NSW Waratahs put in gallant fight in emotional 28-17 loss to the Hurricanes

Jul 11 • General News, International, Super Rugby • 1440 Views • Comments Off on NSW Waratahs put in gallant fight in emotional 28-17 loss to the Hurricanes

The NSW Waratahs have gone down to the Hurricanes by 28-17 in an emotional strong-spirited match at Allianz Stadium tonight.
Led out by Dean Mumm and Matt Carraro in their 100^th and 50^th Super Rugby games respectively, the Tahs were keen to secure the must-win match as a fitting send off for some of the Club’s most loyal players in the team’s last home match of the regular season.
Despite the result, the Waratahs savoured the last moments on home soil with Kurtley Beale, Club Captain Dave Dennis and Benn Robinson acknowledging their commitment, leadership, passion and talent over the last ten plus years.
The NSW Waratahs started the game well with Will Skelton stealing the ball moments into the match, leading to a solid run from Bernard Foley to gain metres early.
Two scrums later however, the Hurricanes were given the first chance to notch points onto the board with the Waratahs picked up for kicking the ball back into the scrum.
Despite missing his first, Hurricanes’ flyhalf Beauden Barrett handed his team an initial 6 point lead after referee, Chris Pollock pulled the Tahs up for being offside before blowing his whistle for a late tackle.
The game’s excitement levels ramped up a notch when ‘Canes Captain, hooker, Dane Coles made a dash down the sideline before a knock-on stopped them in their tracks.
The momentum stayed with them though, as they went on the attack to cross for the first try of the night through Barrett again. Missing his first conversion attempt, the visitors had the lead by 11-0 just under 20 minutes into the match.
Keen to front up in the battle, the Waratahs’ intent showed as they put in some heavy runs to penetrate the Wellington defence. Gaining possession and territory, both sides took turns in knocking the ball on before the Tahs gained the upper hand in edging closer to the line.
Their persistence paid off as Taqele Naiyaravoro shot over for the Waratahs’ first try of the night, proving to be an unstoppable force so close to the target. With Foley’s conversion, the home side found themselves well in the match, down by 11-7 to the Hurricanes.
Half an hour had passed in the match as the Hurricanes made an impressive counter ruck. The Tahs stayed strong though, managing to get it out of the danger zone before earning a penalty after the Hurricanes’ front row collapsed in the scrum.
With two minutes left to go in the first half, the Tahs were relieved again after fumbling in the dead ball zone, the TMO ruling that it was a knock on to NSW rather than a Hurricanes try. They finished the 40 with a huge scrum, relieving the pressure the visitors were placing on them as the siren sounded.
The first half continued for about four overtime minutes as penalties continued to be called. The Waratahs went into the break just one point behind at 11-10; Foley slotting a penalty after copping a dangerous tackle from Hurricanes centre Willis Halaholo.
With Halaholo shown a yellow card, the visitors were forced to play with a man down in the first 10 minutes of the second half. It was an opportunity the Tahs showed they were keen to jump on, opening with a try just minutes in to the half. Israel Folau showed some fancy footwork to break through several defenders and cross the line to bring the Tahs ahead for the first time in the match. Foley slotted the conversion to give the Waratahs a handy 17-11 lead.
The Hurricanes were quick to answer though, scoring another five pointer through Cory Jane after Rob Horne was penalised for a high tackle. Barrett’s conversion brought the difference back to one point again, with the Hurricanes creeping ahead by 18-17.
Foley was next to leave the crowd gasping, making a thrilling break through the defence before the ball was lost forward. The resulting scrum at halfway handed the visitors back the possession. It earned them another penalty which Barrett nailed again 40 metres out to bring the visitors’ lead out by 21-17.
Taqele Naiyaravoro was sent to the sin bin clashing dangerously with a flying Barrett in the air. With the Tahs now forced to play with 14 men, the Hurricanes didn’t take long to capitalise, looking dangerous within the NSW 22. Despite a mishandled ball, winger Julian Savea managed to find the tryline moments later and, with another successful kick from Barrett, the Hurricanes were ahead by 28-17 after an hour of play.
Down but not out, the Waratahs were back on the front foot after Captain, Michael Hooper brought his troops well into the Hurricanes 22. The Waratahs pushed at the line and were almost over through Foley, who was held up over the line.
The TMO had a look at a potential foul play from the Hurricanes, which handed the Tahs back the possession. But a sloppy pass saw the Canes kick and chase the ball well to land themselves back in NSW territory.
The Tahs remained brave, surviving the potential danger again. With 10 minutes left to go in the match, Nick Phipps made a well-placed kick into touch just 20 metres out.
Keen for the chance to play again at home, Club Captain Dave Dennis set up a nice move for the Tahs as they edged forwards and, with a nice offload from David Horwitz, Taqele Naiyarvoro was almost over for his second before being pushed out just before the corner. They looked to be over again moments later but a pass was deemed forward.
As the clocked counted down, the Tahs kept fighting and, even as the siren sounded, they tried desperately to get the ball back in their favour. The siren for the 80 minutes had sounded though, leaving the Hurricanes with the 28-17 win in the end.
The NSW Waratahs travel to Auckland New Zealand next week for their last game of the regular season against the Blues at Eden Park next Friday night.

NSW Waratahs, 17 (Naiyaravoro, Folau – tries, Foley – 2 con, 1 pen) defeated by the Hurricanes, 28 (Barrett – 1 try, 2 con, 3 pens, Jane, Savea – tries).