Waratahs run over top of Force to get back in winner's circle
The Western Force bombed a chance to pull off a fairytale victory over the Waratahs in their Super Rugby return after wasting a fast start by conceding 23 unanswered points at the SCG.
NSW coach Rob Penney labelled this a banana skin game and 39 minutes in, with his lads down 14-0, his relaxed Kiwi persona would have been hard to uphold.
Jack Maddocks is tackled by Jack McGregor.Credit:Getty
Slowly but surely, the Waratahs chipped away at the deficit without panicking to chalk up a 23-14 victory in what is their first win since February 28. "It's good to finally get the result," NSW skipper Rob Simmons said.
The big moment came from Karmichael Hunt, when his side was down 14-13 in the 61st minute, and there may have been some good fortunate along the way.
Hunt pulled off a 50-22, his kick resembling something from his rugby league days, which presented the Waratahs excellent field position as they searched for a killer blow.
There was some debate as to whether the ruck before Hunt’s kick began in the Force’s half but, nonetheless, the referees called play-on and NSW rolled their sleeves up to deliver a knockout blow. Tom Staniforth crossed from close range for a five-pointer and, at that moment, the Force knew they’d be struggling to wrestle back momentum.
Alex Newsome is brought down.Credit:Getty
It was 1092 days since the Force inflicted ultimate humiliation on the Waratahs in their final Super Rugby outing before being controversially axed by the Australian Rugby Union. The 40-11 victory was a dead rubber for the Force but their reaction summed up how much it meant to embarrass their east coast rivals.
When Andrew Forrest strode onto NIB Stadium that evening and declared the Force weren't done, you sensed they'd be back at some stage, with a vengeance.
Having a game already under their belt was a blessing for the Waratahs this time, while the Force may have gone on with it had they been able to build some cohesion in round one.
One player whose attitude Penney can never question is Michael Hooper, whose work-rate was second to none once again. He was a menace at the breakdown, managing a couple of turnovers and was unlucky to not have more. He carried and tackled with the determination of a player still burned by that night in Perth three years ago. He made the most tackles (16) and equal-second most carries (12) for NSW.
COVID-19 painted over the stark reality the Waratahs had been in a major hole. Including their trial match loss to the Reds in Dalby, the Waratahs had registered one victory in their past eight outings under Penney before Saturday.
The youth excuse has bought time but NSW knew they needed to deliver in a polished fashion. Penney will sleep easier after this two-tries-to-one result. Determination was there in spades for the Force but so, too, for the home side.
Force No.10 Jono Lance, with his resplendent peroxide blond hair, oozed composure and his seniority was there to see with some astute game management.
He and his fellow Force backs passed with conviction. The same could not be said for their Waratahs counterparts at times. They seemed afraid of making mistakes in the first half.
Ian Prior’s three penalties created a neat buffer for the Force to go with Byron Ralston’s 29th-minute try down the left edge.
Having barely been in their opponent’s 22, the Waratahs got themselves in the game as Angus Bell dived over for his second Super Rugby try in the 40th minute.
It was one-way traffic in the second half as the sharp boot of Will Harrison and excellent forward platform helped NSW get back in the winner’s circle.