Tahs go top with scrappy win

The Tahs, with a game in hand, join the Brumbies on 25 points – but go ahead on points differential, plus 44 (Waratahs) to plus 22 (Brumbies).

Dominating the visitors in almost all aspects of the game the Waratahs would be disappointed not to have also earned a bonus point – as typified in the forward pass that robbed them of a certain try (and the extra point for outscoring the opposition by three tries or more) after the full-time hooter had sounded.

The home side scored two tries to none and thought they had a third, which would have secured the bonus point, when Israel Folau crossed in the corner.

But the television match official ruled that Tahs captain Michael Hooper had thrown a forward pass in the lead up and the try was disallowed.

As for the Cheetahs, perhaps it is time they stop talking of being a young team that is 'learning' and 'building' and actually start showing some progress.

Their sloppy second half suggested they are stagnating and not learning or making any progress at all.

"It was a tough game, back and forth, back and forth," Hooper said.

"But we shut them out and had no tries scored against us for the first time this year, so it was a really huge effort in that regard."

The Waratahs always looked in control against a disappointing Cheetahs, who made five changes to the side that lost to the Reds last week.

Three of those were in the front row, but that move backfired as the Cheetahs scrum struggled badly throughout the first half.

The visitors opened the scoring after just three minutes with a penalty to Fred Zeilinga, but the Waratahs hit back with two of their own from Bernard Foley.

Despite being under huge pressure the Cheetahs were hanging in for much of the first half, but two tries in seven minutes to wing Reece Robinson and flyhalf Bernard Foley put the home side in control at the break 18-6.

Foley kicked his third penalty three minutes after the restart and the Waratahs looked like running away with the match.

But the Tahs appeared to fatigue badly after flying home from South Africa during the week and they couldn't secure the crucial third try.

Cheetahs captain Francois Venter said his young team was building for next year.

"I'm proud of the guys, they were always fighting hard," he said.

"There's a lot of our guys who are on tour for the first time. It's always difficult to travel and we must adapt for next year.

"We're still building a team and hopefully we can do better."

Man of the match: The only real classy player in a very ordinary Cheetahs team is Springbok lock Lodewyk de Jager and it was pretty obvious when he came on in the second half. Israel Folau asked questions of the Cheetahs' defence, Bernard Foley is running into some serious form, Michael Hooper was busy and Will Skelton bruisingly physical. However, the most influential and effective player was Waratahs centre Kurtley Beale – who took a giant step towards wearing the Wallaby No.12 jersey against England next month. He wins our award.

The scorers:

For the Waratahs:

Tries: Robinson, Foley

Con: Foley

Pens: Foley 3

For the Cheetahs:

Pens: Zeilinga 2

Teams:

Waratahs: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Reece Robinson, 13 Israel Folau, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 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, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Ned Hanigan, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 David Horwitz, 23 Matt Carraro.

Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Nico Lee, 12 Francois Venter (captain), 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Willie Britz, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Elandre Huggett, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.

Replacements: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Nicolaas van Dyk, 19 Lodewyk de Jager, 20 Uzair Cassiem, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Niel Marais, 23 Michael van der Spuy.

Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)

Assistant referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)

TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)