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Meyer Bosman, back, of the Sharks tackles Ryan Cross, front, of the Waratahs during their Super rugby match against in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, May 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Str).
Two superb pieces of rugby from much-maligned fly-half Daniel Halangahu couldn’t save the Waratahs from a 26-21 defeat by the Sharks in Durban overnight.
In the space of 12 minutes either side of the break, Halangahu single-handedly turned a 13-6 deficit into an 18-13 lead with a string of penalties kicked in the last 10, and the story of the match is Halangahu,
Five minutes from the break, with the Sharks enjoying a mountain of possession, fly-half Patrick Lambie made a sensational break 50 metres out, but his support lost the ball in sight of the Waratah’s try-line.
Miraculously Waratah Dave Dennis regained possession on the chalk, and slipped the ball to Halangahu who took off down the blind side and was immediately in the clear.
Waratah centre Lachlan Turner loomed inside, as Halangahu skirted the left-hand touchline.
He’d covered 65 metres, drawing the Sharks No 8 Keegan Daniel, the last defender, before unloading to Turner who wrong-footed Daniel to score in the corner.
Magnificent rugby by both sides over 150 metres, but it was Halangahu seizing the opportunity that produced the points.
Kurtley Beale missed the conversion, and they went into the break with the Sharks leading 13-11.
Seven minutes into the second half, with a wall of Sharks defenders in front of him 30 metres out, Halangahu slipped through to score to the right of the posts without a hand being laid on him. Beale converted, the Waratahs led 18-13.
It was hard to compare the Halangahu of last night, with his previous appearances for the men-in-blue this season.
Gone was the hesitancy, and the fumbles, replaced with a full-on confidence that sparked the backline when they eventually saw the ball, which was as scarce as hen’s teeth.
Those two moments of magic from Halangahu deserved a better fate, and it wouldn’t have mattered had Waratahs half-back Luke Burgess not thrown an appalling head-high pass at pace to replacement Pat O’Connor, an impossible pass to take.
The ball bounced off O’Connor’s head-gear into the waiting arms of the Sharks, resulting in JP Pietersen’s converted try and a 21-20 scoreline in the Waratahs’ favour.
Take that Burgess blunder out, and the Waratahs were safe, which would have been poetic justice.
The Waratahs were forced to make two very late changes, with prop Sekope Kepu, and centre Ryan Cross, both pulling up injured.
Al Baxter came in for Kepu, Turner moved in one for Cross, Afa Pakalani filled Turner’s wing spot.
But the late changes didn’t stop the Waratahs defending like men possessed.
The “official” stats show the Sharks had 52 per cent possession, but it was more like 60, and some change.
And most of the time they were camped in Waratah territory, which says volumes for the defensive pattern, and the men-in-blue’s ticker.
There’s no argument the Sharks had enough ball to win by at least 40 points, but the gallant loss leaves the Waratahs precariously placed sixth on the ladder, with the two-time defending Bulls breathing down their neck.
And the Bulls are the Waratahs’ next assignment on Friday night, in the lofty altitude of Loftus.
So where do the Waratahs stand?
The Reds have 54 points, Blues 54, Stormers 52, Crusaders 48, Sharks 47, Waratahs 46, Bulls 45, and Highlanders 44 – the remaining seven are virtually done-and-dusted.
And to complete week 15 this afternoon at Suncorp, with a 40,000-plus crowd beckoning, the Reds and Crusaders do battle in what promises to be a cracker.
The Waratahs accept the Reds will top the Australian Conference to automatically qualify for the finals, but a loss to the Crusaders will keep them in touch with the wild-card aspirants where there are five for three spots, and just four points covering the lot.
Leaving a fascinating last three weeks before the finals, as the inaugural Super 15 unfolds.