The Waratahs moved to the top of the Australian conference with a 37-16 win against the Reds in Sydney on Saturday. SIMON BORCHARDT reports.
It is the Tahs’ fourth win in a row this season and their eighth consecutive victory against their arch-rivals.
Michael Hooper’s men are now three log points ahead of the Rebels, who lost 25-22 to the Jaguares earlier in the day.
With an A-League soccer match being played at the Sydney Football Stadium, this Super Rugby clash was moved to the adjacent Sydney Cricket Ground. It was the first time the Waratahs and Reds had met at the venue since 1983.
Two penalty goals from Bernard Foley gave the Tahs a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, before Jono Lance got the Reds on the board with one of his own.
The visitors turned down another shot at goal on the half-hour mark, opting instead to kick for the corner and push for a try. But the lineout throw wasn’t straight and they came away with nothing to show for their efforts.
The Waratahs then blew a great try-scoring opportunity when Kurtley Beale broke away from inside the Reds 22 and found Bryce Hegarty, who threw a poor pass to an unmarked Foley.
But they did get their first try five minutes before the break. James Tuttle’s box kick went too far, giving the hosts space and time in which to counter-attack. Michael Wells broke away down the right-hand touchline, evaded a defender and passed inside to Jake Gordon, who dotted down next to the posts.
Lance’s second penalty goal on the stroke of half-time made it 13-6.
The Reds started the second half well and were unlucky not to score after a 12-phase attack when Aidan Toua’s grubber kick into the right-hand corner failed to sit up for Filipo Daugunu. The referee was playing advantage, though, and Lance added another three points.
Unfortunately for the Reds flyhalf, he then gifted the Waratahs five when his pass on the blind side was intercepted by Taqele Naiyaravoro, who ran 60m to score. Foley slotted the touchline conversion and added a penalty to give his side a 23-9 lead after 54 minutes.
The visitors got themselves back into the game with a try from Daugunu, who picked up the loose ball after Alex Newsome had dropped a pass from Foley.
But Naiyaravoro grabbed his second try in the 72nd minute when he powered over in the left-hand corner and Foley again nailed the touchline conversion.
And with the full-time hooter having sounded, replacement Harry Johnson-Holmes drove over to score the Tahs’ bonus-point try.
Waratahs – Tries: Jake Gordon, Taqele Naiyaravoro (2), Harry Johnson-Holmes. Conversions: Bernard Foley (4). Penalties: Foley (3).
Reds – Try: Filipo Daugunu. Conversion: Jono Lance. Penalties: Lance (3).
Waratahs – 15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Alex Newsome, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Will Miller, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Tom Robertson.
Subs: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Jed Holloway, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Cameron Clark.
Reds – 15 Aidan Toua, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Izaia Perese, 10 Jono Lance, 9 James Tuttle, 8 Caleb Timu, 7 Liam Wright, 6 Lukhan Tui, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 James Slipper (c).
Subs: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 JP Smith, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Adam Korczyk, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Jordan Petaia.
Photo: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
