The Waratahs survived an early deficit, a high error count and a sin bin stint for Test backrower Wycliff Palu to defeat the Highlanders in a wet weather struggle in their Investec Super 14 match at Carisbrook.
Both sides scored two tries, with the Highlanders collecting theirs inside the first half hour to establish a 12-3 lead under leaden and leaking skies above New Zealand’s south island.
The home side’s second try followed moments after the Waratahs had threatened at the other end of the field, only to lose the ball in a tackle and have the Highlanders toe it down the ground.
Replacement flanker Adam Thomson, with his long and loping stride, outpaced Waratahs halfback Brett Sheehan in a two-man footrace to touch down under the NSW posts.
But the Waratahs, while continuing to spurn their hefty share of possession throughout the game, recovered from the two-try setback to be almost on level terms by halftime.
Outside centre Ben Jacobs took the final pass from skipper Phil Waugh to cross late in the opening stanza. A Kurtley Beale conversion from the sideline, together with an earlier penalty, left the Waratahs trailing just 12-10.
Beale was astray with another penalty attempt in the 51st minutes, but eight minutes later the Waratahs were in front courtesy of what would prove the match-deciding score.
Jacobs snatched a Highlanders kick out of mid-air and was on his way to a second try when an ankle tap curtailed his progress. The Waratahs, however, would not be denied. An offload from Jacobs to Test No.8 Palu completed the five-point play.
Palu crossed in the corner and was caught high by Highlanders halfback Jimmy Cowan in the act of scoring. The reaction from the Waratahs forward – an open-handed shove – earned him a 10-minute sin bin visit.
The Highlanders also received a penalty on halfway from the restart. A long-range attempt at goal from James Wilson narrowly missed.
While relieved his side collected its second win in three outings this season, Waratahs skipper Waugh said: "It was pretty ugly, I think both teams will be disappointed the way they played.
"We played two trial games in those conditions. We trained in those conditions. Particularly in the first half, we had a fair bit of interplay and we passed the ball a little.
"In the second half it just rained harder. We gave it a go in terms of playing expansively. But it is hard in those conditions to open the game up. That is probably why it was a little stop-start and so many mistakes."
Coach Ewen McKenzie added: "We tried to play more open football and, inevitably, if you have more possession you are going to have more mistakes."
A worrying by-product of the result was a shoulder injury to fullback Lachie Turner. He is considered in doubt for the Friday night’s clash with the Brumbies.
WARATAHS 15 (Ben Jacobs, Wycliff Palu tries; Kurtley Beale conversion, penalty goal) def HIGHLANDERS 12 (Fetu’u Vainikolo, Adam Thomson tries; James Wilson conversion).
