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Waratahs stun Crusaders to become second Australian team to beat Kiwi side

(Photo by Pete Dovgan/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The NSW Waratahs have lit up Leichhardt Oval with a rousing 24-21 Super Rugby Pacific win over the mighty Crusaders.

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The Waratahs turned on the razzle dazzle then resisted a fierce second-half fightback from the 12-times champions to claim their first New Zealand scalp in three years.

Former sevens star Dylan Pietsch had a blinder, the winger bagging the game’s first try in the opening minute in a dream start for the home team.

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Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 11

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Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 11

Pietsch ran himself so ragged he had to be replaced with eight minutes remaining of a pulsating contest between the two great trans-Tasman rivals.

Fellow winger Mark Nawaqanitawase also crossed early as the Waratahs stunned the Crusaders to lead 14-0 after only 10 minutes.

Winless last season but now emerging as serious title contenders this year, the Waratahs received a standing ovation at halftime after keeping the Crusaders scoreless in an enormous defensive display to complement their champagne attacking rugby.

The Tahs also dominated the breakdown, with the tireless flankers Michael Hooper and Charlie Gamble effecting eight turnovers to the Crusaders’ one.

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But the Crusaders were always bound to test the Tahs’ mettle in the second half.

NSW captain Jake Gordon on Friday stressed the importance of having 15 players on the field at all times after being reduced to 13 men early in last week’s frustrating loss to the Chiefs.

Gordon wouldn’t have been pleased to see No.8 Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco being yellow carded for illegally holding a player up after a Crusaders penalty try early in the second stanza.

They held out while a man down for 10 minutes but the Crusaders’ relentless pressure eventually told when Sione Havili Talitui forced his way over to cut NSW’s lead to three points on the hour mark.

The Crusaders, though, copped some of their own medicine when Hamish Dalzell was red-carded for a dangerous tackle on Hooper, who had to leave the field in a dazed state.

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The Waratahs took full advantage of their one-man advantage with a rolling maul penalty try that also led to Crusaders flanker Pablo Matera being yellow-carded.

Down to 13 men and by 10 points on the scoreboard, the champion Crusaders rallied with a late try to Fletcher Newell but the Waratahs couldn’t be denied a memorable win.

Only their second defeat in their past 27 clashes with Australian opposition, the Crusaders paid the full price for resting four All Blacks, including star playmaker Richie Mo’unga.

The victory reduced young Waratahs flyhalf Tane Edmed, the son of former Balmain Tigers prop Steve Edmed, to tears.

“I don’t know what to say, honestly,” Edmed told Stan Sport on the very same ground on which his father made his name 30 years ago.

“I’ve got 30 friends and family up there in the stands. I love these boys the crowd tonight was just outstanding.

“I can’t believe it.”

Waratahs 24 (Tries to Dylan Pietsch, Mark Nawaqanitawase and penalty try; 2 conversions and penalty goal to Tane Edmed)

Crusaders 21 (Tries to Sione Havili Talitui, Fletcher Newell and penalty try; conversion to Fergus Burke, conversion to Simon Hickey)

– MORE TO COME

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Bruce 918 days ago

Go the Tah's. πŸ‘πŸ˜Š 🏈🏈 Poor Crusaders. 🀣🀣😭😭 Got beaten by my team last week and the Warratah's this week. They come in three's as the old saying goes. 😊

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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TRENDING Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea
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