Waratah blitz sinks Brumbies
The Waratahs scored 38 unanswered points in the second half to smash the Brumbies 48-19 in their Super 14 pre-season match at Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford on Friday.
The Waratahs scored 38 unanswered points in the second half to smash the Brumbies 48-19 in their Super 14 pre-season match at Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford on Friday.
The Waratahs scored eight tries to three, including five in the last 25 minutes of the match, to notch their second victory from as many trials in front of a crowd of 5185.
Almost 24 hours of rain forced the two curtain raisers to be cancelled, and both sides struggled to hold onto the greasy ball in the opening exchanges.
With neither side able to take command of the game, it was the Waratahs who maintained possession long enough to draw first blood with a try to Adam Freier in the 13th minute.
However the hard-fought lead was lost just three minutes later when Peter Kimlin scored next to the posts and the Brumbies hit the front 7-5.
Wycliff Palu regained the lead for the Waratahs in the 20th minute, with a dash to the corner.
However, tries to Afusipa Taumoepeau and John Ulugia saw the Brumbies go into half-time with a 19-10 lead.
The second came on the stroke of half-time – with replacement hooker John Ulugia going over in the corner to set up what looked like a commanding lead.
However, that was their last score of the match as the 'Tahs took complete control of proceedings in the second half.
Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie made a number of changes at half-time, and a renewed focus in defence bore results in attack.
Referee Matt Goddard showed Brumbies replacement Dan Guinness the yellow card for repeated infringements in the 46th minute, and it was from there the Waratahs got back on track.
Two minutes later Matt Dunning crossed out wide, before Kurtley Beale spectacularly converted to close the gap to two.
Then, with Guinness still off the paddock, Sekope Kepu scored next to the posts and the Waratahs took the lead 24-19.
From there it was all one-way traffic with junior Waratah Robert Horne touching down in the 69th minute, before Tom Carter crossed seven minutes later.
Then after the final siren had sounded, Sam Harris put Carter through another gap for his second try and a final scoreline of 48-19.
The Waratahs now play the Crusaders on Thursday, February 6, in the Rotomahana Challenge at the Sydney Football Stadium in their final trial before the Super 14 commences.
The scorers:
For the Waratahs:
Tries: Carter 2, Freier, Palu, Dunning, Kepu, Polota-Nau, Horne
Cons: Beale 2, Sheehan 2
For the Brumbies:
Tries: Kimlin, Taumoepeau, Ulugia
Cons: Faingaa 2
Yellow cards: Dan Guinness (Brumbies, 47 – repeated infringements), Adam Wallace-Harrison (Brumbies, 65 – repeated infringements)
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 Lachie Turner, 14 Matt Carraro, 13 Timana Tahu, 12 Sam Harris, 11 Ben Batger, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh (captain), 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Will Caldwell, 4 Daniel Vickerman, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Adam Freier, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements (from): Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Ben Mowen, Beau Robinson, Luke Burgess, Tom Carter, Ben Jacobs, Chris Thomson, Dylan Sigg, Patrick McCutcheon, Alfi Mafi, Rob Horne, Sekope Kepu.
Brumbies: 15 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 14 Peter Playford, 13 Tyrone Smith, 12 Anthony Faingaa, 11 Leo Afeaki, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Patrick Phibbs, 8 Jone Tawake, 7 Richard Stanford, 6 Mitchell Chapman, 5 Peter Kimlin, 4 Alister Campbell, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Huia Edmonds, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements (from): John Ulugia, Salesi Ma'afu, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Talalelei Gray, Nick Haydon, Matt Toomua, Richard Windsor, Rowan Kellam, Pauliasi Taumoepeau, Ben Alexander, Saia Faingaa, Dan Guinness.
Referee: Matt Goddard
Touch judges: James Leckie, James Scholtens
Assessor: Wayne Erickson