Match Details
|
24 |
Kick off times:
7:40pm
(Local) Fri 7 Mar
7:40pm
(AEDT) Fri 7 Mar
|
17 |
|
Just four weeks into the Investec Super 14 season, the NSW Waratahs have already equaled their deeds of a dismal 2007.
A three-tries-to-two victory over the Brumbies in front of more than 32,000 fans on a sodden Sydney night elevated the Waratahs to a third victory over the past month. It is the same number of wins they managed throughout last season as NSW staggered to a 13th place finish in the southern hemisphere provincial championship.
The nightmares of 12 months ago are starting to fade for the Waratahs, and the crowd on hand in monsoonal conditions also exceeded any attendance figure during their forgettable 2007 campaign.
So while the Waratahs admitted their latest wet weather success was another less than attractive spectacle, the four points collected were still gold encrusted.
"I don’t think we will look at that game and say it was a quality performance," said Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie.
"It was certainly a quality performance in terms of defence, and some of the forwards aspects.
"But we will keep chasing that quality. At the moment we will take the points and keep moving forward.
"I have talked about the good game coming, it hasn’t come yet. Hopefully it will come next time/"
NSW skipper Phil Waugh echoed his coach’s sentiments.
"Three wins and a bonus point (loss) is not a bad return considering the teams we’ve played against," he said.
After a week of fine weather, Sydney hurled down the rain as the two sides kicked off seeking to stay embedded in the Investec Super 14 top four.
The Waratahs made an ideal start. Flyhalf Kurtley Beale took on the defence, stepping left and then right, carving open a hole and drawing the fullback to send centre Tom Carter under the posts.
Beale’s conversion and a penalty goal to follow had the Waratahs out to a 10-0 lead.
The three-point play followed a tackle by Tyrone Smith on Beale which led to the Baby Brumbies centre being sent to the sin bin.
But the reduction in playing numbers only served to inspire the Brumbies. They worked a blindside play for replacement backrower Julian Salvi to score and fullback Mark Gerrard was successful with a mighty sideline conversion attempt.
A Gerrard penalty goal before Smith’s return had the two sides on level terms.
Shortly before the break, after NSW turned over possession inside their quarter, the Brumbies struck again through winger Peter Playford.
Another towering conversion from Gerrard had the visitors heading to the break 17-10 ahead.
For the Waratahs, the rescue mission was kick started eight minutes into the second half when the ball was jolted loose in the Brumbies back division.
NSW winger Lote Tuqiri swooped and raced 35m to score.
The crucial play midway through the second half was created and completed by Waratahs replacement forward Dean Mumm. He charged down a kick by Brumbies flyhalf Christian Lealiifano, collected the rebound and galloped away for the third NSW try.
Beale added a further conversion for the final scoreline.
WARATAHS 24
Tries : Tom Carter, Lote Tuqiri, Dean Mumm
Convs : Kurtley Beale 3
Pen : Kurtley Beale 1
BRUMBIES 17
Tries : Julian Salvi, Peter Playford
Conv : Mark Gerrard 2
Pen : Mark Gerrard
Crowd: 32,731.
