Rampant Waratahs to meet Crusaders in Super 14 final
By Darren Walton, 25 May 2008 Darren Walton is a Roar Pro
The NSW Waratahs will be gunning for their maiden Super 14 title next Saturday after sinking the Sharks 28-13 in a one-sided semi-final at the Sydney Football Stadium.
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The rampant Waratahs ran in four tries to one to set up a rematch of their 2005 final showdown with six-times champions the Crusaders.
The benchmark Crusaders earlier tonight qualified for their ninth final in 11 years with a similarly impressive 33-22 triumph over the Hurricanes in the first semi-final in Christchurch.
The Waratahs have only ever beaten the Crusaders once in New Zealand but will cross the Tasman oozing confidence after dominating the Sharks in virtually all facets.
Apart from the tryscoring flurry, the Waratahs won the battle at the breakdown, stole five lineouts from the Sharks and led by powerhouse performances from back-rowers Rocky Elsom and Phil Waugh and lock Dean Mumm, physically destroyed the South African forwards.
Just like his entire team at halftime and fulltime, Waugh received a standing ovation from the 37,378-strong crowd when replaced in the 62nd minute of his 100th match for the Waratahs.
The Waratahs’ only concern was another poor display of goalkicking from five-eighth Kurtley Beale.
After landing just three from seven attempts against Queensland last week, the youngster could only manage two from seven this evening.
Beale’s inaccuracy was the only thing which kept the Sharks in the match until midway through the second half and another off night next week could prove very costly for the Waratahs.
The Waratahs haven’t beaten the Crusaders since 2004 and will need everything to go their way to score a rare win in New Zealand’s second-largest city.
In addition to losing their last five encounters with the Crusaders, the Waratahs have won just once in eight attempts in Christchurch since the tournament’s inception in 1996.
Among their seven defeats there was a 35-25 loss in the 2005 final and a 34-7 humbling in round six this season.
But, as evident once again tonight, the Waratahs are far more accomplished outfit two months on from their last-up capitulation to the Crusaders.
After falling behind to an early drop goal to Sharks flyhalf Ruan Pienaar, the Tahs’ utterly outplayed last year’s losing finalists.
Tries to superstar winger Lote Tuqiri in the 26th minute and teenage centre Rob Horne on the half hour, plus a conversion and penalty goal to Beale, gave NSW a 15-6 halftime lead.
The Waratahs skipped further ahead a minute after the break when Beale crossed, with Elsom throwing the final pass just as he had for Horne’s five-pointer.
The match was as good as over when halfback Luke Burgess intercepted a pass from the base of the Sharks scrum to run in NSW’s fourth try in the 45th minute and stretch the home side’s lead to 25-6.
The Sharks added a consolation try to replacement hooker Craig Burden nine minutes from time before Beale had the final say, nailing a drop goal in the dying stages to give him a full set of try, conversion and penalty goal.
The comprehensive victory completed an unbeaten home campaign for the Waratahs, leaving Waugh delighted.
“Defence has been a big part of our game this year and we stood up again,” Waugh said after the Tahs’ seventh win from seven at the SFS in 2008.
“Off to Christchurch next week and we’ll freshen up and it’s obviously a big week.
“Our execution could have been a lot better, but it’s obviously a very pleasing result.
“The Crusaders have been the form team all year and they deserve to have a home final.
“It’s a big week (ahead of us).
“We’ve got a lot of inexperienced guys here and they’ve done really well all year, so I guess it’s a matter of freshening up and making sure we get ready to play.”
Match stats
HSBC Waratahs 28
Tries: Lote Tuqiri, Rob Horne, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess
Conversions: Kurtley Beale 1/4
Penalty Goals: Kurtley Beale 1/3
Drop Goals: Kurtley Beale 1/2Sharks 13
Try: Craig Burden
Conversion: Rory Kockott 1/1
Penalty Goals: Francois Steyn 1/1
Drop Goals: Ruan Pienaar 1/2By the clock
3rd – Ruan Pienaar drop goal. HSBC Waratahs 0 Sharks 3.
