The Waratahs have finally broken Australia’s longstanding streak of losses to New Zealand sides, smashing the Highlanders by 29 points.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Waratahs 41
Highlanders 12
The Waratahs hosts the Highlanders Saturday night at Allianz Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:45pm AEST.
The Waratahs have only won two matches against the Highlanders in the past seven years. During his tenure Daryl Gibson’s boys had no luck against two different coaches – beaten by 4 points by Jamie Joseph’s team.
Joseph left for Japan. He was replaced by Tony Brown who’s Highlanders handed a 16-point beating to the New South Welshmen. Tony Brown also left for Japan.
Since their rocky start to the season, New South Wales have steadily improved and played much more consistently.
In the last two matches, many New Zealand Super Rugby fans had their hearts in your mouth during the final stages, facing the prospect of the first team to lose to the Australians. It will probably be the same this week.
This season, the Highlanders have been vulnerable playing away. Moreover, their kick-chase may be backfire against altitude operators such as Israel Folau and the Waratahs multiple counter attackers, lead by Kurtley Beale.
While this is the first year as Highlander mentor, Alan Mauger (pronounced “Major”) is no novice. His coaching experience spans a good part of a decade, including a two-year stint as head coach for Leicester Tigers in UK. He continues to keep the Highlanders excitement and scoring machine dangerously humming.
Prediction
The bookies’ odds are against the Waratahs. But I’m calling against it and anticipate a Waratahs upset – assuming Bernard Foley kicks the goals he is supposed to.
RobC
Roar Guru
Boomeranga, A funny choice of words: "kick on" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsPNpJB7J5M
Uncle Eric
Guest
Big call Malo, 'one swallow does not a summer make'.
Uncle Eric
Guest
From my viewing Naholo got an ankle tap in. Maybe he did it with his tongue....
Uncle Eric
Guest
Don't forget "Dim" Horan.
Uncle Eric
Guest
Don't argue with RTT folks. When all is said and done 'you can't argue with a sick mind'. Oops I forgot RTT isn't biased towards the Waratahs ........ much. Interesting though, I thought Pickerill was very much reffing for the home side and given the comments on here last week about Ben O'Keefe, the silence is quite deafening. Maybe I need to read further.
Tim Schuster
Roar Rookie
Agree. Forwards & backs fronted up. That win wss coming. The unheralded forward pack fronted at set piece & breakdown. Simon Cron's influence perhaps. Onwards & upwards.
ThugbyFan
Guest
Highlander, the Tempura fish with chips is excellent and not too expensive. A shame to wash it down with the diluted beer in plastic. You want a decent drink in that joint you have to smuggle your own in. :)
ThugbyFan
Guest
G'day Chookster, the Mighty Tahs have earned 7 points from the last 3 matches against kiwi sides, so I guess 7 from a max of 15 isn't a terrible return but not great either as 2 were home games. The crowd went nutso at the end. What was Fawking Funny is these days they ask you to SMS the MotM but they only give you a choice of 3 players (previously you could just type in a name, so could select one from all 15-23 on the field). Tonight we had a choice of Tom Robertson, Kurtley Beale and Curtis Rona. WTF!!!! Where was Bernie (my MotM), M.Wells, W.Miller? With such a huge selection, the crowd went 40% to Teletubbie Tom as MotM. And btw, who did Foxtel give as MotM? Anyone????
ThugbyFan
Guest
RTT and Reverse, re: that 2nd Highlander try, we were at the ground and all shouted NO try immediately. We were almost level with the action but it was the other side of the field, from there it looked crook and very similar to the disallowed Tahs try. To be fair, the referee and TMO spent ages going over multiple replays so even they had doubts about it. One view especially looked like they had illegally peeled off but nowhere near as obvious as the disallowed Tahs try. For mine the Tahs was NO try and this one was a 50-50 call. They got the try, dems the breaks. And don't get me going on rolling mauls, for mine they are group obstruction that somehow passed muster as legal. The sooner IRB/WR gets rid of the obstruction then the better rugby will become. :)
Kiwikrs
Guest
Id say he covered 3 positions being up in 1st receiver covering Sopangas poor game a lot too
Kiwikrs
Guest
Thats where all good streaks begin...
ThugbyFan
Guest
G'day Digger, a nice win by your boys last night against a fired up Reds so am sure you are enjoying the Chateau Wellington Harbour to celebrate. Was at the Tahs match. Just got home and am reading comments. Did you know our state government wants to knock down the SFS , well we fans would have saved our Premier GladBag the job if that Highlander winger didn't get a red. Am fairly sure they would have burnt the joint down, so if Chook was there he may literally have been on fire. LoL A nice win for the Tahs but tbh, 2 of the Highlander big guns, Lima Sap and Ben from accounts, had horrible games tonight. Sure Tahs were in their faces but those 2 are quality players, just had a shockers which really helped the Tahs.
Marlene Allen
Guest
Missing the baracuda have for awhile
Kane
Guest
Well Beauden was named player of the year but even he had nothing on Reiko
andrewM
Guest
So all of last years debacle of removing the Force s worth just one win - that's a pretty pathetic benchmark in anyone's books
Pavid Docock
Guest
I guess the new ruck rules would suit playing 2 jackal style players. And the extra mobility in the forward pack does seem to assist decision making and precision when it comes to committing players to the ruck. Good observations RobC.
ebop
Guest
Was it only 40 wins a row? It felt like so much more, like years and years and years.
RobC
Roar Guru
aha yes, KiwiHaydn thanks!
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Aside from an injured Squire, i think it was a full ticket. Nobody rested.
Harry Jones
Expert
Folau a better captain than Ben? Higher rugby IQ? Better cover defender? Positioning? Ambidextrous kicker? Better at test level 15 vs 15? Would he have rallied a short handed side better?