele Naiyaravoro made All Black Waisake Naholo look distinctly uncomfortable with his combination of power and footwork.
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2. Wallabies trouble spots are filling up
Blindside flanker, hooker, and a second No.13 are the areas that need some attention before the Wallabies squad is named but there are candidates putting up their hands.
Jack Dempsey is still some way off – he might miss the entire Rugby Championship – but Scott Higginbotham really fronted for the Reds in Wellington.
The roughie might be Angus Scott-Young. This young fella is a tackling machine, and it took some special carries from Ardie Savea to get the Hurricanes some go forward on Friday.
Yet it might be wiser just to let Scott-Young have another year to fill out.
At No.2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa was excellent for the Reds, nailing Nehe Milner-Skudder with one excellent tackle and working with Taniela Tupou up the guts.
In midfield Tevita Kuridrani looked back to his best in the loss against the Lions but the big improver this year has been Curtis Rona, whose ability to link up with Kurtley Beale was again a feature for the Waratahs.
3. What to do with Douglas and Naiyaravoro?
Kane Douglas is edging back towards the sort of form that makes Waratahs fans feel all warm and fuzzy as they think back to 2014.
He takes no prisoners, smashes people at rucks, is quick off the line on defence and is clearly among the top second-rowers in the country.
I do not see the issue with picking him for the Wallabies although he has already announced a move to France.
Similarly Taqele Naiyaravoro is just making too much noise to ignore.
We have covered this issue before but the form of this pair keeps nudging it to the the top of the agenda.
Douglas, in particular, is playing like a Test player – big, strong, consistent.
4. Ben O'Keeffe bashing has gone too far
Suddenly, the Kiwi referee has become a lightning rod for Australian frustrations but the complaints have gone too far.
Let's get this straight – O'Keeffe is not biased towards Kiwi teams. He is not the first, nor will he be last, referee to check something on the big screen when players on either side are in his ear.
And frankly, he got the call on the Hurricanes' second-half knock-on correct – Filipo Daugunu clearly did impede the catcher's attempt to regather the ball.
Minutes later he made an actual error – failing to penalise Duncan Paia'aua when he took a crucial intercept from a blatantly offside position. But that's the nature of the game – people make errors.
And that should be seen for what it is – a reflection of their fallibility, not their nationality.
More broadly, the argument that New Zealand teams are the sole instigators of foul play (and they do have a big problem there) didn't stand up in Johannesburg, where Rory Arnold was red carded for a terrible head high tackle on Elton Jantjies.
5. Cam Clark must be in the discussion
The second most remarkable thing about Tevita Nabura's karate kick was Cameron Clark's reaction. Despite copping a full boot to the head, Clark carried on as if nothing had happened.
Clark is one of the tougher wingers going around, and we already know he is one of the fastest after chasing down Rieko Ioane in Manly a fortnight ago.
It has not been a vintage year for Australian wing play so Clark must not be too far away from the Wallabies with his consistency and willingness to make hard carries.
His strong kick chase game is also an asset and he would not look out of place in a Wallabies squad.
Team of the Week
1. Tom Robertson (Waratahs)
2. Damien Fitzpatrick (Waratahs)
3. Taniela Tupou (Reds)
4. Tom Staniforth (Waratahs)
5. Kane Douglas (Reds)
6. Angus Scott-Young (Reds)
7. Michael Hooper (Waratahs)
8. Michael Wells (Waratahs)
9. Ben Lucas (Reds)
10. Bernard Foley (Waratahs)
11. Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs)
12. Kurtley Beale (Waratahs)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies)
14. Cam Clark (Waratahs)
15. Israel Folau (Waratahs)
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Paul Cully is a rugby columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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