13th – Kurtley Beale missed penalty goal.
18th – Kurtley Beale penalty goal. HSBC Waratahs 3 Sharks 3.
26th – Lote Tuqiri try; Kurtley Beale conversion. HSBC Waratahs 10 Sharks 3.
30th – Rob Horne try; Kurtley Beale missed conversion. HSBC Waratahs 15 Sharks 3.
37th – Francois Steyn penalty goal. HSBC Waratahs 15 Sharks 6.
40th – Ruan Pienaar missed drop goal.Half Time – HSBC Waratahs 15 Sharks 6
42nd – Kurtley Beale try; Kurtley Beale missed conversion. HSBC Waratahs 20 Sharks 6.
45th – Luke Burgess try; Kurtley Beale missed conversion. HSBC Waratahs 25 Sharks 6.
55th – Kurtley Beale missed penalty goal.
71st – Craig Burden try; Rory Kockott conversion. HSBC Wartaahs 25 Sharks 13.76th – Kurtley Beale missed drop goal.
78th – Kurtley Beale drop goal. HSBC Waratahs 28 Sharks 13.
More photos of the match – by The Roar
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stillmissit said | May 25th 2008 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Great games by both semi finalist winners.
The Waratahs played easily their best game this season and maybe in the last 2 years. The kicking is a big issue so why didn’t Phil Waugh hand the job to SNK or Lachie Turner to have a go? Next week a lack of kicking won’t be let go so easily by soft tries and poor numbering up in defence. The Crusaders just don’t do that.
Still if the Waratahs put in a performance like last nights they can seriously rattle and possibly break the Crusaders.
Who wants it the most?
sheek said | May 25th 2008 @ 10:56am | Report comment
Went to the Tahs game, first live game for years. Thoroughly enjoyed it, & made note to make regular effort to attend at least one live game per year in future.
However, trying to catch cab home afterwards made me realise why I stopped going to live matches. But seriously, it’s good to get a different perspective that live game gives you.
Hard to concentrate on match. Tahs were awesome. Handled early pressure, & hit hard after half-time, which wrapped up game for them. Would still consider Crusaders to win final, but Tahs are closing the gap. Whether they’ll be good enough on the day remains to be seen.
Patrick said | May 25th 2008 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
Great match.. Was hugely impressed by the Helicopter at the start, anyone get photos / videos of that??
Next year! said | May 25th 2008 @ 12:40pm | Report comment
Excellent all round …..
The chopper at the start was amazing and set the scene.
A great crowd and …AND ,….it didn’t rain ! With all the talk of crowds being down this year I am wondering if anyone has down some sort of analysis on the rain and crowds this year ….methinks this definatley has something to do with it …I have sat through three Tah’s games this season only to be soaked to the skin and last week in Brisbane came close to being a fourth !
Anyway back to the game and I know I sound like some sort of broken record but WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THESE SCRUM FEEDS !!?? Blind Freddy can see there is a cancer developing here and that is the dreaded “second row feed” is creeping into the game. Watching the Hurricans V Crusaders beforehand I noticed it too …Has anyone else noticed this . I note that the IRB made a directive to the ref’s to watch the feeds this round but ahem these guys must have been looking out the window when this directive was given !! – These feeds are becoming and I hate to say it…. a joke …a long way from the RL feeds but it seems the rot has started ……
These ref’s are all from the SH so I wonder how the NH ref’s will go policing this with the SH sides ? I reckon they wont stand for it and the SH sides are in for a hiding ?
What does everyone else think ? I would love to hear
Blinky Bill said | May 25th 2008 @ 4:28pm | Report comment
Tahs won and I’m delighted for the boys. Well done!
Being honest though (and I sure don’t wish to rain on my own parade here), I’m left wondering if we played out of our skins or if the Sharks were just plain terrible on the night. I mean for example……….. why would the Shark’s coach bring that Tongan chappy back into the team after 6 weeks of not playing (suspension I believe)? He was not only rusty, but his team mates didn’t help his cause with some shocking passes & distraction under a high kick. You got to feel for him.
