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Bret Harris | May 19, 2009
Article from: The Australian
NSW Waratahs captain Phil Waugh believes win-loss records rather than points differential should decide placings for the Super 14 finals after his team was denied a spot in the top four on a narrow for-and-against margin.
The Waratahs finished the regular season on the same number of points (31) as the Crusaders.
Even though the Waratahs won one more game (nine) than the Crusaders (eight), the Cantabrians claimed fourth spot because of a better for and against record.
Waugh said after arriving back in Sydney yesterday from the Waratahs' undefeated three-game tour of South Africa that the team that won more games should be rewarded in deciding playoff places.
"The Crusaders won one less game than us. They won eight games. We won nine. They got into the semi-finals," Waugh said.
"It would probably be good if teams do end up on equal points, then it goes to the team that has won more games during the year rather than points differential.
"We knew that was the case before the season, but the wise way to go about it would be rewarding the team that wins more games than other teams."
The Crusaders finished on the same number of points as the Waratahs because they had a draw instead of a fifth loss and because they collected two more bonus points than NSW.
The Crusaders picked up seven bonus points - for scoring four or more tries or losing by seven points or less - while the Waratahs collected only five, which was the equal second-lowest number in the competition.
The Waratahs earned the same number (three) of bonus points as the Crusaders for scoring four tries or more, but two less for losing by seven points or less.
The Crusaders were held scoreless in their 6-0 loss to the Highlanders, but they were still rewarded with a bonus point even though they could not put a point on the scoreboard.
Waugh did not blame the bonus point system for the Waratahs' failure to reach the playoffs, but rather NSW's inability to capitalise on opportunities.
"I thought 41 points would get us in, but it didn't. We gave ourselves every opportunity to score points throughout the year," Waugh said.
"We could have scored four tries in most games had we taken the opportunities. I think we created enough opportunities to be there.
"It (the bonus point system) has been in the competition since it started.
"That's the reality of the competition. You need to pick up bonus points along the way. We didn't pick up enough. It certainly keeps teams in the game and motivates teams when they are clearly beaten to try and get four tries or try to get within seven."
Waugh cited the Waratahs' home losses to the Crusaders and Western Force as the most costly defeats. "The two losses to the Crusaders and the Force obviously hurt us," Waugh said. "We talked all year about leaving points out on the field and that certainly came back to bite us. Overall, I think we are going in the right direction. To get 13 points out of Africa is a big effort.
"The guys did extremely well. We can regroup over the next six or seven months and hopefully do better next year. It certainly sends us off on the right note."
The Waratahs have been criticised for winning ugly this year, which contributed to their lack of bonus points.
Coach Chris Hickey said the Waratahs had been trying to develop their attacking game since the start of the season, but it took longer than he had anticipated to find their rhythm.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html
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