Waratahs thrash Highlanders in Sydney to snap Australian teams' losing streak
Highlanders wing Tevita Nabura, right, is red carded against the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday night.
It's finally happened - an Australian Super Rugby side has defeated a New Zealand team.
The Waratahs thrashed the Highlanders 41-12 in Sydney on Saturday night to snap a 40-match losing streak for Aussie sides against their Kiwi foes.
To be fair, had they not got the job done after the Highlanders were reduced to 14 men in the 19th minute after wing Tevita Nabura was red carded for kicking Cameron Clark in the gob, you couldn't blame anyone for demanding they pack up and leave the competition.
Rob Simmons of the Waratahs battles with Luke Whitelock on Saturday night in Sydney.
But a week after butchering a 29-0 lead to the Crusaders in Christchurch, the Waratahs did something an Australian side hasn't done since 2016.
READ MORE
* Highlanders play underdog card
* Ben Smith to miss Reds game
* Sanzaar defends NZ refs
* Beale moves on from Moody strike
Almost two years to the day since the Waratahs beat the Chiefs at Allianz Stadium, they conquered another New Zealand team on their home turf.
Waratahs fullback Israel Folau, right, reached 50 tries for his side on Saturday night.
So when referee Brendon Pickerill blew full time, there was no surprise to see elation from the hosts.
Rewind to the 19th minute and you'll find the game's key moment.
Nabura, playing just his third Super Rugby game, came down with a high ball, only to extend his boot on the way down and connect with Clark's face.
Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith slings a ball wide in Sydney on Saturday night.
Referee Brendon Pickerill inspected the incident on the monster screen at Allianz Stadium, the crowd howled for red, and he flashed Nabura the card nobody wants to see.
To make matters worse for the Highlanders, who were already down 8-0, halfback Aaron Smith was sent to the bin for 10 minutes moments later for a deliberate knock-on.
Hulking Waratahs wing Taqele Naiyaravoro, who made three Highlanders miss as he scored the game's first try in the 15th minute, slammed the ball down just inside the corner flag shortly afterwards and it was 15-0 after 25 minutes.
Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger said there was "still a lot of belief out there" when interviewed with his side down 15-zip at the break, and it showed, at least for a while.
Sure, Waratahs fullback Israel Folau scored three minutes after play resumed to make it 22-0, but the Highlanders hit back immediately after Ben Smith found Elliot Dixon with a cross-field kick.
The sight of loose forward Elliot Dixon defending his heart out and brilliantly denying Waratahs centre Curtis Rona also spoke volumes.
Hooker Ash Dixon kept the fight going when he scored via a rolling maul, but finally the Waratahs put the visitors away.
In addition to Folau finishing off a cracking try - his 50th for the Waratahs - which was littered with offloads during the sweeping build up, replacement Lalakai Foketi and Rona breached the undermanned Highlanders' line.
Other chances went begging, including one to replacement halfback Nick Phipps, who knocked on reaching for the line, but this week there was no capitulation.
The loss drops the Highlanders to 7-4 on the season, and means they slip further behind the Crusaders and Hurricanes at the top of the New Zealand conference.
Having watched the Reds almost pip the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday night, next weekend's fixture in Brisbane, a match co-captain Ben Smith won't play, looks far from a given.
As for the Waratahs, who hadn't beaten the Highlanders since 2014, they improve to 6-4 and keep their spot at the top of the Australian conference.
Snapping the streak against Kiwi sides, and putting last week's shocker against the Crusaders behind them, might mean more to them.
Waratahs 41 (Taqele Naiyaravoro 2, Israel Folau 2, Lalakai Foketi, Curtis Rona tries; Bernard Foley pen, 4 con) Highlanders 12 (Elliot Dixon, Ash Dixon tries; Lima Sopoaga con). HT: 15-0
- Stuff
Comments