He used to idolise record breaking five-eighth Dan Carter, but NSW pivot Bernard Foley is setting records of his own after steering the Waratahs to their first Super Rugby title.
The 2014 Super Rugby final delivered contrasting fortunes for the two men.
Foley finished with 23 points, landing eight of his 10 attempts at goal.
He landed a crucial sideline conversion of Adam Ashley-Cooper’s second try late in the game and then kicked the decisive last-minute penalty to deliver the Waratahs the title.
In the process, Foley passed Peter Hewat’s franchise record of 243 points in a year from the 2005 season.
All Blacks icon Carter, who was playing at inside centre, cut a forlorn figure as he limped out of the game after half-an-hour.
It was another savage injury blow following the tournament-ending groin injury he suffered in the All Blacks’ march to their drought-breaking 2011 World Cup win.
The 32-year-old back has amassed records seemingly for fun throughout his glittering career, setting Test and Super Rugby all-time scoring marks along the way.
Foley’s stocks continue to soar less than a year after reversing a decision to join the Melbourne Rebels in 2014.
Suggestions he might lose the Waratahs No.10 jersey to the returning Kurtley Beale proved wide of the mark.
Not only has the 24-year-old pivot cemented the Waratahs’ No.10 shirt, he occupied that position for the Wallabies for all three Tests of their recent series against France.
For a moment in the second half at ANZ Stadium, another five-eighth threatened to steal the show in the final.
Crusaders starting pivot Colin Slade, who was dumped from the All Blacks’ squad earlier in the week to make way for Carter, kicked 20 points, landing all seven of his attempts after assuming the goalkicking duties and briefly nudging them into a second-half lead.
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