The NSW Waratahs have inflicted the first loss of the season to the Wellington Hurriances as they defeated the New Zealand team at home 29-24.
WARATAHS 29
HURRICANES 24
One try and a penalty goal in the second half to the Waratahs gave them the win after scores were level at half time.
In a thoroughly enjoyable game to watch, both teams attacked, and looked for the try line rather than taking the penalty goal on offer.
It was the Hurricanes who started well but couldn’t put the score on the board.
They could have had up to 14 points on the board, through penalties and tries, but the Waratahs defence and basic errors kept them scoreless.
This included a knock on from Ardie Savea who put the ball on his foot as he was trying to ground the try.
The knock on would hurt the Canes as the Waratahs opened the scoring after 14 minutes.
Peter Betham was on the end of a nice play from the Tahs and he would score first in the game.
Seven minutes later, the Hurricanes leveled at 7-7, with a try to Conrad Smith from a scrum 5 metres out.
He would receive the pass from the scrum feed and easily go over the line to score for Wellington.
Two minutes later the Hurricanes showed their attacking flair with a great run from Beauden Barrett.
He would kick the ball ahead of him, gather the ball, and then run 70 metres past the Waratahs defence to give them the lead.
While he missed the conversion, for the extra two points, the Hurricanes would lead 12-7.
The Waratahs would respond in the next few minutes, and after having a Beale try disallowed in the 32nd minute, they would take the lead after 34 minutes.
Will Skelton would score his first try for the Tahs as they took a 14-12 lead.
Two minutes before half time the Hurricanes would score again through Shields to take a 19-14 lead.
That should have been the half time lead but the Hurricanes would make a mistake at the end of the half to give the Waratahs a try right on the break.
Betham would intercept a counter attack move by Wellington and score his second try of the match.
At half time the two teams would be level.
In the second half, the first twenty minutes were dominated by the Tahs, as they scored a try to Israel Folau for a 26-19 lead.
They extended the margin to 10 points with a penalty in the 58th minute and started to focus on holding on in the match.
This allowed the Hurricanes to attack and they cut the margin down to five points with 9 minutes to go with a try to TJ Perenara.
Unfortunately for them, the Waratahs defence held on, and they won a penalty with two minutes to go to seal the match.
Foley would miss the attempt which gave the Hurricanes one last chance to win.
A knock on from Wellington would end the game and hand the Waratahs their best win of the season.
They now move to 6th on the Super 15 table and remain in second in the Australian conference.
The Hurricanes remain in first but the gap between them and the Chiefs close to one point in the NZ conference.
Wellington now travel to Australia to face the Reds with the Waratahs playing the Rebels in Sydney next week.
The Waratahs will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss to the Stormers when they take on the undefeated Hurricanes in Wellington. Join The Roar for live coverage of the match from 2:30pm (AEST).
Currently on top of the ladder, with seven wins out of seven, the Hurricanes have dominated the competition this season.
They are ranked third in points scored and have the second best defence in the league.
In two matches against against Australian opponents, in the Rebels and the Force, the Hurricanes have won by an average of 26.5 points.
Furthermore, in nine matches in Wellington, the Waratahs have only won twice, with their last win coming in 2009.
The Tahs’ daunting task has been helped with the inclusion of Adam Ashley-Cooper for the match.
The Wallabies outside centre has been out of action since Round 2 against the Rebels with a knee injury.
In other changes, Pat McCutcheon will replace Jacques Potgeiter at 6, while Peter Betham takes Taqele Naiyaravoro’s spot on the wing – the Fijian is having visa issues.
The Hurricanes have made just one change, with Victor Vito replaced by Ardie Savea at 7.
Prediction
It’s hard to see the Waratahs beating the Hurricanes today.
The five Australian franchises have won just three matches of 16 this year against South African and New Zealand teams.
Only one of those three – the Rebels’ win against the Crusaders in Round 1 – was won away from home.
The Canes should secure their eighth straight win of the season and further cement themselves as the team to beat.
