The NSW Waratahs have made a statement about their Super Rugby AU title intentions, taking down the Western Force 28-8 in their Friday night clash on the Gold Coast.
The Waratahs backed up last round’s victory over the Queensland Reds to book successive wins for the first time since March last year.
The loss leaves the Force winless from their five matches, despite another competitive showing.
The result saw the Waratahs jump into second spot, overtaking the Melbourne Rebels who play the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday night, while the competition-leading Brumbies have the bye.
NSW skipper Rob Simmons was forced off midway through the second half with what appeared to be a head knock but looked to have recovered post match.
“That’s huge for us, we addressed it that we hadn’t won two games in a row since March 2019 so that’s huge for us to overcome,” Simmons told Fox Sports.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
NSW took the early lead with a penalty before the Force opened the try-scoring after veteran centre Richard Kahui grubbered a kick through, with flanker Brynard Stander winning the race to the ball.
The teams exchanged the lead through penalties before Waratahs winger Alex Newsome crossed in the corner on 34 minutes after some neat lead-up work.
Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon was brought down just short of the try line and fullback Jack Maddocks showed his game smarts to spot the defence was short out wide, and quickly flung the ball out to Newsome.
Young NSW five-eighth Will Harrison showed his value by converting from the sideline, with his kicking at 93 per cent for the season.
The Waratahs looked like they would add another try before halftime but were held up over the line after 23 phases and settled for a 16-8 lead.
Maddocks added to that in the 44th minute when he took an intercept pass from Force playmaker Jono Force and scooted 50 metres to touch down.
The Tahs’ number 15 appeared likely to make it a double on 60 minutes but his try was called back for obstruction.
NSW had a second try disallowed with Gordon ruled to have being offside before he took the ball to score.
Replacement prop Harry Johnson-Holmes finally got the reward his team deserved in the final minute, burrowing across the line.
Force captain Ian Prior said they fell short in a few key areas.
“It was a really physical encounter and the Waratahs defended well put us under a lot of pressure,” Prior said.
“I felt we built some nice momentum here and there but we were a bit unlucky in the scrums and the 22 there at different points it swung the game.”
Effy
Roar Rookie
Fantastic watching the Force and can't wait to get a game back at NIB - but getting frustrated with the coaching - how long do we have to see our line outs fail before the coach tries something else?? How long do we have to watch Lance do the same thing week in week out - so predictable. The Force have the ability to beat any of the other Super teams but just keep making the same mistakes and now all other teams can predict what the boys are going to do.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah it’s the best of what you had and is working pretty well. You just wouldn’t look to recruit one of them to play alongside other. You’d look for a different type of lock.
Ex force fan
Guest
Gutsy performance and Tahs deserves the win. Force didn’t get the dividend from their dominant scrum and line-outs were awful. Force needs to be more innovative with more variation to covert pressure in point. Results are in line with my expectations at the start of the season. Next time..
jeznez
Roar Guru
I think it is getting harder to drop Dempsey though, his last couple of games have been strong. Swinton was already improving but getting dropped for Harris and now the challenge to fit Hanigan into the team seems to be bringing the best out of Jack. I agree with TWAS that Simmons and Hanigan isn't an ideal combination but those two, Hooper, Swinton and Dempsey does look like our best back five.
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
I certainly had my doubts, but I have to admit that Hanigan has been playing well at lock. I’m just not convinced he wouldn’t have a greater impact on the game in the loose, to give him more of a chance to use his offload and linking game.
piru
Roar Rookie
Lets see a good response from you KClap, rather than cheapshot little comments. Fat change of that mz. Likes to drop his little comments and bravely disappear
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Bit of an indictment on Toomua as a 10 then?
elysiusrugby
Roar Rookie
True, with Lolesio they were a real attacking threat though.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
As long as no Australian team can defend the 5m lineout they're fine. Their scoring options other than that seem non-existent at the moment.
Highlander
Guest
MZ, the English ref Pearce who did the opening match of the premiership last night, Harlequins vs Sale did an awesome job, really accurate and very clear. RA should have a look and this guy was doing his first game under the new directive.
elysiusrugby
Roar Rookie
The Brumbies are above the other 3 teams because of the year as a whole. Since Covid their not much better, but over the year they are by far the favourites.
Guess
Roar Rookie
I mean the Tahs were considered a poor team 2 games ago. And before their first game against the Force no one could tell with certainty who would win. Public opinion changes too fast sometimes.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah the issue is Simmons and Hanigan are an unideal combination together.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Have always seen the promise Hannigan has, and good to see him do so well in the past weeks. Not sure why he did not start this week. The lad has great hands, both at lineout and as a running distributer. He is also very clever in contact, using his feet and body strength to full advantage. There were a couple of moments in that game last night where both he and Rob Simmons showed the one weakness they have....not good in hard contact with hard men. That is not a criticism of either mans's game....and I thought Simmons was good last night. Just a view on the reality of their ability in one area of the game.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Oh, none at all NV, ofc. Just talking hypothetically . I should have said a ref applying the law variations as the NZ refs are doing. I just think that our Aussie refs have made a very poor fist of applying the laws that were introduced to tidy up areas of the game. And yes, calling NZ refs class is not at all accurate....some bizarre moments in these RA games too.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
What are the chances of the Wallabies playing the AB's with a NZ referee? :silly: And calling NZ referee's "class" is a stretch.
Marlin
Roar Rookie
AND EVERY PENALTY KICK FOR TOUCH. tHE MARK IS USED AS THE STARTING POINT - SOME OF THEM TAKE 3 - 4 METRES (sorry didn't mern to yell
jeznez
Roar Guru
Think it's threefold. He's maturing, 25 now and coming into his prime. On a related but different note he's also got a few proper pre-seasons under his belt now that he hasn't been going on the November tours. Finally he's being allowed to play lock, he clearly looks more comfortable as a small second row than he did playing looser.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Do you say bar the Rebels because their games vs the Reds, Force and Brumbies at the start were all absolute stinkers to watch? :laughing:
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Good performances even if they lose against the Brumbies and Rebels would be a great sign.