Hurricanes edge spiteful arm-wrestle
The tension in the match was evident from the first whistle till the last as there was so much riding on the outcome for both sides. Victory has left the Hurricanes with the hope of a play-off place whereas the Waratahs look to have lost their chance.
With so much tension there were more handling errors than usual by both teams and there were fractious outbursts.
The tension lasted the full 80 minutes and there is no doubt that the Waratahs could have won the match – could have if they had had the Hurricanes' ability to finish, making the best of their opportunities.
The tension made both defences intent on stopping opponents.
In the second half the Waratahs dominated territory and did not score a point in the last 37 minutes of the match. When they got to 28-17 down and time was marching on, three-pointers became less and less helpful and so they went for tries. They had problems with first-phase possession, as they lost three line-outs and battled at times in the scrums where they were twice penalised.
A lot of the match was error-ridden, almost certainly because hands were tense, but it remained an absorbing encounter.
For Dean Mumm it was a milestone – his 100th match for the Waratahs. For the referee, Chris Pollock it was also a milestone – his last match as a referee in an exceptional career. It was a tough way to complete a milestone for both player and referee as it was a demanding match.
The Hurricanes kicked off and when they got possession they signified their intent to move the ball wide. And when the Waratahs got possession, they, too, ran. This early promise of an open, creative match did not materialise as defence stopped attack again and again.
The Hurricanes scored first – two penalties by Beauden Barrett, the first when Wycliff Palu tackled high, the second against Andrew Kellaway, that silly penalty for being in front of a team-mate who dropped the ball. That made the score 6-0 after 12 minutes.
There was a delicious moment between the two penalties when the Hurricanes went wide left after winning a Waratahs' line-out, and Barrett kicked a long diagonal to the right which Dane Coles caught. The hooker beat a man and went scurrying down the touchline but the Hurricanes lost the ball.
From a line-out on their left, the Hurricanes went wide right where Cory Jane chipped ahead. Shoulder to shoulder he and Barrett raced after the ball. Barrett got it and scored. Jane could just as well have scored. 11-0 after 18 minutes, but it was never going to be a runaway and it took the Hurricanes a half an hour before they got their next score.
After some broken play the Waratahs attacked and Nick Phipps was close, but from close by massive Taqele Naiyaravoro powered over despite the efforts of Reggie Goodes and TJ Perenara to stop him. Bernard Foley converted. 11-7 after 27 minutes as the drizzle started.
A penalty gave the Hurricanes a line-out from which they bashed till the Waratahs won a turnover and survived, but back came the Hurricanes for a remarkable law tangle in the Waratahs' in-goal. Jane again chipped and Phipps got the ball just short of the goal-line. He went over in his impetus and there, under pressure from TJ Perenara he popped the ball to Foley just in from the dead-ball line. Foley dropped the ball and did not ground it but Perenara did. A careful consultation with the TMO showed that Perenara had knocked the ball from Foley's grasp and so it was a scrum to the Waratahs five metres from their line. They were penalised at the scrum and the Hurricanes kicked out for a line-out which they mauled but at which they were penalised and the Waratahs were relieved.
Two more penalties at mauls set them attacking but now it was the Hurricanes' turn to stand firm.
Willis Halaholo was penalised and yellowcarded for a tackle on Foley. Foley recovered and goaled and it was half-time with the score 11-10 to the Hurricanes.
The Waratahs kicked off to start the second half and attacked. From a line-out on their left, they went right and suddenly there was Israel Folau in all his glory as he stepped one and beat six defenders, including two hanging onto him, as he scored a brilliant, individual try. Foley converted and after 43 minutes the Waratahs led for the first time, 17-11.
But the Hurricanes were not slow in coming back on the attack. They mauled at speed from a line-out on their left and then went right where lock Michael Fatialofa (great rugby name) burst straight ahead. He was tackled and the Hurricanes went wide right to Jane who had an overlap and scored. Barrett converted and the Hurricanes were back in the lead at 18-17 after 49 minutes.
Halaholo returned to the field and the Hurricanes celebrated his return when Barrett goaled a penalty, 21-17 after 56 minutes.
Soon afterwards Naiyaravoro of the Waratahs was yellowcarded for an air tackle on Barrett. Just after he went off the Hurricanes won a Waratahs' line-out and the ball went wide left with two perfect passes by Barrett and Halaholo to Julian Savea who beat two covering defenders to score in the left corner. Barrett converted. 28-17 after 61 minutes.
There was no more scoring but lots of activity in the last quarter of the match.
The Hurricanes kicked and Folau and then, with a long run, Michael Hooper countered. Foley and Jack Dempsey were close to scoring as the Waratahs bashed. They had a five-metre scrum and bashed to the line where Barrett was penalised for a high tackle. The Waratahs opted for another five-metre scrum but their handling failed them and Barrett flykicked clear.
Naiyaravoro came back from the sin bin and charged for the line on the left but Barrett tackled him into touch just short of the cornerpost.
The Waratahs turned a penalty into a five-metre line-out and mauled, but the Hurricanes got close together and repelled them.
The Hurricanes relieved the pressure when Jason Woodward ran down the left and footed ahead. They went right and Halaholo broke but Barrett did not hold onto his short inside pass which would surely have produced a try.
Lots of disgruntled supporters left the stadium after the match. Sadly for them, the Waratahs did not get a single point from the match.
Man of the Match: Both half-back pairs, Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps for the Waratahs, Beauden Barrett and TJ Perenara for the Hurricanes) were greatly influential in the match, and we have chosen Beauden Barrett as the most influential of them all – and for not 'milking' the air tackle on him.
The scorers
For the Waratahs:
Tries: Naiyaravoro, Folau
Cons: Foley 2
Pen: Foley
For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Barrett, Jane, J Savea
Cons: Barrett 2
Pens: Barrett 3
Yellow card: Willis Halaholo (Hurricanes, 40 – foul play, high tackle), Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs, 58 – foul play, playing a man in the air)
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Israel Folau, 12 Rob Horne, 11 Matt Carraro, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Will Skelton, 4 David Dennis, 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Paddy Ryan.
Replacements: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18Angus Ta'avao, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Jack Dempsey, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 David Horwitz, 23 Reece Robinson.
Hurricanes: 15 James Marshall, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Willis Halaholo, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Chris Eves, 2 Dane Coles (captain), 1 Reg Goodes.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Ben May, 18 Loni Uhila, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ngani Laumape, Jason Woodward.
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
TMO: Ian Smith (Australia)
