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Suaalii stars as Waratahs topple Chiefs in Super Rugby win the for ages
By AAP
The NSW Waratahs have mixed style with substance to upset the table-topping Chiefs 21-14 in a Super Rugby Pacific win for the ages.
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In a brilliant bounce back after two howlers in New Zealand, the Waratahs conjured a try-of-the-season contender before defending their line with 14 men for some 28 phases after the fulltime siren sounded to claim a famous victory on Friday night.
The boilover at their Allianz Stadium fortress was the Tahs’ fifth win in an unbeaten run in Sydney this campaign and thrust Dan McKellar’s side to fourth on the ladder.
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And the rousing victory was nothing but deserved after the Waratahs suffered a series of dubious calls late in the first half that might have derailed a team of less resilience.
In a team of heroes intent on answering McKellar’s demand to respond after leaking 16 tries and 102 points in back-to-back defeats to the Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika, inspirational centre Joey Walton and code-crossing superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at fullback were stand-outs.
Walton was in everything in attack and defence, while Suaalii was integral to all three of NSW’s tries as the Waratahs snapped an eight-match losing streak against the Chiefs.
The Waratahs had every right to feel aggrieved at not being 21-0 up at halftime, or at least 19-0, instead of only 14-7 after being on the wrong end of a succession of contentious decisions.
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With NSW leading 14-0, the television match official overturned a try to Lalakai Foketi in the 27th minute after ruling the airborne centre planted the ball simultaneously on the tryline and sideline.
Two minutes later, the Chiefs bagged their first try down the other end to winger Leroy Carter off a suspected forward pass.
Rubbing salt into the wound, Chiefs centre Gideon Wrampling was most fortunate to only receive a yellow card rather than a straight red after rising high to plough his shoulder into Suaalii’s head in the shadows of halftime.
The Tahs had to settled for a tenuous seven-point buffer at the break after a solo effort from Suaalii, who beat four defenders to touch down, and a well-worked try to winger Triston Reilly.
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To the delight of the delirious crowd, the home team restored their 14-point advantage four minutes into the second half with a rousing length-of-the-field effort.
After defending their own line stoutly, the Waratahs converted a desperate turnover into a 102-metre special – started and finished by halfback Teddy Wilson after the ball travelled through five sets of hands.
Wilson released Kellaway from the turnover before the winger sped 35 metres downfield and put Suaalii away inside the right touch line.
Suaalii’s infield pass was majestically – and blindly – tapped on by flyhalf Lawson Creighton back to the supporting Kellaway, who put Wilson over.
The incredible strike ultimately proved the difference after flanker Samipeni Finau crashed over to reduce the deficit to seven points as, even with replacement lock Miles Amatosero in the bin for the closing stages, the Chiefs couldn’t force golden-point super time.
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I applaud the foul play review officer for his decision to keep it a yellow. At the time I was thinking to myself how unlucky Wrampling was to actually come up against a rugby player who tries to avoid contact, a player that’s not programmed to take contact in a way that ensures ball retention. Jo is the only player I could imagine not taking that tackle and instead stopping and swaying like a boxer.
Wrampling didn’t know what to do, so he rose with him and Jo wasn’t fast enough to get away. I fully expected it to be a red but the ruling completely matched my perception so well done.
I didn’t watch the second half but thought Feketi’s dissalowed try was a good square up for scoring off a forward pass for their first. There was also no way Jacobson passed that ball forward, it only travelled forward about a meter despite going all the way to the sideline while running at full tilt. Great to see the loyal crowd getting incited and behind their team though.
Amazing defence by the Tahs at the end of the match. Thoroughly deserved the victory
Damian McKenzie had a shocker of a game.
More importantly Jacomb had a really good first half (all I saw), much tougher than Dmac and still a better clearer to boot.
Dmac probably shouldn’t have been starting at all when you’ve got someone like Scooter they tried so hard to get back (they’re hanging out for some good/fit wing stocks though?).
Tanned by the Tahs! Wonderful to see.
Is that a Tane Edmond pun or a mix of Cane’d and tamed? lol I hope it was a rugby one at least!
As a long suffering Waratahs fan I really enjoyed the game last night despite having bitten my fingernails to the quick.
The real test will come over the next two games and hopefully this wasn't a flash in the pan.
Good game by the Tahs! Team effort. The hype is a bit much for a headline, but he was good too.