The potential of a winless 2021 season is starting to become a reality for the Waratahs following another heavy defeat.
The NSW side was comfortably defeated 54-28 by the Crusaders as their winless streak extends to 11 games.
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For the Waratahs, their attack has flowed throughout the trans-Tasman tournament, remaining the only Australian side to score 20+ points against every Kiwi team they've faced.
However, it's in defence where their troubles have lied, conceding 166 points in those three matches.
This is nearly more than the top three teams combined (170) and has left winger and vice-captain Alex Newsome frustrated after another 'embarrassing' review.
“The review wasn’t great. Just walked out of a defensive review and it was pretty ordinary,” he said on Monday.
“There were some lazy moments around the ruck. Obviously, you saw in the first half there was quite a big wind and the Crusaders were running a lot of ball out of their territory and their speed of movement was much better than ours which was disappointing.
“We showed a bit in attack at the end but I guess that’s what disappointing. The boys are up and about late in the game but we’re letting each other down in the game.
“They're embarrassing reviews. We've got guys being accountable in the reviews but it's too late then, isn't it. That's what's disappointing."
The Waratahs have just two games left to salvage a result as the idea of ending 2021 winless starts to seem more inevitable.
Whilst the Waratahs are undergoing a drastic roster overhaul, the pain of the season was easy to see for experienced guys like Newsome as it becomes a topic of non-discussion for those closest to him.
“It’d be massively deflating,” Newsome admitted when asked about going winless.
“You go out and have a feed with your mates at the pub and they're almost too scared to ask you about how footy's going because they know that you haven't won a game all year.
“It’s disappointing and we’ve spoken about putting a really big focus in these last two games cause we have the Highlanders away and I think we can compete with them and then Chiefs at home at Brookie.
“Obviously, it’s been a shocker of a year but we’re looking to finish the year with two wins.”
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The Kiwi sides' dominance over the competition was briefly halted on Saturday as the Reds secured the first win of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman for the Australians.
The 26-year-old admits seeing their dominant first-half along with the performance of centre Izaia Perese was enough motivation and confidence for the Waratahs to back themselves and take it to the Kiwis.
"We've just got to stop putting all these Kiwi sides on a pedestal and look at what the Reds did in that first half on Saturday night and look at what Izzy's (Perese) been doing to defences and just ripping into them," he said.
"When Australian sides are really confrontational and just backing themselves, you can just see what they can do.
“I think that first half from the Reds showed what we can do and obviously having the Chiefs in two weeks, we’re looking closely.
"You got to give them credit…but everyone’s just two arms, two legs and a heartbeat. Everyone's built the same.”
