So here we are. After an eye-opening season that has provided one of the most contested races for the right to play in the top six, the Waratahs have finally made good of their promise and have brought home the Super Rugby trophy.
The rise to the top wasn’t a walk in the park, however, with the season presenting its fair share of hiccups.
The Waratahs had to deal with Israel Folau’s temporary injury, the loss of instrumental captain Dave Dennis and the frustration issues of Michael Cheika, which we all recall resulted in some unhappy officials and the requirement of a new window pane for the Sharks’ visiting-coaches box.
The 2014 season showed us just how much the Waratahs have improved. Under the watchful eye of Cheika, the pernennial under-achievers of Super Rugby showed that they could deliver the performances they were always capable of.
I’m not a huge believer in statistics telling the whole story, but it’s hard to argue with numbers this good.
The Waratahs recorded the most points scored, the fewest points conceded, the most wins (14 from 18), the highest individual points scorer (Bernard Foley with 252) and the equal highest individual try scorer (Israel Folau with 12).
Despite all this success, the season would have meant very little to the Waratahs supporters if they didn’t put away the Crusaders – the competition’s most successful team by a mile.
And what a game it was. The opening five minutes indicated we could be in for a barnstorming cricket score courtesy of the Waratahs intensity out of the blocks. An early penalty from Foley got the scoreboard ticking, moments before a perfectly placed and timed pass put the eventual man-of-the-match Adam Ashley-Cooper over for his first try.
In the 18th minute Crusaders flanker Matt Todd (unlucky to be left out of the All Blacks squad, but that’s another story) stormed over for a try created by the team’s innate ability to score off broken play, which momentarily closed the gap.
However, a total of five penalty goals in the first half from the consistent boot of Foley saw the Waratahs head into the change rooms with their tails up at 20-13, although the score didn’t really do justice to the opening dominance of the New South Welshmen.
The second half was a complete role reversal, with the rampaging Nemani Nadolo, this season’s equal highest try scorer, crossing over for his 12th try in the 43rd minute. A successful conversion from the flawless boot of Colin Slade, a kicking replacement for the earlier injured Dan Carter, saw the scores levelled.
The two fly-halves traded penalties for the Crusaders to lead 26-23, up until the hero of the night Ashley-Cooper crossed for his second, the first individual double in a final in five years. Naturally the crowd erupted and the momentum had finally swung back to the home side.
As exciting as it was though, the conversion meant only four points separated the two best sides of the season. The next 10 minutes was the most nail-biting moment of my rugby-viewing life. Slade knocked over another two penalties with ease to regain the lead at 32-30. All the hard work of the regular season looked to be coming undone.
Cue Bernard Foley. A 79th minute penalty, courtesy of Richie McCaw (ironic really), allowed Foley the opportunity for a shot at goal 45 metres out from the posts. Kicking coach Andrew Mehrtens was even quoted as saying before the match that 45 metres was pushing the limits of Foley’s kicking range, but this thought didn’t occur to the outstanding 10.
He lined up with the entire stadium’s undivided attention and calmly knocked over what will likely be the highest pressure kick of the year, only just making it over the cross-bar. With only a few seconds to play, the Waratahs just had to retain possession off the kick off and boot it out after the siren, which they promptly did.
The whistle sounded and Waratahs had done it – they had won the Super Rugby grand final 33-32.
This ranks high, if not highest, in the most exciting rugby matches I’ve ever watched, and if you haven’t already done so, I’d recommend watching it and re-watching it, and pinching yourself occasionally to ensure this fairytale finish is in fact a reality.
Although the Reds are my team, I couldn’t be happier to see the Waratahs, boasting a plethora of Wallabies, lift the trophy. I can only hope this performance inspires the continued improvement and success of the Wallabies and an even bigger and better season for the Australian Super Rugby teams in 2015.
Bring on the first Bledisloe match!
Rugby Fixation
Roar Guru
hahaha look, I'm the first to admit that I'm a Queenslander and the the Reds are my team, but Australian rugby needed this. Who's your team?
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
;-)
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
"The Super Rugby final we had all hoped for"????????!! Speak for yourself buddy....
PeterK
Roar Guru
the 2001 team was the strongest
MrT
Guest
All 3 Australian SR GF wins? Let's not forget the 2001 Brumbies win over the Sharks (in Canberra).
Rugby Fixation
Roar Guru
The biggest factor in the Reds 2011 win was undoubtedly the Genia-Cooper combination. In that year it was easily the best halves combination in Super Rugby as it combined unseen attacking nous from a scrum half with the unpredictable, side-stepping Cooper who boasted one of the biggest passes in the season and on their day these two could put a ball wherever they wanted. The forwards, though not all big names, were dominant in most matches and the back line simply had to be there in order to reap the benefits of the halves combo. The pace of Davies and defence of A. Faingaa made it that bit easier. In my opinion, although the 2011 final was an awesome spectacle, the Waratahs of 2014 would have beat either team. Of course this is hypothetical and depends on a range of things like players leaving clubs (Jono Lance is an obvious one) and home advantage, but the Waratahs, particularly the end of the season, were untouchable, breaking club records left, right and centre.
niwdeyaj
Guest
Samo and Higginbotham were great for the Reds in 2011 and of course they were physical (they were forwards and this is rugby after all, not tiddlywinks), but in my opinion they were not the physically dominant force that the class of '14 Tahs have shown themselves to be. They were more technical and tactical which is why i still rate Link as the better coach at this point. One thing both teams had in common was that they had a strong team culture and enjoyed playing with each other and for each other. i quite enjoyed Coopers backflips and Digbys turtle dance after scoring an important try...
