- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
A newly-shorn Drew Mitchell spearheaded a record-breaking NSW effort as the Waratahs answered their critics with a 73-12 thrashing of the Lions in their Super 14 rugby clash at Sydney Football Stadium on Friday night.
Mitchell became the first Waratah to score four tries in a Super game and NSW also logged franchise Super records of 11 tries and eight conversions, all kicked by inside centre Berrick Barnes.
The team tally exceeded the Waratahs’ previous Super best of 53 points and eclipsed their former competition-best winning margin of 47.
Widely lambasted for a dour display in their season home opener against the Sharks, the Waratahs took just half an hour to earn a bonus point and scored five first-half tries to canter to a 33-5 lead at the interval.
They scored six more in the second half with winger Lachie Turner and replacement halfback Josh Holmes both finishing with two tries.
“You don’t go into a game expecting you might be able to score like that, but it’s not a surprise,” NSW coach Chris Hickey said.
“I guess it’s the culmination of things we’ve been working on for quite a while and it’s nice to see it all come off, that’s for sure.”
NSW were rewarded for not taking a single penalty shot at goal, instead opting for quick taps and kicks to touch for lineouts.
“It wasn’t that we threw away three points and ended up at the other end of the field. We actually took points away from when we made those decisions, rather than take penalty shots for goal,” NSW captain Phil Waugh said.
“Probably the most pleasing aspect was when we made mistakes we kept playing rather than reverting to kicking or going into our shells.
“The guys are going to a huge amount of effort to play a highly skilled game and play an entertaining game because the guys are fully aware that we want to get high crowds.”
Mitchell, who was boasting a shiny pate after a haircut earlier in the day, did some cutting of his own, both before and during the game.
“I actually had two haircuts. I had one this morning and I got home I wasn’t too pleased with it, so I got the clippers out and had a crack myself,” Mitchell said.
“I might have to put it into my pre-game ritual every week.
“The key thing for me and I guess the thing I’ll probably take most confidence out of, is you run those routes every week and sometimes you don’t get that pay.
“Tonight, it just seemed to sort of come off.”
He terrorised the Lions, though he did gift them a first-half try to opposing winger Tonderai Chavhanga after failing to ground a kick in his in-goal area.
The Waratahs rampage was set up by a strong forwards effort.
Waugh, who was making a NSW-record 119th appearance, and fellow flanker Dave Dennis were impressive, along with locks Dean Mumm and Kane Douglas.
Lions coach Dick Muir said it was a poor showing by his side, but felt the Waratahs deserved huge credit, especially on defence.
“We wanted to come out and play this evening. Unfortunately the Waratahs defence was outstanding and they didn’t give us too much space to move in,” Muir said.
“When we turned the ball over they just capitalised on that and it looked like we didn’t have any defence.”
The only injury concern for Hickey was a hamstring injury to No.8 Wycliff Palu.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.