NSW Waratahs climbed to the top of Super Rugby’s Australian conference and possibly ended the Crusaders 13-year finals run with a 32-22 home win in a brutal and exciting clash at ANZ Stadium.
The Waratahs led 25-8 early in the second half Saturday night but the Crusaders piled on 14 unanswered points to get within three with fewer than 15 minutes to go.
Waratahs five-eighth Bernard Foley clinched the bonus-point win two minutes from the end when he scored their fourth try, chasing through his own kick and sliding over the line after Crusaders winger Nafi Tuitavake couldn’t handle the ball.
The Crusaders, who started the round in ninth spot, played out the last 10 minutes with 14 men after champion flanker Richie McCaw was sin binned for entering a ruck from the side.
The Waratahs also played with 14 men for 10 minutes when hooker Tolu Latu was punished for a lifting tackle on Sam Whitelock.
Winger Taqele Naiyaravoro, who scored two tries, and lock Will Skelton, each sailed close to the wind with some shoulder charge tackles in an intensely physical encounter.
“Everyone was scrambling defence, we were able to link that to some good intensity so I was very pleased with that attitude,” Waratahs coach Michael Cheika said.
He felt fatigue and a couple of errors, rather than a drop in intensity, contributed to the Crusaders’ comeback.
Cheika thought Latu didn’t have anything to worry about for his tackle on Whitelock but Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder said it would be interesting to see what the citing commissioner made of the game.
He felt McCaw’s card represented inconsistency on the part of referee Marius van der Westhuizen.
Asked if NSW had pushed the letter of the law at times, Blackadder said: “I think so.
“Both teams knew that (at) the breakdowns that there was going to be a lot of physicality and it certainly showed out there. It was pretty willing.”
Cheika said he was proud of Skelton’s performance and wasn’t concerned about the nature of some of his tackles. Officals disagreed and both Skelton and Latu were later cited for the lifting tackle on Whitelock in the 17th minute.
Former Australia lock Dean Mumm will join the squad for their two games in South Africa.
Blackadder said Slade tweaked a quadriceps, captain Kieran Read suffered a head knock and Israel Dagg would miss the remainder of the Super campaign after aggravating his calf strain in the warmup, which forced him out of the game.
Tiger
Guest
Really Sheriff? You are indeed one very sad individual, but that's your opinion. Enjoy the moment mate.
44bottles
Roar Guru
lol, u mad bro?
44bottles
Roar Guru
lol, u mad?
SP
Guest
"I cannot believe how bitter and twisted some of the NZ supporters are on here." Read the rugby section long enough and you realise it's the norm whenever the kiwi sides get toweled up. "Oh yeah bro ‘shags’ (like you clowns know him on a first name basis) will have a plan to fix Skelton" Gold. NZ is a very small and insular place though. They are all related to each other somehow so i guess its possible they all know shags, bro. He probably emails them every night to tell them of his plans/tactics etc. and asks them for advice too.
MH01
Guest
So you actually believe Skelton tackles people? Maybe watch a few games mate.
Mike
Guest
How would you know? :)
Mike
Guest
As well as all the yellows for Crus players with no arms. "at the same time it grounds the All Blacks." What would you know about the All Blacks?
Mike
Guest
Yes Jokerman, and Don Clarke was a better kicker than any current Australian player. ;)
ThugbyFan
Guest
It was interesting that the Tahs had NO hope of stopping the rolling maul from lineouts, Cinque (below) is right that Skelton just stood trapped in the middle and unable to put any pressure against the maul. Yet around the 72nd minute, the Tahs tried 2 rolling mauls (McCaw got his yellow after the 1st one) and in both cases, the Saders stopped the maul dead in its tracks and even won the feed in the ensuing scrum. I hope M.Cheika really studies the videos of how they did it and pounds the technique into his forwards while in SA. The Tahs conceded one try from a maul and could have easily given away a couple more. The NH teams would have noted this weakness, licking their chops knowing any pull down on a NH team maul and the NH refs will bring out the yellow card (and penalty try) immediately. Sadly I suspect the RWC is going to end up a Maul-a-thon.
