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Match Report: Waratahs win thriller despite Folau suspension

Bernard Foley scores a winning interception try for Waratahs

The Waratahs produced a stirring late comeback to take command in the race for top spot in Super Rugby’s Australia Conference, claiming a dramatic 31-26 win over the Rebels despite the absence of Israel Folau.

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Australia full-back Folau was controversially banned for the game as punishment for making aerial contact with Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony in the Wallabies’ decisive third-Test defeat last weekend.

Folau’s appeal was rejected and he was forced to watch from the stands as the top two did battle in Melbourne.

For a time, it looked as if he would witness his team-mates slip to defeat in a frenetic contest at AAMI Park.

Tries from Taqele Naiyaravoro and Will Miller, as well as a Bernard Foley penalty, gave the Waratahs a 17-10 lead at the break, but Michael Ruru’s try and three second-half Reece Hodge penalties put the Rebels on course for a victory that would have sent them top.

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However, two tries in the space of four minutes turned the contest on its head once more. Ned Hanigan crashed over 11 minutes from time after an interception from Kurtley Beale and Foley then picked off a pass and took it the other way to cross and send the Waratahs four points clear at the top of the conference.

Elsewhere, the Blues beat the Reds 39-16 in a contest between two teams playing for pride, Stephen Perofeta scoring 16 points as the hosts condemned the Queensland side to a fifth successive defeat at Eden Park.

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Nickers 31 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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