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Waratahs coach Rob Penney is under immense pressure to retain his job after another defeat to the Western Force. The Waratahs fell 20-16 to the Force at Bankwest Stadium on Friday night, earning the unwanted tag of being the first team to lose to the Force since they returned to Super Rugby. It’s the first time the Force have won a Super Rugby match in 1329 days. The four-point loss wasn’t an embarrassment but given the visitors played with just 14 men for the final 15 minutes after Andrew Ready punched Hugh Sinclair in the head in a post-ruck scuffle, the match was there to be won.
The four-point loss wasnât an embarrassment but given the visitors played with just 14 men for the final 15 minutes after Andrew Ready punched Hugh Sinclair in the head in a post-ruck scuffle, the match was there to be won.
Poor ball handling, ill-discipline at precisely the wrong time and two brilliant moments from Force lock Tim Anstee were the difference in a match which will surely see Penneyâs time in the hot seat cut short.
âI donât know. Youâll answer that for us,â Penney said post match when asked if the performance showed he should still be coach.
The heat is on the NSW Waratahs following a horror start to the season, and they will be looking to bounce back in Friday's clash with the Western Force.
“Now is the time for actually working very closely together. We are looking for improvement. But we have to come together. Now is not the time to be singling anyone out. “It’s a young squad, it’s a developing squad, and you have to chalk [the loss to the Brumbies] up, unfortunately, when you look at the [difference] in experience, we’re on the negative.” Penney’s job may be safe for the short term but Doorn concedes the NSWRU board will examine all potential steps to reverse the Waratahs’ calamitous trajectory. That includes the possibility of a coaching director or any other sort of additional support.