The Highlanders produced a tactical masterclass to upset the NSW Waratahs 35-17 at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, booking a spot in next weekend’s Super Rugby final against the Hurricanes in Wellington.
Coach Jamie Joseph’s side produced a mixed bag of kicks, turning the bigger Waratahs around all night, as the visitors outscored the reigning champions five tries to one to secure an all-New Zealand final.
The Waratahs struggled to find their rhythm as the Highlanders consistently stole the Tahs’ lineout ball and controlled the tempo of the game with their tactical kicking.
The Waratahs were seemingly broken on 58 minutes when the Highlanders were awarded a penalty try with flanker Jacques Potgieter sin-binned for a high shot on winger Patrick Osborne, who looked set to score before he was clipped on the head.
Referee Craig Joubert sent the decision upstairs to the television match official, who took his time deliberating before the on-field ref took control of the situation after viewing several replays on the big screen.
The decision prompted plenty in the crowd of 32,632 to chant against the ref but the call, which made the score 27-17, looked a fair one by the South African whistleblower.
The Waratahs had gone 17-15 up early in the second half through Bernard Foley’s fourth penalty goal of the night before winger Waisake Naholo kicked for himself and won the race to score his 12th try of the season and make it 20-17 to the Highlanders.
The penalty try came five minutes later and the complexion of the game had completely changed.
A field-goal from five-eighth Lima Sopoaga five minutes from time and a late try from Osborne sealed a deserved victory for the visitors.
The Highlanders led 15-14 at halftime, outscoring the Waratahs two tries to one at the break.
The hosts were first to score through winger Rob Horne, who produced a brilliant one-handed put down while holding off Naholo after taking a Foley cross-field kick on 11 minutes.
The visitors hit back eight minutes later when halfback Aaron Smith intercepted a Wycliff Palu pass off the back of the scrum.
Inside centre Richard Buckman scored the Highlander’s second try of the first half when he broke through several defenders for a good solo five-pointer.
Franky
Guest
Tahs were shite. Joubert was terrible as per usual Tahs and teh Wobblies wont win a game if they rely on Izzy and Skelton do do everything for them
Franky
Guest
Horne has hands like a digital clock and Fardy is one of the most overrated players going around (Hooper is up there). The big decision wasn't Potgeiter it was allowing the inside to play on. Another call that constantly bugs me is the lineout call where Naholo ran and caught the long thro. Both attack and defence need to stay back 10m until the ball leaves the lineout. He knew the ball was going long and ran onto it, he was offside
ric
Guest
Actually, the season is emphatically not over. The most important game will be played next weekend. But you don't seem to let the facts get in the way of your opinions.
David
Guest
Mike, can you explain further what you mean by "incompetent refereeing" please? Any reference to the laws would be desirable.
tinfoil hat
Guest
Plenty of other fans are pointing out that the reffing was fine.
tinfoil hat
Guest
"Yes, most of it was his fault" Please elaborate.
Panko
Guest
Ah now I remember why I stopped reading the roar. People can't talk about the game without getting called a pathetic whinger. Goodbye keyboard warriors
tinfoil hat
Guest
Fortunately, making the one-eyed home crowd happy is not his job.
Steve
Guest
I read somewhere today that Karlmichael Hunt will be chosen in the Wallaby 34 man squad on Thursday. if so, then we know who is steering the boat. He was a poor investment and was a major reason why the Reds season was off the rails. O'Connor was equally poor.
tinfoil hat
Guest
You are right Mike. There is no relationship between winning and excellence. Except, of course, when the Tah's win. That is always excellent.
Taylorman
Guest
Yes after several head hunting missions recently by the Skelton, Latu gang great to see potgeiter bang the final ironic nail in the coffin.
dan in devon
Guest
and baiting too!! Does that mean there is no fishing allowed?
tinfoil hat
Guest
Repeating an untruth over and over does not magically turn it into the truth. There are a few more stages of grief for you to go through after you get past denial.
Jerry
Guest
Nope, that would only be the case if the high shot happened after the try were scored. In this case it happened prior, advantage would have applied even if it were spotted in real time, try would be awarded. Naholo could have been yellow carded though.
Taylorman
Guest
is it worth the risk though? They might increase it to 15? :-)
tinfoil hat
Guest
Because the stands were full of one-eyed Tah's supporters like you who had a dummy spit when thier team got trounced.
tinfoil hat
Guest
I call deliberate troll. No one could be that one-eyed to think the Tah's were the better team on the night.
tinfoil hat
Guest
Clearly wrong? why? The on-field explanation was clear and adhered to the laws of the game. Then again, you thought there is nothing wrong with cheika having a private half time chat with the ref and that skelton wouldn't get suspended. Your analysis of anything to do with the tah's has to taken with a few large truckloads of salt.
AussieKiwi
Guest
Generalisations moderated???? There will be very few posts left if that is applied across the site :)
The dog
Guest
You are correct Jerry. If they took that as a high shot it would have been a penalty at the half way to the Waratahs instead of the kick-off restart.