The Waratahs are the 2014 Super Rugby champions, Bernard Foley slotting a 79th minute penalty to see the New South Welshmen beat the Crusaders 33-32.
The Crusaders seemed destined to win their eighth title when Colin Slade kicked a 75th minute penalty for a 32-30 lead, but the Waratahs stayed calm and clawed their way back into the Crusaders half, before All Black captain Richie McCaw was penalised for a ruck infringement.
Foley was tossed the kicking tee dead in front of the posts and 45 metres out, a distance he later described as “right on my border”, but his eighth goal of the match was never in doubt.
Foley ended up with a game tally of 23 points, the most ever scored by an individual in a Super Rugby final. The other 10 came from two-try scoring man of the match Adam Ashley-Cooper.
#WARvCRU half-time | Tahs lead the way 20-13. Foley’s five penalties have seen him become NSW’s highest points scorer in calendar year ever.
— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) August 2, 2014
The Waratahs burst out of the blocks at the start of the match, racing to a 14-0 lead within 15 minutes. Ashley-Cooper’s first try showed exactly how the Tahs intended to play – a beautiful cut-out pass from Kurtley Beale to Foley on the left flank was quickly recycled and the Tahs put it through hands to the other side of the field, Ashley-Cooper straightening up and crashing over.
Crusaders captain Kieran Read rallied his troops, and his words had almost immediate effect, with a loose Nick Phipps kick being cleaned up inside the Crusaders’ half and the counter attack resulting in Matt Todd scoring in the corner, Dan Carter adding the extras to make it 14-7.
Shortly after, Michael Hooper was penalised for not staying on his feet, dead in front of his goalposts. In an ominous sign, Carter gave the kick to Slade. Carter was slow getting up after being tackled after the re-start, and at the half-hour mark he left the field.
While we’ll never know what the result may have been if a fully fit Carter had played 80 minutes, Slade did himself proud, slotting all seven of his goal opportunities, including a pearler of a conversion after Nemani Nadolo scored a controversial try in the left corner just after halftime, his boot appearing to brush the chalk.
For those who said ANZ Stadium was in effect a neutral venue, the vocal Sydney crowd of 61,823 certainly made their presence felt, particularly at the line-out where the Crusaders had to make re-calls a number of times.
The Crusaders targeted the Waratahs’ scrum in the second half, resulting in the Tahs being penalised in successive scrums on their feed. The first penalty gave the Crusaders field position, the second saw Slade convert the position into a 23-20 lead.
Tit-for-tat with penalties followed, until the 60th minute when Ashley-Cooper beat Dominic Bird to swan-dive over for his second try, the result of constant testing of the Crusaders’ defence.
Todd Blackadder rang the changes following the try, bringing on four fresh players. Their impact was almost immediate, the Waratahs happy to blunt an attacking raid in their half with a penalty, and Slade pulled his team back to within 1.
The Waratahs looked bound for more points after a 15-phase attack in the Crusaders’ half, but the men from Canterbury’s defence was staunch, eventually winning them a penalty and attacking field position.
The Waratahs’ defence looked to be similarly effective, until replacement hooker Tola Latu was penalised for being offside and Slade put the Crusaders back in front 32-30.
With minutes to play, the Waratahs appeared destined to once again be the bridesmaids, but sustained attacking phases were again rewarded when Richie McCaw was caught offside 45 metres out and dead in front.
Foley made the kick of his life and the Waratahs held on for 20 seconds from the re-start, before putting the ball over the sideline after the siren to be crowned champions.
Hana
Guest
In the 75:45 minute of the game the clock stopped while the Crusaders kicked their penalty goal. The clocks not supposed to stop? Theres about 2-3min before the penalty is kicked. Then the clock restarts and is on 75:25 min, what the????
Soapit
Guest
It is kinda funny how he's been included in the list of 'stalwarts' around the place after only being with them for 2yrs
Knightblues
Guest
well said, good luck to both nz and australia
Knightblues
Guest
if players are going to deliberately stand in the way to block the play, then they deserve the ball to be thrown into them.
Knightblues
Guest
it was a great game and I almost destroyed my loungeroom, I just wish it had been capacity like it deserved.
Wolfpack
Guest
Will DC be back for first game of RC?
