It came as no surprise when the Waratahs Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau and Bernard Foley suddenly clicked in a ten-minute second-half burst last night at Allianz Stadium to turn another humiliating defeat into a spine-tingling victory.
The bigger question would be where were the big three in the previous 131 minutes?
That’s the 80 minutes last week in a shock 40-31 loss to the Brumbies that cost the Waratahs second place on the overall Super Rugby ladder and a home semi.
And the first 51 minutes last night when the Highlanders led 23-6 and were in total control of the sudden death quarterfinal.
The Waratahs were stuffed at that stage, and there was no way they weren’t heading for the Super Rugby exit door.
Then out of nowhere, the big three were suddenly magnificent.
Two brilliant Beale busts sent Folau and Foley in for tries, a superb Folau bust saw Foley cross again and he converted all three.
For Foley, it was a timely Super Rugby career-best 25 points.
So from 23-6 down and out to a 27-23 lead was awesome, even though the stats tell a very different story in the eventual 30-23 victory.
The Waratahs missed 24 tackles, mainly in the first half debacle.
But when push turned to shove late in the game as the Highlanders threw everything bar the kitchen sink at the Waratahs close to their line in the final 10 minutes, the Waratahs didn’t miss one tackle.
They were sensational with their pride and passion shining brightly.
Roarers won’t believe these stats.
The Waratahs had only 38 per cent possession and 32 per cent territory in the second half, but they kept a rampaging Highlander outfit scoreless while piling on 24 points.
Go figure.
But that’s the magic of Beale, Folau and Foley when they are on fire.
And last night Nick Phipps played a leading role as well in that ten-minute burst.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Next week, in the sudden death semi at altitude in Johannesburg against the Lions, the Waratah roster must fire and not go to sleep with brain dead rugby unbecoming a quality side.
One thing is for sure, the Waratahs can’t always rely on the big three running riot.
One stat that is spot on is the four top try-scoring franchises have reached the semis.
The Crusaders and Lions crossed for 77 in the scheduled rounds, the Waratahs for 74, and the Hurricanes for 66, so the best defence will decide the finalists.
The Waratahs are capable of winning the coveted title, but only if they play for 80 minutes.
They haven’t done that all season, but next weekend would be a fine time to start.
G
Guest
I can't believe the HClan didn't get a penalty try in the 73rd minute. Playing the ball while on the ground centimetres from the try line.
REEGS
Guest
You fail to mention that the Highlanders couldnt score a point when the Tahs were down to 14? How come you missed that point, oh yeah selective bias. Highlanders had 2 scrums inside the tahs 15 metre line and couldnt move the scrum. Finals rugby is how you win and capitlize on the big moments and the Highlanders couldnt do that despite playing against 14 for the biggest 7 minutes of the game. if they score there, they play the first 3 minutes of extra time 1 player up, but again they could win the big moments.
Reality Check
Guest
I cant wait for the Tah Tahs to get flogged in the Republic.. DIE ROOI MASJIEN !!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
NDPlume ~ Beale had sweet fanny in the contribution towards that win, it was a lucky win albeit a good one, but the only real contributor was Foley, ~ How many points did he score?