However, full credit to the Tahs they showed some great skills & did the required job on the Sharks plus entertained the crowd in the process. I’d call that a win / win. Nice!
And now to New Zealand. KB seems to have no trouble potting them drop kick style, so maybe that’s the answer to our conversion & penalty woes. Easy job fixed!
stillmissit said | May 25th 2008 @ 4:43pm | Report comment
Next Year!
I have been going on about these scrum feeds for ages but there are certainly no biters in the ARU or the Refs association.
It is so bad that we might as well dispense with the hooker. The chances of a hooker winning the feed are so close to zero as to be beyond measurement.
Stu Dickinson is a good ref who knows his stuff so it must come from above in the S14 hierarchy. The idea must be “We don’t want too much messing around in the scrum just get it out quickly”. I assume they think that is what the punters want.
What surprises me is that the Kiwi and SA teams go along with the farce. Another arrow in the back of rugby as we know it.
Blinky Bill said | May 25th 2008 @ 4:47pm | Report comment
Next year – We all have our ‘pet hates’ seems yours is crooked scrum feeds and fair enough. You should hook-up with Eric, as he shares your PH.
Mine is pedantic refereeing e.g. lineout throw called back that’s frigging identical to a previous throw deemed as just fine.
Speaking of which, did anyone else here expect the ref to ping the Sharks for their very slow lineout throws? What gives here? Howz it possible for our crowd to do such a brilliant job in the noise department just to have the Africans take ages to throw and then walk around to check with the Skip. Bugger that! I say ping the buggers. Unless of course it’s us guilty of it next week in New Zealand.
stillmissit said | May 25th 2008 @ 5:17pm | Report comment
Blinky Bill – How’s the world in God’s country?
I am with you on the other issues as well but I think one thing at a time. Crooked feeds is killing hookers as a rugby skill and although pedantic refs are a pest they aint going to alter the game itself just the outcomes of individual games.
Regarding the ‘Sink the Bismark’ efforts last night he was very slow and the crowd were not helping his cause shouting out so that he couldnt hear the call. Pretty stupid not to have hand signals as a back up, we used to in the 70′s just in case they worked out our calls. The ref could easily have warned him and then given a short arm if he did it again. Still it was hurting them as they were behind on the scoreboard not the Waratahs.
I thought the Sharks played dumb football and the Waratahs rewarded them for it by running through poorly organised defence and absolutely crushed their forwards. Palu and Elsom were outstanding along with Vickerman again.
Blinky Bill said | May 25th 2008 @ 7:15pm | Report comment
stillmissit
God’s country is indeed fine and thanks for enquiring. By the way I’m only known as God around the house. At least I think that’s what she’s been calling me “God….you’re hopeless”.
“Crooked feeds is killing hookers as a rugby skill and although pedantic refs are a pest they aint going to alter the game itself just the outcomes of individual games”. You make a fair point.
“I thought the Sharks played dumb football and the Waratahs rewarded them for it by running through poorly organised defence and absolutely crushed their forwards. Palu and Elsom were outstanding along with Vickerman again.” Yep. As did Waugh, Frier & a bunch of others.
My greatest concern was the chaps off the bench and I hope E.Mc takes a good look at that before our date with destiny in NZ. For example, I would have liked to have seen both Tahu & Dunning hang onto the pill rather than get all ‘touch footy’ about it. Hard to believe that Tahu didn’t back himself & go for the line. Why the wild pass? As for Mr. Dunning, we all know what he’s capable of when he gets excited.
jools-usa said | May 25th 2008 @ 11:02pm | Report comment
A solid, enjoyable game. Two points:
1. Cannot let Rocky depart OZ. He’s absolutely vital to Wallabies ‘ back-row ensemble.
Has that Finnegan roughness that’s been missing.
2. No way ‘Tahs can beat Crusaders without kicking penalties & extra points.
McCaw et al will foul with impunity knowing Beale is suspect.
On that subject can anyone tell me what Beale brings to the party?
Doesn’t find touch, rarlely penetrates & every pass looks forward.
Gotta look beyond him.
Jools-USA