The Western Force posted their first win of the season and consigned the NSW Waratahs to their worst start to a Super Rugby campaign in 15 years.
Debutant fullback Dave Harvey enjoyed a dream debut as the Force squeezed out a spirited 21-20 victory in the Australian conference derby at Allianz Stadium.
Harvey, the 29-year-old nephew of Australian cricket great Neil Harvey, contributed 16 points from a try, conversion and three penalty goals.
And the two-times Ken Catchpole Medallist as Sydney club rugby’s best and fairest player produced his starring role before his family and friends just days after signing a four-week contract for the injury-depleted Force.
“I’m really pleased for him,” said Force coach Richard Graham.
“He’s been knocking on the door, been on the fringe of every Super rugby side for the last three or four years.
“And to come to us and score the first try, kick a couple of penalties … and I think what’s really satisfying for him is he got a win here in front of his wife, his family, his friends, his family who have supported him in his rugby.”
The Gordon playmaker wasn’t the only debutant to enjoy a memorable night out, with winger Samu Wara crossing for the match-winning try in the 64th minute.
Graham was forced to make seven changes to his starting side this week and the satisfaction at scoring such an against-the-odds win was written all over his and skipper David Pocock’s faces.
“After the last three weeks for the group, to get the reward after a fairly gutsy performance, we’re very happy to get the four points,” Pocock said.
“It’s never easy to come to the SFS and win.”
While the Force were rejoicing after finally breaking their duck, the Waratahs’ frustrations continue.
After suffering similarly-narrow defeats against the high-flying Highlanders and titleholders the Queensland Reds, the Tahs have won just one from four, matching the franchise’s poor start in 1997.
Losing coach Michael Foley lamented his team’s ill-discipline and “poor attitude”, while prop Benn Robinson admitted some of the penalties the home side conceded were “inexcusable”.
The Waratahs looked to be back in business when five-eighth and captain Daniel Halangahu put his side four points in front with successive penalty goals in the 57th and 62nd minutes.
But Wara had the final say when he accepted a nice pass from hooker Nathan Charles and stepped inside Halangahu to dive over in the right corner two minutes later.
The Waratahs had started well enough, with winger Adam Ashley-Cooper tagging on to a rolling maul and being rewarded for his initiative with the opening try after just five minutes.
Halangahu converted for a 7-0 lead.
Harvey notched his first points in Super Rugby with an easy 10th-minute penalty goal to reduce the deficit to four and then scored off an inside ball from five-eighth James Stannard and converted to give the Force a 10-7 lead.
NSW regained the advantage just before the break with a try against the run of play to winger Tom Kingston.
Halangahu’s conversion had the Waratahs four points in front before Harvey’s second penalty in the 40th minute made it a one-point ball game at halftime.
Ashley-Cooper had a try denied early in the second half when centre Rob Horne was penalised for obstruction before Harvey put the Force briefly ahead again with a penalty in the 53rd minute.
The Tahs briefly regained the lead, only for Wara to crash the party late.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Ad nauseam, unfortunately.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Every time my post disappears from the thread, I feel compelled to repeat it, at least to my satisfaction. Sorry if the eds don't see your discomfiture. Examine the time stamps.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Not to put too fine a point on it but please stop posting something you've posted five other times on the thread because we can see them all.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
I've always believed that the force will do well long term. Even before the SA migrations in the 90s there has always been some kind of rugby base there. The All Blacks have played tour games there for over 40 years. There is a solid local rugby community that finds good air amonst the AFL crowd. They play a different brand than the eastern states. Kind of like Queensland 30 years ago. I think they are one of the most refreshing things about Aussie rugby despite their lack of success.
El Gamba
Guest
Exactly, and I'm not sure the Force have had a crowd as low as 14,000.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Eds, please stop deleting my posts. This is the fifth time I have posted this: "And Barnes would have won us the World Cup, had he played instead of Cooper."
John Allyne
Guest
No wonder Queensland don`t want Barnes has nothing to offer the tahs supporters, with out doubt Foley is the worst coach the tahs have had
sittingbison
Guest
Where's the bloke who said on another thread the other day that TWF were a bad joke that should be scrapped? And the ones saying it should be a 30 point rout for the Tahrds? TWF get bagged, but their record against Aus teams is pretty good, their record on the road is pretty good, excet for the occasional game like last week they tough it out to the end, in fact are often in winning positions with 10 to play. Two real problems are not winning at home, and not winning the close ones. This is in the head. The third real problem is 10, with the right 10 the first two problems can be improved. Chucky is doing his best, but he is not 10. I think they should play Harvey for a few games see how he goes, liked the look of him last night. And contract a proper star 10 for next year.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
@Cody I've posted this comment four times and it keeps disappearing: "And Barnes was suppose to win us the World Cup, playing instead of Cooper?"
ThelmaWrites
Guest
@Cody I posted this comment twice and it keeps disappearing. "And Barnes was supposed to winn us the World Cup, playing instead of Cooper?"
Cattledog
Roar Guru
Won't be long now before AAC starts the ball rolling and the coach becomes segregated once again. You thought they were down now. Wait till that drongo Elsom is back and running the show. When will the Waratahs learn to remove the pistol from the holster before they start firing ;)
ThelmaWrites
Guest
And Barnes was supposed to win us the World Cup, playing instead of Cooper?
ThelmaWrites
Guest
And Barnes was supposed to have won us the World Cup, had he played instead of Cooper?
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Pretorious was vastly superior to Sheehan. If the Force could get a halfback with a crisp pass and convincing sniping, varies his service, and joins backline play, they would really be a force to contend with.
El Gamba
Guest
We're over 100 years old so we can boo our own team and not give credit to a team who against all odds beat us fair and square? Really? It's not how I was brought up and it's a sad indictment on the game in one of Australia's rugby heartlands. Sad state of affairs for rugby in Aus.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
I have pledged to only find positives to say about the Tahs and I'm sticking with that. Gee it's a lovely day here on the NSW North Coast. :( Is that music I hear? ;) The sun is out. The sky is blue. There's not a cloud to spoil the view. But it's raining. Raining in my heart.
Bakkies
Guest
The Waratahs history dates back to over a 100 years. The Tahs never won the Super 10 either
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Don't think it's true that the Force didn't play well. And if you hadn't scored a try from a knock-on, Tahs wouldn't have been within cooee.
Go_the_Wannabe's
Guest
Perhaps this will help explain your plight: "I fought with ny twin, that enemy within, 'til both of us fell by the way Horseplay and disease is killing me by degrees while the law looks the other way Your partners in crime hit me up for nickels and dimes, the man you were loving couldn't never get clean It felt outa place, my foot in his face, but he should-a stayed where his money was green I bit into the root of forbidden fruit with the juice running down my leg Then I dealt with your boss, who'd never known about loss and who always was too proud to beg There's a white diamond gloom on the dark side of this room and a pathway that leads up to the stars If you don't believe there's a price for this sweet paradise, just remind me to show you the scars." (Where are you tonight? Bob Dylan, Street Legal, 1990)
Rugbug
Guest
The Waratahs have been around for 17 years Denby and what have they won……………?