Waratahs book a home final
The Waratahs will host the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Final next week after securing a 26-8 semifinal victory over the Brumbies in Sydney.
The home side outscored the Brumbies by three tries to one in a highly physical Australian derby, and showed impressive defensive resolve to ensure that they will be playing in their first final on home soil next week.
The first half was very tight, and the game was won after half-time as the Waratahs shut the Brumbies down and did not concede any points to claim a comfortable victory in the end.
The Brumbies made a determined start to the match as they looked to catch the hosts on the back foot, but a sloppy pass was snapped up by Waratahs wing Alofa Alofa who sprinted over half the length of the pitch for the opening try.
The Brumbies established early dominance in the scrums and used that platform to spend some time in opposition territory, but the Waratahs defence held out well.
Instead it would be the home side that would extend their lead when Sam Carter was blown up for going off his feet in front of the poles, and the easy penalty from Bernard Foley took it to 8-0.
The Brumbies had an opportunity to hit back when Waratahs scrumhalf Nick Phipps took another player out off the ball, and they finally took advantage as Henry Speight waltzed over in the corner to cap an extended period of pressure.
The visitors had their tails up and levelled the scores with a Christian Lealiifano penalty, but the Waratahs would take a 11-8 lead into the break as Foley had the final say before half-time.
The Brumbies had an opportunity to level the scores again at the start of the second half, but Lealiifano hooked the easy kick wide and the Waratahs took the opportunity to surge upfield to grab their second try.
It started with a powerful scrum, and once they had taken the ball deep into Brumbies territory Kurtley Beale followed up well on a grubber and ripped the ball away before racing over in the corner.
The Brumbies needed a response and they stormed into the 22 but the ball was fumbled out wide by Coleman who had the tryline in his sights but just could not finish.
The Waratahs found themselves pinned in their own half and defending as the Brumbies continued to hammer away, but they managed to maintain the crucial eight-point gap as the match headed into the final quarter.
The Brumbies kept the pressure squarely on but the Waratahs' defence could not be breached and instead it was the home team who would score next as Foley's third penalty took the score out to 19-8.
That left the Brumbies needing two tries in the last five minutes to sneak into the final, but the home side would have the final say as a great counter-attack saw big Will Skelton put Foley over for the final try with a perfectly-timed pass.
Waratahs replacement prop Taqele Naiyaravoro was shown a late yellow card for a shoulder charge on Pat McCabe, but that made little difference as the home side wrapped up the win.
Man of the match: Waratahs forwards Tatafu Polota-Nau and Jacques Potgieter were impressive, whilst for the Brumbies Henry Speight looked threatening throughout, but our award goes to tireless Waratahs skipper Michael Hooper for another big performance when it mattered.
The scorers:
For the Waratahs:
Tries: Alofa, Beale, Foley
Con: Foley
Pens: Foley 3
For the Brumbies:
Try: Speight
Pen: Lealiifano
Yellow card: Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs, 79 mins – Dangerous tackle)
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Alofa Alofa, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Stephen Hoiles, 5 Jacques Potgieter, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Tola Latu, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 Jeremy Tilse, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Mitchell Chapman, 21 Pat McCutcheon, 22 Brendan McKibbon, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro.
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Robbie Coleman, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Leon Power, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Josh Mann-Rea, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Ruaidhri Murphy, 17 Ruan Smith, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Fotu Auelua, 20 Tom McVerry, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Joe Tomane, 23 Pat McCabe.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert, James Leckie
TMO: George Ayoub
