Tahs kick off season with bonus point win and Folau hat-trick
An Israel Folau hat-trick has inspired the NSW Waratahs to a comprehensive 43-21 victory over the Western Force at Allianz Stadium. In their Asteron Life Super Rugby season opener, the Tahs ran in six tries to two on their way to their biggest ever win against their conference rivals.
Head Coach Michael Cheika was delighted with the win but cautioned that there was still a lot of work to be done. “I won’t say it was perfect but from a physical point of view, I liked the way we played.”
The coach wasn’t overly happy with the dropped ball in the first half although the smile returned in the second period. “Once we eliminated our handling issues and got some good old fashioned go-forward, the tries followed.”
It didn’t always go the Waratahs’ way, especially at the breakdown. “We still need to work harder around the fringes of the ruck,” demanded Cheika
The season opener got off to the perfect start for the home side, when quick hands from the electric Israel Folau sent flying debutant Alofa Alofa into space down the right hand side in just the 2nd minute of the match. The fullback was then brilliant in support, backing up to dot the ball down for the first score of the season.
The powerful Force pack seized back momentum soon after, charging into the Waratahs’ 22 and earning a crucial penalty. Although Zack Holmes missed his seventh minute attempt, the flyhalf made amends just three minutes later to narrow the deficit to 5-3.
Foley added another penalty after 17 minutes, before skilful link play between NSW debutant Nick Phipps and Wycliff Palu gave Folau the space to score his second try after only 23 minutes.
Unperturbed by a breathtaking start from the home side, the Force hit back through a Holmes penalty, and when winger Nick Cummins crashed in from close range, the visitors trailed by only four points.
But fortune favoured the Tahs. On the half time siren, Foley’s penalty attempt bounced off the upright and into the waiting arms of Alofa for a well-deserved try on debut. Foley made no mistake with the conversion and the Waratahs entered the break with an 11-point buffer.
The home side were not so lucky immediately after half-time, when repeated team infringements saw prop Paddy Ryan sin binned in the 44th minute. Digging deep, the 14-man Tahs repelled 10 minutes of attacking pressure, frustrating the Force into settling for a third Holmes penalty.
The home side were back to their full contingent following the kick, with Paddy Ryan and Wycliff Palu retaking the field in place of Sekope Kepu. Their return paid immediate dividends, with Peter Betham finding Kane Douglas in space out wide. The athletic lock swerved his way inside winger Michael Brache on his way to recording a crucial bonus point try.
However the Force refused to give up, with Nick Cummins pouncing on an errant offload to feed Kyle Godwin for a try against the flow of play. Holmes kicked the conversion and reduced the deficit to just eight points, giving the Force a glimmer of hope with only 15 minutes to play.
The frenetic exchanges continued minutes later when replacement centre Matt Carraro swept back to scoop up a loose ball, before charging through four defenders in the middle of the field to feed Folau for his third try and first hat-trick in light blue. Foley continued his good form with the boot, slotting a sideline conversion to send the score to 36-21.
Just five minutes later Carraro was at it again, slicing through a gap and offloading to Kurtley Beale, who marked his return to NSW with an unmarked try under the posts. An easy conversion to Foley capped off an impressive first outing for the men in blue, who ran away 43-21 victors.
The NSW Waratahs will next play the Queensland Reds at ANZ Stadium next Saturday, March 1 (kick-off 7.40pm). Tickets are priced from $20 for adults and are available now from waratahs.com.au. Children aged 12 and under can now enjoy free access to all NSW home matches thanks to our new Free Junior Season Pass available now from futuretahs.com.au.
NSW Waratahs 43 (tries: Folau 3, Alofa, Douglas, Beale; cons: Foley 5; pens: Foley) def Force 21 (tries: Cummins, Godwin; cons: Holmes; pens: Holmes 3)
NSW Waratahs: 1. Benn Robinson (Eastwood), 2. Tatafu Polota Nau (Parramatta), 3. Paddy Ryan (Sydney University), 4. Will Skelton (Sydney University), 5. Kane Douglas (Southern Districts), 6. Dave Dennis (captain, Sydney University), 7. Michael Hooper (Manly), 8. Wycliff Palu (Manly), 9. Nick Phipps (Sydney University), 10. Bernard Foley (Sydney University), 11. Peter Betham (Sydney University), 12. Kurtley Beale (Randwick), 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Northern Suburbs), 14. Alofa Alofa (West Harbour), 15. Israel Folau (Sydney University)
Replacements: 16. Tola Latu (Sydney University), 17. Jeremy Tilse (Sydney University), 18. Sekope Kepu (Randwick), 19. Jacques Potgieter, 20. Stephen Hoiles (Randwick), 21. Brendan McKibbin (Eastern Suburbs), 22. Rob Horne (Southern Districts), 23. Matt Carraro (Randwick).
Force: 1. Tetera Faulkner, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Kieran Longbottom, 4. Sam Wykes, 5. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Matt Hodgson (c), 8. Ben McCalman, 9. Alby Mathewson, 10. Zack Holmes, 11. Nick Cummins, 12. Kyle Godwin, 13. Junior Rasolea, 14. Patrick Dellit, 15. Luke Morahan
Replacements: 16. Heath Tessmann, 17. Pek Cowan, 18. Oliver Hoskins, 19. Hugh McMeniman, 20. Chris Alcock, 21. Brynard Stander, 22. Ian Prior, 23. Sias Ebersohn.
Half-time: NSW Waratahs 22 – Force 11
Yellow cards: Paddy Ryan (44th min)
Referee: Rohan Hoffman
Photo caption: Folau runs in an early try
Photo credit: AJF Photography
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