Table-Topping Chiefs Strangled In Sydney

If defeat made the Chiefs bye week drag, the international break is going to feel interminable.

The Super Rugby leaders may lose that status heading into the extended lay off after tonight producing a woefully insufficient performance while being thoroughly outplayed by the Waratahs in Sydney.

The setback was the Chiefs' second in three games, having headed into their bye after losing to the Highlanders, and suddenly their seven-game winning streak seems but a distant memory.

Dave Rennie's men certainly didn't look like leaders tonight. Aside from a couple of memorable flashes, their attack struggled to exert its usual influence, while the defence was as bad as it's been since the Lions tipped them over in round two.

Missed tackles were a problem that day and the Chiefs were similarly sloppy while allowing the Waratahs to embark on a game-winning blitz midway through the second spell, grabbing three tries in 10 minutes as they lost concentration and cohesion when playing without the ball.

They needed only look at their opponents for an example in defending with the desperation required, given the Chiefs probably should have been well in control after the first 40 minutes.

Read the full report at NZ Herald