Taylorman
Guest
Palu is always average to rubbish versus the ABs. That is well known here. Strictly average no. 8, superxv only. Why do you think Read and Vermulens are the only no. 8's mentioned in any international sense. He's typical of many W's that don't step up to the top test level. The pack is overall in that space. That's largely why they are where they are.
kesmcc
Roar Pro
you could also say that the tahs were extremely lucky not to receive a yellow card in the 63rd minute when one of their players slapped the ball out of savea's hands whilst lying at the bottom of a ruck. they we're right on the try line and had fast ball but glen jackson was not in the right position to see it. very cynical play imo. all the canes players were asking for the tmo but they didn't want to know about it. luck went both ways but i dont think the tahs are out of the woods yet and will probably have to rely on winning a weak conference to make the finals.
jeznez
Roar Guru
That is good to hear. Last week the aimless side to side play was like the Crusaders early last year. Good to hear the structure improved.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I'm absolutely stoked by the win.............. but the side was poor last week, am reading the commentary and trying to get a handle on the match, It doesn't sound like we can think the Stormers match was an anomaly. Genuine question, if the lads had played the way they did yesterday, would the result against the Stormers have been different? Obviously any response will be speculation but am curious to hear opinions. Ps. Go Tahs!
Wii
Guest
Sorry Dmac how about taking into account the Tahs are stacked full of wallabies, the Canescoming off the bye and having lost momentum. The Tahs are defending champions. Why is it that all the aforementioned are rattled out when the Tahs lose yet when they win in very similar circumstances to the Stormers last week these same mitigating factors are not taken into account? I don't begrudge the win I do have an issue how somehow the Tahs win is spectacular etc etc. They won against a team coming off a bye who have never won the competition before and were beaten by a shadow Wallabies team pretty much.
Wii
Guest
Defence was lacking for both teams, plus as good as the Tahsmay have been the Hurricanes were clearly lacking the momentum after the bye much like the Tahslas week. On paper this Tahs outfit is basically a Wallabies training squad and they should win against most teams in this competition 9 X out of 10
Baiden
Guest
Good win Tahs. This is the wakeup call the Canes needed. They were ahead in most stats, but far too sloppy. Dropping the ball over the tryline and throwing an intercept ended up being too much in the end. No change to my thoughts that the Hurricanes will finish the comp in 1st place, but now I'm fairly sure that the Waratahs will finish ahead of the Brumbies. The aggression from Skelton and Palu was a pleasure to watch.
mikeylives
Guest
Yeh totally Mick. Why didn't the Canes coach give them those instructions before kickoff?
Jameswm
Guest
Puhlease. Supporters can't enjoy a win now?
Digby
Roar Guru
Well that sux. Was stuck at a function, couldn't see the match. Sounds like it was an exciting affair, well done to the Tahs. Good teams win when they need to and they certainly have done that.
Jameswm
Guest
Who said Palu is no good against NZ opposition? Nisbett was raving about him.
MJB
Guest
Haha well we can only hope so Rob :D
DMac
Guest
'Luck' is all very subjective then. I could say the bounce for Barrett's try was more luck than Savea's dropped ball, in that one was pretty much totally out of any player's control and the other was a brain explosion. I could even argue that Beale's no try was more about luck than Savea's, given that Beale didn't do anything wrong, a foot just appeared as he was grounding. In the end it doesn't matter, but I think it's a bit unfair to brand a bonus point away win against the undefeated competition leaders 'lucky' on the basis of a couple of mistakes by the opposition....
DMac
Guest
Yeah I didn't think attack was a problem, 3 of the 4 tries were well constructed and they could easily have had a few more.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
I'll have you know my Isuzu Bellett has served me faithfully for forty five years now Zero Gain. The only substantial expenditure has been new cardboard under the faded dashboard vinyl but I was fortunate to find agreeably priced product on eBay. I admit I borrowed the "unmarked van" used today from a good china who used do quite well driving about with a little bell, selling Mr Whippy ice creams.
Ryanno
Guest
4 tries against the previously undefeated comp leaders not enough for you??? Ssshhh
jeznez
Roar Guru
Didn't see the match (was coaching my own team). Happy to hear the Tahs won but sounds like we probably haven't answered a lot of the questions raised last week particularly about our attacking structures against committed defence. Sounds like the game management was better though.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Pleasure Paul.
Jerry
Guest
Not so sure, it should be 'cue' for that context.
abdul
Guest
Yes very good spelling. Unfortunately the correct word is cue in this context.