From the Tahs Media Unit.
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NSW Waratahs get season underway in Albury
2/02/2014
By Waratahs Rugby Media Unit
NSW Waratahs 28 – 33 Melbourne Rebels
Super Rugby trial match, Albury
The NSW Waratahs last night completed their Waratahs Volvo Community Roadshow with an encouraging hit out against the Melbourne Rebels in an Albury scorcher.
NSW Waratahs coach Michael Cheika wasn’t disappointed about losing their opening trial 33-28 to the Rebels but he was disappointed they didn’t follow instructions, especially at the breakdown.
“I don’t care about the score, I care about the rules of engagement and we didn’t deliver on what we said we would,” said Cheika afterwards.
But the coach was not overcritical, claiming, “We are fit enough and will improve for our next game.”
It was a tough opener for both team. With the temperature hovering around the 41 degree mark, the match was played in four quarters but the heatwave conditions had little effect on the Waratahs’ start, with scrum half Brendan McKibbin scampering through a massive hole, 20 metres out to post his team’s first points after just two minutes. McKibbin converted to have the Waratahs leading 7-0.
The rest of the opening quarter turned into an arm wrestle, both sides unable to convert chances. The Rebels were denied an opportunity right on the bell, over the line but unable to ground the ball, leaving the scoreline unchanged at the first break in play.
The Rebels atoned early in the second quarter, with Mitch Inman crossing in the corner for Melbourne’s first try. The effort put them just two points off the pace, at 7-5.
Quick hands from a scrum put the straight-running Matt Carraro into space.
Although the winger looked set to be mowed down short of the line, a ‘don’t argue’ fend saw him power over untouched for the Waratahs’ second try. Brendan McKibbin converted to have the Tahs leading by 14-5 midway through the second quarter.
An overconfident Waratahs side was caught napping when Scott Higginbotham kicked from the scrum base, allowing flyer Ben Meehan to win an 80 metre race to cross on debut. Angus Roberts’ conversion cut the Waratahs lead to 14-12.
Trialling for a contract with the Waratahs, former Wallaby and Brumbies’ captain Stephen Hoiles put three years of injury behind him when he stormed over for a converted try to have the Waratahs cruising 21-12 after 40 minutes of football.
“Getting through the game without any discomfort to my Achilles is a great confidence booster,” says Hoiles, who went to Sweden for an operation to have one last shot at playing Super Rugby.
Also returning from injury, No. 8 Wycliff Palu started the third quarter, playing his first game since the Lions tour and coming through unscathed. “All good,” was Palu’s response after his first game since knee surgery nearly six months ago.
But the same could not be said for the Waratahs. Unsettled by the Rebels’ commitment at the breakdown and a string of penalties, the Waratahs were down to 14 men when Tim Metcher was yellow carded for a deliberate offside infringement.
The Rebels took advantage of the Waratahs being a man short. With momentum turning their way, young flyhalf Bryce Hegarty crossed for the Rebels’ third try and Jason Woodward’s conversion had the Rebels trailing by just two points at 21-19.
It was fullback Woodward who put the Rebels in front for the first time in the 66th minute, after backing up a break by hooker Pat Leafa . After converting his own try, the Rebels assumed a 26-21 lead.
But the Rebels weren’t done and, in the final minute of the third quarter, Tom English crossed for Melbourne’s third try of the period, extending their lead to 33-21 at three-quarter time.
The Waratahs improved in the final quarter but despite Peter Betham’s runaway try late in the match, they were unable to overtake the Rebels, going down five tries to four in front of the 3854-strong Albury crowd.
Despite the loss it wasn’t all gloom and doom for the Tahs, with Kurtley Beale making a successful return from shoulder surgery. “I copped a couple of serious knocks on the shoulder and it came through without any problems,” said Beale.
“I can’t wait to line up against Benji Marshall next week when we play the Blues.”
Melbourne Rebels 33 (tries: Inman, Meehan, Hegarty, Wooward, English; cons: Woodward 3, Roberts) def NSW Waratahs 28 (tries: McKibbin, Carraro, Hoiles, Betham; cons: McKibbin 3, Foley)
Half-time: NSW Waratahs 21 – 12 Melbourne Rebels
Yellow cards: Tim Metcher
Crowd: 3856
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Good to see a little candour in a Tahs media report.
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