Tahs bow out with Semi-Final loss
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Loading...NSW Waratahs 17 – Highlanders 35
Asteron Life Super Rugby Semi-Final – Allianz Stadium, Sydney
The NSW Waratahs have bowed out of the 2015 Super Rugby competition with a heart-breaking 35-17 loss to the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium. Spurred on by 32,632 passionate fans, the Tahs came agonisingly close to their second successive Final, but five Highlander tries and a controversial yellow card to Jacques Potgieter proved insurmountable.
Both sides looked likely in a riveting encounter, as the calm boot of Bernard Foley kept the Tahs within striking distance with four penalty goals. But, after six lead changes in the opening hour, the knockout blow from the Highlanders came midway through the second half; two tries in four minutes sealing a well-deserved win.
The loss was a bittersweet farewell for a number of players in the Waratahs squad, including Sekope Kepu, and Wycliff Palu, as well as outgoing Head Coach Michael Cheika.
THE MATCH
The Highlanders looked to ambush the home side from the outset, winning attacking ball inside the opening minutes. But the well-organised Tahs’ defence withheld 10 phases of attacking pressure, and good body height from Adam Ashley-Cooper forced a breakdown penalty out of Lima Sopoaga.
But the Tahs failed to find touch from the ensuing penalty kick and were made to pay, with Highlanders flyhalf Sopoaga opening the scoring with a penalty goal in the 5th minute.
It took 10 minutes for the Tahs to venture out of their own half, but their first attacking raid paid dividends. Slick handling from Palu unleashed monster winger Taqele Naiyaravoro, who burst up the right hand channel and into the 22. Sensing the Highlanders were stretched, Foley planted a textbook cross-field kick into the arms of Rob Horne, who swerved out of the covering tackle to dot down for the opening try.
The devious Aaron Smith hit back midway through the half, snapping up an intercept from the base of a Waratahs’ scrum to run over unmarked into the corner.
Foley replied with a penalty goal three minutes later, locking the scores up at 8-all. But a see-sawing first half didn’t stay level for long, with Richard Buckman rolling his way out of three would-be tacklers to dive in under the posts. Sopoaga notched an easy conversion, extending the lead to 15-11.
Foley added penalty goals either side of halftime, forcing a lead change for the fifth time in the match in the 50th minute.
But, as had been the case all game, the Highlanders dug deep and found a reply. This time it was through boom winger Waisake Naholo, who lunged centimetres from the dead ball line to plant down his own grubber kick.
Tensions simmered over soon after, with Ashley-Cooper and Malakai Fekitoa coming to blows during a break in play. Moments later, Patrick Osborne was brought down close to the try line, but Craig Joubert controversially ruled Jacques Potgieter had been reckless in his attempt to dislodge the ball. The Highlanders were awarded a penalty try, and as Potgieter departed for the sin bin the vociferous NSW crowd fiercely derided an unpopular decision.
Some brave defence from the depleted home side kept the Highlanders at bay for the 10 minutes Potgieter was in the bin, but it was to no avail. Sopoaga slotted a drop goal with five minutes to go, and then drove the final nail into the coffin with a pinpoint crossfield kick to Patrick Osborne, and the Highlanders ran out 35-17 winners.
Highlanders 37 (tries: A. Smith, Buckman, Naholo, Penalty Try, Osborne; cons: Sopoaga 2; pens: Sopoaga drop goals: Sopoaga) def NSW Waratahs 17 (tries: Horne; pens: Foley 4)
NSW Waratahs: 1. Benn Robinson (Eastwood), 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (Parramatta), 3. Sekope Kepu (Randwick), 4. Will Skelton (Sydney University), 5. David Dennis (Sydney University, captain), 6. Jacques Potgieter (Eastern Suburbs), 7. Michael Hooper (Manly, vice-captain), 8. Wycliff Palu (Manly), 9. Nick Phipps (Sydney University), 10. Bernard Foley (Sydney University), 11. Rob Horne (Southern Districts), 12. Matt Carraro (Randwick), 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Northern Suburbs, vice-captain), 14. Taqele Naiyaravoro (Parramatta), 15. Israel Folau (Sydney University, vice-captain).
Replacements: 16. Tolu Latu (Sydney University), 17. Jeremy Tilse (Sydney University), 18. Paddy Ryan (Sydney University), 19. Mitchell Chapman (Eastern Suburbs), 20. Stephen Hoiles (Randwick), 21. Brendan McKibbin (Eastern Suburbs), 22. Jono Lance (Eastern Suburbs), 23. Peter Betham (Sydney University).
Highlanders: 1. Brendon Edmonds, 2. Liam Coltman, 3. Josh Hohneck, 4. Alex Ainley, 5. Mark Reddish, 6. Elliot Dixon, 7. James Lentjes, 8. Nasi Manu (captain), 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Lima Sopoaga, 11. Patrick Osborne, 12. Richard Buckman, 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 14. Waisake Naholo, 15. Ben Smith (captain).
Replacements: 16. Ash Dixon, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Ross Geldenhuys, 19. Joe Wheeler, 20. Gareth Evans, 21. Shane Christie, 22. Fumiaki Tanaka, 23. Trent Renata.
Referee: Craig Joubert (RSA)
Half-time: NSW Waratahs 14 – Highlanders 15
Yellow Cards: Jacques Potgieter (58th min)
Crowd: 32,632
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