ThugbyFan
Guest
Sorry, you are Joking Man, and what's your take on the 60th minute head-high shot on Hoiles (I think) who didn't even have the ball? The play had long gone past as he ran forward as a decoy and WHAM! The ref and the two blind blokes with flags missed that one, but they sure got the Tah's knock-on that in fact wasn't a knock-on. I guess your excuse from high on your mountain of indignation is "well it was missed, so its OK" or is it more "accidental stray NZ arm, they didn't mean it". Its a fast game with lots of moving bodies, all refs make mistakes and if they are unbiased then the errors even out. Its the crazy interpretations and immovable thick-skinned refs that are so annoying. At the ground, they showed the Whitelock throw countless times for the ref to make his decision. Skelton grabbed Whitelock around the arms and upper chest, who is playing silly buggers holding the ball trying to slow things down, lifted him and started to throw him on the ground. Stupid Latu then lifted Whitelock's hips above the shoulder and threw him down. Look closely at the video (it was obvious at the ground monitor) and you can see Skelton realises too late what is happening and simply drops Whitelock, trying to reduce the fall, rather than throw him down. I suspect the ref took this into consideration when he ruled only Latu disserved a yellow. Whitelock then acted like an Italian soccer centre forward, with the miraculous recovery once Latu got his 10 minutes. I thought the referee did the right thing. Yes Latu is going to cop a 3-week ban which is sweet, and knowing the SANSAR judiciary Skelton is likely to get a 2-week holiday also despite the referee's ruling. So rather than slander the TMO with one-eyed assertions, just cop that it was a hard fast match, lots of 50-50 decisions and the better team won. Maybe a taste of some bitter lemon might help. :)
bennalong
Guest
No! It's called a tackle! You can't have made many. You sound like a grabber.
The oracle
Guest
God, I cannot believe how bitter and twisted some of the NZ supporters are on here. Face it the crusaders lost and that's it, forget about this 'oh you just wait till the All Blacks play blah blah blah' 'Yeah wait till Skelton plays the All Blacks then they will get him' Oh yeah bro 'shags' (like you clowns know him on a first name basis) will have a plan to fix Skelton' Shut the ___ up! Get the chip on your shoulders (yes plural) fixed and then we can talk!! -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
I wouldn't say a very good chance NB. It's slim at best and depends on other results going their way. TB has vowed to keep fighting and that's all he can do. I will still pick Crusaders to beat the Blues, Hurricanes and Brumbies as I can never pick against them but I just don't see it happening as well as other results falling their way. But based on their losses this season that seems only fair, though it pains me to say it. Thanks Rugby Tragic. Like the Blues, there's always next year. Kia Kaha
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Dean Mumm joining the squad in South Africa - WTF ? Are we that hard up for tall timber.
Not Bothered
Guest
4th on points but 2nd due to the conference system. Its the fairest way to do it but clearly in this instance the Tahs are elevated above their rightfull position. The Chiefs and Highlanders have clearly been better so far. It needs to be this way but lets not pretend that the Tahs have earned 2nd.
Not Bothered
Guest
Umm, they are still a very good chance of making the finals Kia. 3 wins and 12-15 points puts them in contention considering they play the Brumbies. Cant believe the Tahs got 25 points for beating the Saders to go 'top of the ladder'. Skelton is awesome, a truely awesome player. Imo he will be a trump card for the Wallabies and god knows they will need it. The Wallabies are fairly weak at 6 & 8 although McMahon shows promise, so Skelton is very important. When I say they are weak at 6 & 8 I mean that Wales, France, NZ, SA, Ire, Italy and Arg would not trade with Aus in all likelyhood. Anyway, like Ive been saying for a long time, Skelton is a phenom and Imo he will be considered one of the best locks in the world by years end.
MH01
Guest
its called a shoulder charge, I'm very aware of it .
cinque
Roar Rookie
The maul defence again was poor, as it was against the Force. Strangely, Skelton is the problem. He has the strength and reach to wade through bodies and grab the ball-carrier but that comes at a big cost because he is bolt upright to do that, so the rest are skating. Robinson had a fine game. Excellent defence, some of it critical, solid scrum, didn't drop anything. Okay in general play. MoM even.
cinque
Roar Rookie
Yes, 2 yellows seems about right. Then Tahs unlikely to score a point a minute for the next 10. Skelton might have settled down after that. When he got off scot free, he correctly thought he had a charmed life.
Jerry
Guest
He got the call right there. Didn't see the shove/punch but the ref didn't help him by only saying "and everything after" when the assistant had specifically mentioned the punch/shove. I do think the TMO erred in saying he thought a card was harsh on the shoulder to McCaw though. The ref didn't ask him for a recommendation, only to confirm a number.