The pain and frustration was written plainly on Rob Penney's face throughout his post-match press conference.
"It felt a bit like a loss," was the New Zealander's opening remark despite his side defeating the Melbourne Rebels 38-32 at Leichhardt Oval.
Oh how he'd have killed just for a win earlier in the season.
The six-point win was just the Waratahs' fifth all year and their fourth in the makeshift Super Rugby AU season, but the fact they gave the Rebels a losing bonus-point promises to come back to bite them and end their finals aspirations in a week's time.
Yet in many respects, the growth of the side was on display against the Rebels.
Pre-game Jake Gordon said that the Waratahs wouldn't go into their shells, they wouldn't be coaxed into the trap of playing the Rebels' brand of rugby and they'd use the ball.
They did - and it's Penney's way.
The former Canterbury back-rower has always been a coach who has tried to play running rugby.
In his second and final season at Munster last decade, he won PRO 12 coach of the year.
But the local Irish press gave him - and continue to do so - a hard time because he was happy to bring in overseas talent if those at the club couldn't adapt to his style of rugby.
"Next came a Kiwi, Rob Penney. It's a sure sign of trouble when the coach starts answering questions at press conferences with questions of his own. 'What do you think', he would say, struggling to keep a lid on his frustration. Buy the paper Rob. Or more pertinently, win over those like Paul O'Connell and Anthony Foley who don't want to play the game you want to play. Penney opted to go to Japan rather than take the one-year extension Money were offering," was one recent take.
The stark difference between Penney and his predecessor is experience and voice.
Where fellow South Islander Daryl Gibson was a first-time head coach, Penney's got 10 years of experience behind him and that shows in the conviction he speaks of in his voice.
Before a ball was kicked this season he said there would be some "pain along the way" but he knew what the finished product could look like.
It sounded like an excuse.
But we're seeing signs that the Waratahs can emerge brighter in 2021.
Playmaker Will Harrison plays with a lot of spark, he has speed and, crucially, is a left-footer.
He is key for the Waratahs moving forward, and the club can build a team around him and youngsters like Ben Donaldson if they get some heavy meet up front.
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✨ Some Marika magic! #SuperRugbyAU #REBvWAR.
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) August 29, 2020
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THE FAB FOUR THAT NEED TO KEEP FIRING FOR REBELS
Post-match Penney's counterpart Dave Wessels said the Waratahs had been a boggey side for them over the years, but felt more confident against the Brumbies and Reds.
Statistics prove that to be the case despite the Rebels beating the Waratahs in their previous two fixtures earlier this year.
On Saturday night the Waratahs looked the better side for much of the game.
The Rebels twice came from two tries behind to draw level, before Harrison's 73rd minute try extended the Waratahs' lead out beyond a converted try lead.
The Rebels' Test players kept them in the contest against the Waratahs.
Matt To'omua was composed at inside centre and stepped up at crucial times.
His step to beat two Waratah defenders and then with a pinpoint pass to find and unleash Marika Koroibete out wide to score was class.
Reece Hodge was a steady figure at the back while Wallabies back-rower Isi Naisarani scored a brace and continually got the Rebels over the gain line.
Without those four, the Rebels don't get near the Waratahs.
"As I said, I thought we were outplayed but Matt and the senior guys managed the game ... to get us back into the game and, ultimately, get us a bonus-point which is really important and as a group I don't think we would have done that last year," Wessels said.
😤 Chase everything. #SuperRugbyAU #REBvWAR.
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) August 29, 2020
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A MICHAEL HOOPER SPECIAL
Whatever Dave Rennie decides to do about Michael Hooper in 2020, one thing remains clear: he is still one of the most consistent players in Australian rugby.
The next generation of young sevens are coming through and will keep Hooper on his toes.
Pundit Rod Kafer would already pick Reds duo Fraser McReight and Liam Wright over Hooper.
Others like Stephen Hoiles and To'omua believe keeping Hooper as Wallabies captain is a "no-brainer".
On Saturday night in the final quarter of the match it was Hooper that stood tall.
First, he somehow found space in the middle of the field and unleashed Joey Walton to score.
Next, he charged down Andrew Deegan's kick in the 73rd minute and Harrison ran away to swan-dive under the sticks.
They were two moments that typified Hooper's unrelenting work-rate.
NRL COVERT'S GIVES TAHS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Tepai Moeroa was the Waratahs' prized recruit in the off-season.
A former Australian Schoolboy, Moeroa returned to rugby after six years at the Parramatta Eels.
But the expectation that he arrived with failed to stand up when he made his entrance to the Waratahs.
He was too heavy, wasn't able to move laterally and his running lines were all over the place.
Even after the COVID break, Moeroa was limited to just nine minutes of action until the penultimate round of Super Rugby AU. It led to murmurs that Moeroa was seeking a return back to the NRL.
But on Saturday, the former Newington College product showed what he's capable of.
Thrown in the deep end at inside centre, Moeroa regularly got the Waratahs over the gain-line with his big body and straightened their attack.
It's the modern way: select a crash ball midfielder and get quick ball.
England do it, South Africa does it and New Zealand has for years, while the Wallabies finally followed suit in 2019 using Samu Kerevi in the role.
SUPER RUGBY AU'S RISE CONTINUES
It was an off the cuff remark, but as Penney left his post-match press conference he summed up the current school of thought across the ditch.
The New Zealander said he hoped the spectacle stopped the chat back home that the Aussies can't play rugby.
While All Blacks coach Ian Foster is coming round to the idea that Australian rugby is showing signs of quality and depth, there's no doubt the perception across the ditch is that Super Rugby Aotearoa was a better product.
They're not wrong, but it doesn't mean that Australian rugby isn't getting their ducks in order and have some very promising talent coming through.
Saturday's contest was an attractive spectacle, particularly in the second half.
The high stakes match had everyone at Leichhardt Oval on the edge of their seats and it was good reward for the healthy crowd that came through to watch the match.
It showed, too, the value of having fans at the game - something New Zealand rugby could have during their own comp until the final round of the season.
The second half of Super Rugby AU has been a much improved product.
The standard of play has improved and, importantly, the matches have been played at a reasonable hour with the teams taking the field recognisable to the wider public.
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CLIFF-HANGER: Waratahs win but Rebels collect crucial bonus-point to move within an inch of maiden finals berth
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