It was back to business as usual for the Waratahs with a solid win over the Rebels at the SFS.
Both teams had their moments but the Tahs were always just that little bit better than their southern counterparts, who struggled to get into gear in both halves. The home side will be ruing not picking up the four try bonus though, while both sides will be anxiously awaiting the prognosis on both injury and suspension.
The SFS was in great nick. The weather was good. There was both pomp and ceremony, with a military marching band outside and a pre-game tribute to the ANZACs inside. And it was Rodney Blake’s 50th, with the big man lumbering out ahead of the Rebels with all the enthusiasm of an claustrophobic arachnophobe locked in a small, dark tank full of spiders.
The Tahs kicked off, and decided this week they wouldn’t fuck around. So they scored after 26 seconds. Ben Robinson reclaimed the kick-off after a tap-back, and nice work from Barnes, Carter and Horne put Bernard Foley under the sticks. That was the highlight of the first half, with the game tightening considerably in the remaining 39 minutes and 34 seconds. Mckibben slotted a penalty in the 9th minute to take it to 10-0 and it looked like the horse had bolted. However the Rebels clawed their way back and scored a nice try to Ged Robinson from a 22ndminute rolling maul. However McKibben hit back with two penalties of his own to take it to 16-7 at the break.
The Tahs started the second half with similar zeal to the first, with good buildup (and a few silly penalties from the Rebels) leading to a try to TPN in the corner after the old 1-2 at the front of the lineout with Kepu. McKibben nailed the conversion from the sideline and the Tahs were up 23-7. Ten minutes later they were in again, with a short ball from McKibben finding Rob Horne close to the line running at a nice angle. The margin was starting to balloon. But then, like in the first half, the momentum began to shift. Rob Horne copped a yellow for a tip-tackle on Kurtley Beale, and will certainly be missing a few weeks. Then Tim Davidson scored a well-worked try in the corner, which JOC duly converted. It looked like the Tahs had switched off, which was a shame with the 4 try BP beckoning. Lachie Mitchell went over in the 72nd to make it 30-21.
For the Tahs it was yet another solid forward effort. TPN was my Man of the Match, and played easily his best game all year. The same can be said for Wycliff Palu, who was breaking tackles with ease. Brendan McKibben put in yet another solid performance and he was flawless with the boot. Sekope Kepu was also very good. All other players had their moments, with Rocky Elsom making his first appearance of the season late in the game. He had a few nice touches but nothing too special.
For the Rebels it was the grafters not the millionaires that were turning heads. Once again Hugh Pyle lead from the front, with Jarred Saffy and Ged Robinson putting in a ton of work. Beale had a game that can be described as patchy at best, while JOC was barely sighted before copping a bad knock in the ribs early in the second half and coming off. Cippers was awful, with Gerrard saving their bacon at the back with his educated boot.
All in all both sides have positives to draw on, but I doubt it will leave the other conferences shaking in their boots.
