NSW Waratahs
28
Match Complete
Crusaders
54
| A. Newsome |  | 79 | ||
| 75 |  | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 74 | | W. Jordan | ||
| 64 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 63 | | B. Hall | ||
| 58 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 57 | | L. Fainga'anuku | ||
| W. Harrison | | 54 | ||
| I. Perese | | 53 | ||
| W. Harrison | | 52 | ||
| J. Maddocks | | 51 | ||
| 42 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 41 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 41 | | S. Barrett | ||
| 39 | | D. McLeod | ||
| W. Harrison |  | 38 | ||
| 36 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 35 | | S. Reece | ||
| 29 | | C. Taylor | ||
| W. Harrison | | 25 | ||
| W. Harrison | | 15 | ||
| 8 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 7 | | M. Drummond |
| 3 | Tries | 8 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 7 | ||
| 3 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The NSW Waratahs host the Crusaders in Wollongong as Round 3 of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman continues. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 3:05pm (AEST).
The New Zealand sides have defeated their Australian opponents in all 11 match-ups so far this Trans-Tasman season, and the Tahs lost every one of their eight Super Rugby AU clashes too.
So it’s little surprise that the oddsmakers give NSW virtually no chance of becoming the first Aussie team to register a win over a NZ side this afternoon.
The task gets even harder with Scott Barrett returning to captain the Aotearoa champions, while the Tahs have made a string of changes to the line-up that has bled 112 points across the first two weeks of the Trans-Tasman comp.
Game information
Kick-off: 3:05pm (AEST)
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Live stream: Stan Sport
Betting: Crusaders $1.01, Waratahs $23 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Waratahs
1. Angus Bell, 2. David Porecki, 3. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 4. Jeremy Williams, 5. Jack Whetton, 6. Lachlan Swinton, 7. Jack Dempsey, 8. Will Harris, 9. Jake Gordon (c), 10. Ben Donaldson, 11. Alex Newsome, 12. Lalakai Foketi, 13. Izaia Perese, 14. Jack Maddocks, 15. Will Harrison
Bench: 16. Joe Cotton, 17. Te Tera Faulkner, 18. Darcy Breen, 19. Sam Caird, 20. Carlo Tizzano, 21. Jack Grant, 22. Tepai Moeroa, 23. Mark Nawaqanitawase
Crusaders
1. George Bower, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Michael Alaalatoa, 4. Quinten Strange, 5. Scott Barrett (c), 6. Whetukamokamo Douglas, 7. Sione Havili Talitui, 8. Cullen Grace, 9. Mitchell Drummond, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12. Dallas McLoed, 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Nathan Vella, 17. Tamati Williams, 18. Oliver Jager, 19. Sam Whitelock, 20. Michael Dunshea, 21. Bryn Hall, 22. Fergus Burke, 23. Manasa Mataele
Double Agent
Guest
It was mentioned on here in the last few days.
Take the Points
Roar Rookie
Agree with some issues in defence, maybe he would be better suited to the wing?
jeznez
Roar Guru
Pixies! It is indeed moi. I’m very well mate. Hope you are too buddy.
Bobbles
Guest
Perese is a Turnstile defender. We need a bloke who can tackle.
Bobbles
Guest
Swinton is no good.Has proven that after game after game after game ,he is a lazy player.Dempsey has failed for 4 years and will be leaving. The rest are ok super players. Not a test player amongst the Waratahs.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Jez very enjoyable game to watch and like you the improvement is encouraging. Harrison made an impact when he moved into 10. Maddocks stood up as did most of the pack. Still, too many decent players trying to do too much to 'save' the Tahs. Teamwork is the answer both in the D and Attack.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
I enjoyed the game very much as it showed that the young tahs have some ticker in them, even if they can't hold a line in the D. Watching the games this weekend we have an issue which Perese showed up first in an abortive attempt at a score when he could have passed. We have too many guys trying to get a name for themselves with a T as opposed to the Kiwi's who prefer to score a team try by passing, even if they think 'with a bit of luck I can make it'. Noticed the same thing in the Reds game. The Crusaders found the Tahs D so simple to breach, throw a long accurate pass to the wing who makes meters, he passes inside who passes inside again and they are often through. Is this too mind boggling difficult for our defensive coaches to counter??? So to sum up my thoughts we need to build a team and not have overconfident players who will not work the easy try by going the hard road themselves. The D is still a major issue for all our teams including the Force who have made a decent fist of it so far.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
"Saders are like the mouse plague out west." You mean unstoppable?
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Where is "malice" in the Laws of Rugby? I can find stuff about shoulders first into the opponent. Couldn't find "malice".
Paulo
Roar Rookie
We don't though? It may come up in conversation or to make a point, but it's a piece of history. When was the last time it was brought up on these forums where it wasn't a reasonable piece of the conversation. and an Aussie bringing it up first, just like now, doesn't count.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Wasn't quite 4 Chiefs, but you were surprisingly close...
Pixies
Roar Rookie
There were no question marks in my post though interestingly so that what’s happens when you let Ricky Stuart be guest editor I guess... JezNez from the legendary Nesbitt clan of lach stanwell on the shores of kangaroo point by chance? Hope you’re well mate.
Pixies
Roar Rookie
Good on ya Jez. You’re a legend ????????
Brian Walton
Guest
D was better in patches I thought but backline sideline D let them down. The league gang tackle style doesn’t suit when your backbeddling against a quality heads up side like the crusaders. Just make your tackles and trust the inside outside will too.
Brian Walton
Guest
Yep good summary of that game I think
Brian Walton
Guest
The saders thought so you could tell
Brian Walton
Guest
Agree Jez there’s positives there. Just a few brain fades in D and Saders are like the mouse plague out west.
Brian Walton
Guest
Not sure about that. When you slow everything down to a millisecond everything looks premeditated. Just lazy I think and used to happen all the time and nobody ever commentated on it
Brian Walton
Guest
Cynical but I don’t think there was malice in it. Look life life rules need interpretation. The hard part is making a blanket call on actions in the heat of the game. Newsome got up so move on.
Fin
Roar Rookie
Gordon Bell Perese Swinton. Perecki and Foketi not sure on yet. HJH, Dempsey. Harrison okay. Harrison probably the only one out of those three who has improvement in him. The rest aren’t good enough. Thought Gamble was impressive before getting injured too.