The NSW Waratahs are licking their wounds and plotting a path back to the glory days after missing the Super Rugby Pacific finals for a second straight season.
Ever the pragmatist, Dan McKellar admits there's no quick fix for his NSW Waratahs after the competition's perennial under-achievers endured a humiliating end to their Super Rugby Pacific season.
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A record-breaking 46-6 loss to the defending champion Blues on Saturday night left the Waratahs heading to Auckland airport with their tails between their legs and out of the finals for a second straight season.
The Waratahs were without a raft of experienced and classy players, including Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, skipper Jake Gordon and flankers Rob Leota and Charlie Gamble.
And it showed as two-time world player of the year Beauden Barrett and hat-trick hero Rieke Ioane delivered masterclasses at Eden Park to put the Tahs to the sword.
"We're a little bit undermanned and a pretty young group, especially within our backline, and up against some world-class players," McKellar said.
"There'll be plenty of learnings for us out of tonight. We were beaten in all areas of the game."
Reflecting on the season, which included the club's best start since 2009 with three straight wins, and victories over the benchmark Brumbies and minor premiers the Chiefs, McKellar remained focused on the long game.
"We've certainly made progress, and it's how you measure progress," the coach said.
"So there's significant change for this, for a new playing group, new coaching group, and a new way of doing things.
"There have been a lot of adjustments, and I've got a vision for the organisation, and it's going to take time.
"It will take time to make the change that you want to make because you can put Band-Aids on things and come up with quick solutions.
"But is that going to set us up for sustainable success? So, there's a lot of work to be done.
"I've said many times, there's going to be some good days and there's going to be some tough days - and today was another tough one."
The Waratahs' exit leaves the Brumbies and Queensland Reds to fly the Australian flag in the finals.
The fifth-placed Reds travel to Christchurch to face the Crusaders on Friday night, before the third-placed Brumbies host the fourth-placed Hurricanes in Canberra on Saturday.
The Chiefs are home to the sixth-placed Blues in Waikato on Saturday night.
The three winners plus the highest-ranked losing team will advance to the semi-finals.