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Paul D, ~ I like an optimist cobber' good onya' for having some of it!! you'll need all that optimism to just get over the Lions, good luck with that!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Mapu! What about the Lions, who have had seven losses and are in a semi and a team like the Chiefs are out with a hell of a better record! ~ The same could be said about the Waratahs, they've done nothing and they're in the semis! You're right Ehoa' the Conference is so unfair it's become a joke, and I think the only reason you don't hear too much from the Kiwi side of the Competition as being aware of what a Mickey Mouse Tournament it is, they use the games to bring the talent out for possible All Blacks in the making, just watch Shag' Hansen and his Boys this weekend, be interesting what they watch!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Sage, Buttercup, the best team did not win the game, a bit of skill while the opposition was undermanned, that, won them the game ~, what about the first half and the majority of the second? ~ The Highlanders were all over the Tahs like a rash and you know it!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Paul D! ~ If you had any knowledge of the game of rugby and particularly the simple facts of the winning and losing of any game at all and the causative effects of that said winning and losing, ~ You'd be wise to realise that in the first half of the game between the Tah's and Highlanders the other day, the Waratahs were absolutely cleaned out right across the Park, they were in fact like ''stunned mullets''! ~ Smashed!! could be the word! They were in for a hiding to nothing, but when it so happened that Naholo in his absolute stupidity, got himself Carded, your Boys the Tah's took great advantage of the period of the Yellow Card time off for Naholo, and scored a couple of very good tries and "made hay while the sun shone", then it all started to gel' again for the Highlanders but they were pinged about three time by Gardner right on the line when they had the winning of the game in their hands, the best Halfback playing the game and a current All Black, floated a pass to a player at hand and that big guy winger intercepted that ball and after that they were over the line again but ruled as a knock on again by Gardner, then all the Tah's had to do was run the clock! Don't tell me Gardner is a good Ref, he's like every other Ref'! ~ when it suits the hat fits. The Tah's won the game and it would be wrong to say it was not deserved, it was a case of 'how it happened! ~ but really speaking they shouldn't be too happy for probably about 75% of it, They didn't play well at all really and the Kiwi Coach would have to be really concerned about the absolute annihilation his Tah's got from the Highlanders particularly in the first half, he should be a worried Kiwi boy! When you look at it, the Tah's used the yellow card time off and scored points which any team worth their spot in any Super Team would be expected to do, and they did it well as one player off leaves one hell of a big hole to run through, so good on them for that, but in saying that, the Highlanders didn't play crap rugby in that second half as most Aussies in particular say, ~ it was a gross case of a missing player and an intercept by a big guy that cost the Highlanders the game, the most crucial episode was not so much the yellow card incident, but the intercept by Naiyavoro when they only had to fall over the line, almost under the posts and it would very, very likely been the winning of the game for the Highlanders! I don't know much about the Lions, but on their patch any team from the Republic is very hard to beat and if the Waratahs don't lift their game above how they played against the Highlanders, ~ it will not bode well for them! ~ I sure hope I'm wrong!
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
IF
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Depends what your defending. Defensive scrums or line-outs are much harder missing a forward than a back.
jimbo81
Guest
Foley Sucks. Folau can't kick or cover defend. It's a one dimensional team that got lucky with a yellow card. Nothing to celebrate. When is Beale going to be made Tahs and Wallaby 10- with Foley sacked to 2nd grade Shute Shield (Because there are at least two 5/8s better than him in every club side in NSW)? Cannot believe there's another week of no Aussie rugby to watch except the anointed ones in a sky blue jersey with copious gushing in the press celebrating their mediocre performances made good. Good to see replacement Hooper playing well. Sad to see Ryan carded at the death (Aussie teams finding yet another way to lose).
SP
Guest
It only took the Tahs 30 minutes of playing rugby to wipe the floor with Otago. If they can get it together and play for 80 minutes, they're a good chance of winning the whole comp.
piru
Roar Rookie
To be completely honest, I thought the Tahs were done, right up to halfway through the second half I was expecting a Highlanders try and then them to grind them out. I thought without Hooper they wouldn't have the leadership to pull it back together. Credit where it's due, and in this case to Beale and Foley - getting their acts together, rallying their men and putting on an impressive second half. Respect
piru
Roar Rookie
Wouldn't get too excited about that part, the NZ commentators repeatedly misunderstood the ruck laws - both of them talking about hands in the ruck when no ruck had formed. Marshall in particular needs to read the Roar and get his facts straight,
Joseph
Guest
Im sure you played rugby when you were younger Ruckin Oaf, but you comment like you've never played the game. NOTE: It is harder to defend with one less back than with one less forward!
zhenry
Guest
I did not go all the way to end of comments, but read many, and not one mention of 3 tries during yellow card, and of course the main article; no mention of Naholoa’s yellow card. That’s normal for Mr Lord but not for some of the commenters. A good example of too many AU rugby journalists poor reporting and selective bias.
MH01
Guest
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rugby_union_playing_countries Context of registered players helps . The chestnut of population , NZ is not hard done by, given you have one of the largest player bases. If you want to use your logic, actually Croatia is performing much much better than NZ given its player base vrs other countries player base that play football.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes but theyre not from the same country. Theyre not the same source of fans as the NZ conference is, where we can drive to any of the venues.
Yenda Ad Enthusiast
Guest
What makes you say that? Them and Hooper seem to be in good spirits, well I mean as far as I can tell.
Reverse Wheel
Guest
Tahs had been under a fair bit of pressure when Ryan was sent though, you really would have expected the highlanders to score with an extra man and all the back inside the tahs 22.