The NSW Waratahs survived a frenetic second-half comeback from the Western Force to post a 23-18 Super Rugby triumph in Perth on Friday night.
The Waratahs appeared set to run away with the match after tries either side of half-time to winger Tom Kingston and flanker Dave Dennis gave the visitors a 17-3 lead.
However, a brilliant 20-minute period for the Force, in which the home side piled on 15 unanswered points, put the game in the balance.
The Waratahs were clearly rattled but the reliable boot of Berrick Barnes got them over the line, the five-eighth’s penalties in the 64th and 74th minutes securing victory in front of 12,838 fans.
NSW’s third win of the season moved them to top of the Australian conference on 21 points, but the Brumbies have the chance to leapfrog them when they take on the Rebels on Saturday.
Queensland’s points tally will increase to 21 once they get the automatic four points for their bye this week.
The Force, with just two wins from eight games, remain last in the Australian conference on 13 points ahead of next week’s bye.
Both sides were willing to throw the ball around in the opening half, but the Waratahs created the better opportunities.
NSW went ahead through an early Brendan McKibbin penalty and they were celebrating the first try of the match in the 26th minute when Kingston burned off Force flanker Matt Hodgson to touch down in the corner.
Force flyhalf David Harvey’s 31st-minute penalty brought the margin back to 10-3, but the home side were on the back foot for the remainder of the half.
The unrelenting pressure eventually took its toll, with Force prop Salesi Ma’afu sin-binned in the 38th minute for repeated infringements.
The Force’s defence was on the job in the first half, but fell asleep two minutes after the break.
Dennis couldn’t believe his luck as he sliced his way through to the tryline after collecting a short line-out and things were looking bleak for the Force at 17-3 down.
But just 20 minutes later Force half Brett Sheehan started the fightback when he poked through a number of arms and legs to touch down in the 50th minute.
And when Waratahs fullback Bernard Foley was yellow carded in the 58th minute, the visitors looked vulnerable.
The Force turned down the easy three points on offer and were duly rewarded, with a series of quick passes allowing fullback Alfie Mafi to stroll over.
A penalty to Harvey gave the Force the lead for the first time in the match, but Barnes was ice cool when it counted, nailing two crucial penalties to seal victory.
“That was certainly a killer for us,” Force coach Richard Graham said of the Tahs’ soft second try.
“You defend so well for five or six minutes and then you concede a try like that. Ultimately something like that has a huge bearing on the outcome.”
Waratahs coach Michael Foley said he was thrilled with the way his team fought back after the Force took the lead.
“To come out after a bye is always difficult but probably helped us in the end,” Foley said.
“We finished stronger than the Force.
“We played some good rugby in the first 40 minutes but there were a couple of decisions we made that let them back in the game at crucial times in that third 20 minutes of the match.”
jameswm
Guest
Are you guys kidding? Yeah, a couple of TPN's throws were crooked. Maybe what - 20%? Stephen Moore loses lineouts due to poor throws all the time, I reckon more than TPN. But TPN got a name for poor throwing a few years back, so everyone is on notice and notices every one. Moore's poor throws, and there are a lot of them, seem to slip through the cracks. TPN is otherwise a dynamo. However, Cliffy Palu was immense. Maybe Richard Graham was right, and not just stirring - that Palu is as important to the Tahs as Pocock is to the Force.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Are you talking about the Force or the Tahs? :( I'm yet to see the Tah 12 or 13 get a decent shot at breaking the line thanks to quick ball or our 10 making a break and setting them up. At the moment Carter & Horne seem to do little more than defend. I was one of the ones heralding Barnsey's return to 10 but I'm starting to wonder if he will ever regain his confidence and just take the tackle. Right now Foley looks a better option for us at 10. But we sure seem to lack firepower in the centres.
sittingbison
Guest
Even with one eye it was clear TPN was throwing crooked. Most other aspects of his game were great, but this problem has been going on for years and not improving. It will bite Wallabies on the arse with more vigilant ARs in Tests
Justin
Guest
You two are hilarious, both as one eyed as each other.
Who Needs Melon
Roar Guru
Fair call. Maafu in particular was woeful.
PeterK
Guest
that is rubbish, the throws were clearly down the middle. If anything Charles throws were more crooked.
Justin
Guest
El - They just dont have any creativity in the halves or inside backs. Honest and tough yes but the strength of their backs is out wide. Now Shepherd is back we may see some more attacking on the edges.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
TPN made a good mid field run followed by 20 minutes of lethargic jogging around the park and leaning on the side of rucks. What frustrates me is that when he does commit to the ruck he is suck a force, he guarantees quick ball for his team. However he doesn't do this nearly enough, maybe 2 or 3 times a game. If he could lift his work rate to that of Moore's he would be a world beater. Scrummaging was the best its been this year from him, and he lasted most of the game which is positive. Still a lot to work on though.
sittingbison
Guest
The problem is TPN didn't throw a single straight throw all night, and will get pinged with more vigilant test match referees.
El Gamba
Guest
-- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
El Gamba
Guest
Like last year the Force are competitive in almost every game but lack the killer instinct to get over the top. It must be asked why. Any thoughts on Richard "the school teacher" Graham? Do the Force need a harder nose in there to teach the toughness required at Super level? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
PeterK
Guest
I hope this puts paid to any parochial push for Cowan, Maafu or Longbottom being Wallaby props. The Force scrum was dire, and if you have those type of props then it will be penalty try stuff against teams like England. Also TPN was a monster in attack, defence, and scrumaging. How anyone could consider Charles ahead of him is beyond me. Charles has NEVER had as good a game as that whilst TPN has had a lot and some of them substantially better games.