Harry
Guest
Hope all long suffering Tahs fans are fully enjoying their team's win and congrats from this Reds fan. I really thought it had gone from the Tahs when they fell behind and more importantly TPN went off limping (assessing what this means for the Walls is for another time, but not good news) early in the 2nd half. The scrum fell apart and the replacement hooker is somehow an even worse lineout thrower than TPN, this young fella also gave away the penalty for being clearly offside in the 75th minute that allowed the Saders to go ahead 32-30. The fact they kept their cool is hugely to the Tahs credit ... even after the penalty they were very careful with possession from the restart to play out the last 30 seconds.
DMac
Guest
Can we just let the whole 'Richie is Satan' thing go please, it's ruining what should be a massive celebration for Tahs fans. Kiwis are going to love Richie cause he's brilliant. Aussies are going to hate him cause he's a dirty cheat. The beauty of perspective. Let's move on.
It was a Super Rugby attendance record, previously the Bulls held that record at Loftus 55,000 Good on the fans that showed up to the game and made history.... I'm sure if the game was played between 2 Australian sides, they would have got more, especially if it was a Tahs vs Brumbies final. The Canberran's would have added 20,000 to the crowd without a doubt
DMac
Guest
That tackle on Todd would be made one time in a hundred by anyone. He tried to knock the ball out, there was no way he was ever going to stop him.
A crusader fan from ...... Blenhiem
Guest
What a game. Intensity, passion, skills. Give it a break on the Richie thing..... It is a game that can have a high penalty count but Joubert officiated it well as it he is oft to do, I think he left the field having let both teams put their wares on display. Things went both way. Happy to lose when it is a game off high quality. It wasn't his decisions that decided the outcome. It was that the Tahs had that excellent shellshocking and skill full start that we hadn't overcome at the end. Great bloody rugby. Can't beat it. A heartbreak end for me but sport has em...... And it is just sport so sit back and enjoy someone's victory when it is a good one and deserved. No point sulking. I would take five years of losing that final in a row over one win every five finals in boring matches. Maybe I am in the minority. Bring the thunder in the bledisloe. I am on the edge of my seat. Lots of players on both sides stood up. Class from both teams and may it continue Into the international window and beyond. It has been a few years since an auzzie and kiwi team put on such a display at a high pressure game so relish it! We might have 3 such games to savour this year! What a winter / spring to look forward to. Even though it hurts.......
Mike
Guest
Every team plays attacking rugby, and every team takes penalties if that is the result instead of a try. Both teams played in a way appropriate to their own skill sets, their opponents abilities, and the rulings of the referee.
Mike
Guest
Yes watched all of them In Brief. "Cheika has got the Waratahs playing without fear" You didn't actually read my post did you? Learn to read, then to type. "despite your ill informed comments, it is a watershed moment for the team." If you had read my comments, you would have known that I never said otherwise, and that yours are the ill-informed comments. "I”ve seen five man overlaps squandered by such teams." And I've seen wallies who make snide comments without thinking about what is going on, on the field. Cheika's strength is that he understands the building blocks and hard work that must go in to create something as "simple" as running rugby.
stu
Guest
Love this post. UA
Mike
Guest
That might mean their opposition back then wasn't as good.
Mike
Guest
"Playing attacking rugby in big games was once as rare as hens teeth" If you only look at a few periods, sure.
In Brief
Guest
"Every team runs the ball if they can." Rubbish, have you ever watched Top 14 rugby? Did you watcht the Brumbies under Jake White? Heck, did you watch the Waratahs before Cheika was coach? Remember Foley's 'attacking kicking' strategy? There have been plenty of rugby teams that would not run the ball unless you had a gun to the head. I"ve seen five man overlaps squandered by such teams. Cheika has got the Waratahs playing without fear, and despite your ill informed comments, it is a watershed moment for the team. Reminds me of the 1991 NSW team, big forwards and exciting backs. . Long may it continue.
In Brief
Guest
Yes it bloody well is! Both teams played attacking rugby - they did not win penalties through cynical rugby ala 2007 RWC where team kicked and applied pressure, and the attacking teams were punished.
In Brief
Guest
No it's not, it's exciting, refreshing and fantastic. Keep believing!
In Brief
Guest
Playing attacking rugby in big games was once as rare as hens teeth. The Waratahs game, and in fact the evolution of rugby is huge - the game is transforming for the better. Even England plays 15 man rugby. It's big news, and must be shouted from the rooftops, the Reds proved it, the Waratahs have now proved it , and as you say the All Blacks have it down to a fine art. Long live attacking rugby.