VIDEO: Chiefs blitz too much for terrible Tahs
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Chiefs turned a half-time deficit into a comprehensive bonus-point win over the Waratahs in Wollongong on Friday.
The Waratahs, after a pretty even first half, held a slender one-point (14-13) lead at the break.
However, three tries in 12 minutes early in the second half saw that lead not just evaporate, but become a comprehensive 51-14 drubbing.
It saw the Chiefs join the Crusaders and Brumbies in a three-way tie at the top of the standings – with points differential separating the sides and the Chiefs sitting top (+69), the Brumbies on +60 and the Crusaders on +49.
It was started by a two-try blitz from scrumhalf Brad Weber – who exposed the Tahs’ defensive frailties in the cruellest way.
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The Waratahs were abysmal in the second half, conceding six tries and 38 unanswered points as the Chiefs won for the first time in New South Wales since 2007.
It was the most points the Chiefs have scored away against the Tahs, the second-most ever in Australia and their biggest win anywhere against the Waratahs.
After All Black and Chiefs scrumhalf Brad Weber stunned the Waratahs with those two tries in two minutes, the onslaught continued through Sean Wainui, Lachlan Boshier, Solomon Alaimalo and Anton Lienert-Brown who also scored second-half tries.
The Chiefs ran with the wind and had all the momentum early in the opening spell on the back of a 6-1 penalty count as Aaron Cruden slotted two penalties and Shaun Stevenson scored for a 13-0 lead.
But the Waratahs rallied and stormed back into the contest as Karmichael Hunt set up fill-in skipper Kurtley Beale to score on 25 minutes.
Hunt also set up their second try after he took a crash ball and managed to transfer possession to Jack Dempsey who crossed out wide.
Consecutive conversions from rookie No.10 Will Harrison gave the Waratahs an unlikely lead in the 33rd minute.
But it was all downhill from there as the relentless Chiefs kept the Tahs scoreless in the second half while piling on 38 straight points to secure an emphatic victory.
Man of the match: Young prop Gus Bell again showed some impressive form – supported by Lachlan Swinton, Tom Staniforth and, of course, Michael Hooper. Perhaps Jack Dempsey was the Waratahs’ most impressive player. Shaun Stevenson topped the metres made – 90-odd metres from 10 carries, with four defenders beaten. Chiefs loose forwards Sam Cane and Lachlan Boshier also produced massive performances. Our award goes to Chiefs scrumhalf Brad Weber – who ensured, with a double strike in the 43rd and 45th minutes, that the Chiefs gained the momentum that allowed them to put daylight between themselves and a willing Waratahs team. Apart from his two tries he finished with 80-odd carry metres, four defenders beaten and two clean breaks. His service was also from the top shelve.
The scorers
For the Waratahs:
Tries: Beale, Dempsey
Cons: Harrison 2
For the Chiefs:
Tries: Stevenson, Weber 2, Wainui, Boshier, Alaimalo, Lienert-Brown
Cons: Cruden 3, Trask 2
Pens: Cruden 2
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 Kurtley Beale (captain), 14 James Ramm, 13 Alex Newsome, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Jack Maddocks, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Mitch Short, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Tom Staniforth, 4 Ryan McCauley, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Robbie Abel, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Rory O’Connor, 18 Tetera Faulkner, 19 Pat Tafa, 20 Jed Holloway, 21 Michael McDonald, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Siosifa Lisala.
Chiefs: 15 Solomon Alaimalo, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Tumua Manu, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Sean Wainui, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Tyler Ardron, 4 Michael Allardice, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Donald Maka, 17 Ryan Coxon, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Lisati Milo Harris, 22 Kaleb Trask, 23 Alex Nankivell.
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Jordan Way, James Quinn
TMO: Ian Smith