Johnno
Guest
I reckon your underestimating Samo, and Higgers very physicial and quality players,you may forget how good Samo could be and Higgers. Beau Robinson is a very abrasive player. Simmons would take control of the line-out and Samo is a line-out option too the Reds used well. Taps is a better tackler than Beale. Taps had to handle SBW in the 2011 final, and did well. Rod Davies speed would burn Horne or Alofa Alofa.
niwdeyaj
Guest
'14 Tahs would beat the '11 Reds in my opinion. Aside from Horwill they didn't really have any "outstanding" forwards (none that were unquestionably 1st choice Wallabies) but they were effective as they played superbly as a unit and were able to overcome bigger packs by wearing them down with superior fitness and teamwork. '14 Tahs would have survived the '11 Reds fitness test and raised them with added physicality from the likes of Palu, TPN, Kepu and speed from Hooper (all 1st choice wallabies aside from TPN when Moore is fit, then they still had the well capped Robinson and 'ineligible' but still very, very good Jackpot and Douglas). Reds backline was far superior with Genia, Cooper and Ioane but they wouldn't have been very effective if their forwards couldn't get clean ball!
Johnno
Guest
Greg Holmes is a very good scrummager, beats me how Deans ignored him so much. Horwill was right up with the best locks in the World in 2011. Beau Robinson had a great season, Samo was good, Simmons in the line-out, Higgers was developing well, he already was a wallaby in 2010. Not that bad a pack, Saia Faingaa improved alot was better than now. The backs are not bad, Digby in his prime, and the halves were on fire. Anthony Fainga tackled very well. Ben Daley had already played for the Wallabies. Rod Davies had alot of speed. I don't know who'd win the 2011 Reds or 2014 Tahs. On a neutral venue maybe the reds when I think about it. The Tahs despite there awesome stats this year, had alot of holes in there set-piece,amazaed a team with such a shoddy set piece, got that far. 2004 Brumbies what a side they had. Links 2011 effort was superb, the Reds franchise was in tatters, the Tahs were too, but Link up in Brissy smaller city, had less to work with.
niwdeyaj
Guest
Hard to believe the Reds won a title with that forward pack. Cheika has done a wonderful job with the Tahs but I still rate Link's effort with the Reds as superior given what he was working with... and those 2004 Brumbies, champion team full of champions! Those were the days...
Johnno
Guest
Nothing left to say, the Tahs won,simple.Great for Australian rugby this win 60,000 fans, a good promo to a wider audience. But on a side note, I don't reckon the Tahs could of beaten the 2014 Saders side in a grand final in Christchurch. This was the 1st time both sides met this year. But for the Saders away from home to play like they did, big effort. Who knows if Andy Ellis didn't go off injured late in game, or Dan Carter limp off in 1st half, maybe Saders would of won. But no point living in hypotheticals, history says Tahs won all that counts, done. But on a side note I reckon the 2004 Brumbies winnign side would beat the 2014 Tahs. Brumbies 2004 side 15 Joe Roff 14 Clyde Rathbone "when he was in his prime" 13 Joel Wilson 12 Matt Giteau 11 Mark Gerrard 10 Stephen Larkham 9 George Gregan 8 Scott Fava 7 George Smith 6 Owen Finegan (c) 5 Radike Samo 4 Mark Chisholm 3 Nic Henderson 2 Jeremy Paul 1 Bill Young Substitutes: 16 David Palavi 17 Guy Shepherdson 18 David Giffin 19 Jone Tawake 20 Matt Henjak 21 Mark Bartholomeusz 22 Lenny Beckett Tahs 2014 side I reckon would of beaten the Reds 2011 side. Mind you the Saders were better in 2011. Quade and Genia were superlitave that year, Foley/Phipps were very impressive but not superlitave. 15 Jono Lance 14 Rod Davies 13 Anthony Fainga'a 12 Ben Tapuai 11 Digby Ioane 10 Quade Cooper 9 Will Genia 8 Radike Samo 7 Beau Robinson 6 Scott Higginbotham 5 James Horwill (c) 4 Rob Simmons 3 Greg Holmes 2 Saia Fainga'a 1 Ben Daley Reds had a better line-out and scrum though than 2014 Tahs. But Rob Simmons wasn't the player he was now, but Simmons one part of Simmons game always been strong his line-out work. Samo was awesome in (2004) and very good in 2011, but not as good as Palu. Higgers is better than Hoiles/Dave Dennis, Beau Robinson was in top form but not as good as Hooper, but reds scrum was better and Horwill was much better than. The backs are very good. Halves and Digby Ioane,Taps was awesome and Rod Davies was so fast. Interesting all 3 Australian SR grand final wins have been all on home soil and all 3 wins vs the Saders as the runner's up. South African teams have never won a semi-final or a grand final match in SR history in NZ. And the South African super rugby titles all on home soil.