Waratahs beat Blues and Benji

The Waratahs were too good in their trial game against the Blues tonight at Allianz Stadium and put on some stunning movements and tries to win 33-12.

Like all Super Rugby trials the game was played in quarters and the Tahs “won” all but the third.

The appearance of rugby league convert Benji Marshall was supposed to be a feature of the game but he made no impact on it when he played the first half of the trial.  It’s early days for Benji, however you could not help but notice how Chris Noakes snapped the Blues backline into life when he had his turn at first-five in the second half.

The Waratahs had periods when they threatened every time they had the ball; had some of the close passing and catching been slicker it would have been ugly for the visitors.

Mind you, the home team should have won well: the Blues were missing All Blacks Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Charlie  Faumuina, Piri Weepu, Ma’a Nonu, Steve Luatua, plus Jerome Kaino, who had just finished his season in Japan.

The Waratahs played all their “heavyweights” except for Jacques Potgieter, who had also been in Japan.

First quarter

The Blues were on the back foot from the kick-off by the Tahs, and after turning over the ball from it they had trouble getting it back.

After the Blues gave up three penalty kicks in the first seven minutes, Tahs scrumhalf Nick Phipps got over the line but was held up. However ten minutes in Kurtley Beale was strong in the tackle after receiving a ball dropped backwards, and reached out to score.  Foley’s conversion was good.

The Blues couldn’t get the ball.

A second Tahs’ try looked imminent when Beale made a break and Bernard Foley went on a menacing run but his pass to his winger was ill-judged.

The Blues settled down and got some good possession, but they weren’t helped by poor penalty kicks for touch by Marshall.

The Tahs looked in charge in the first 20 minutes but the Blues had noticed gaps around the rucks and were better in the latter stages.  They made several raids but could not score because of a lack of understanding and poor handling.

Waratahs 7-0 at 20 minutes.

Second quarter

This started like the first when Peter Betham made a dangerous break but the Tahs dove into the ruck and were pinged.

But the Tahs put on a series of moves started with a fine burst by skipper Dave Dennis, who passed to  prop Paddy Ryan supporting.  After a long run by the THP the move ended when 135 kg. lock Will Skelton scored dragging Marshall with him, attached to one leg.  Beale converted.

The Blues had a couple of good chances near the Tahs’ goal line after that but poor lineout work made it easy for the Tahs to defend.

Big bopper winger Frank Halai was the most dangerous Blue in the first half and he had all 111 kgs of him colliding with would-be tacklers.

Half-time score: Waratahs 14-0.

Third quarter

It looked like a repeat of the first half start when the Tahs made a fine break three minutes after oranges and Foley scored—and slotted a decent conversion as well.  The defence from the Blues was poor.

Then things became better for the Blues because Noakes, sure of hand and foot, had replaced Marshall and new All Blacks Charles Piutau and Francis Saili joined in.

At 46 minutes flanker Jordan Manihera scored from a neat kick through.  Four minutes later replacement fullback Israel Folau couldn’t handle a wicked bounce from another good Blues’ grubber; Piatau got the rebound and strolled over.  The try was converted by Noakes

In the third quarter the Tahs made some good moves but they were not as slick joining them together for tries as they had been earlier.  And they were getting bunched up near the rucks and the Blues were taking advantage.

At 60 minutes the Blues had just had their best quarter of the match and it was “game on” with the Tahs still leading, but only by 21-12.

 Fourth Quarter

Soon after sucking in seagulls in the quarter break Israel Folau makes amends for his 3rd Quarter embarrassment by swaying through defenders and back-handing a pass to Stephen Hoiles backing up to score.

Then hooker Ryan Dalziel throws a too high ball over the Tahs’ lineout jumpers, the Blues retrieve it and look likely to score from a long way out, but there is a forward pass.

And the Tahs are bunching up again.

The Bread of Heaven try

Then comes a bit of rugby magic.

From a Tahs’ scrum ten metres their side of half way Foley takes the ball up and dishes out to Adam Ashley-Cooper who passes back to Foley running around him.  He passes behind decoy runner Folau to Jono Lance who chooses to slide inside Blues’ centre George Moala.  But  George recovers and nabs Lance, spoiling his pass to winger Alofa Alofa (who is fondly known as “Bread” at the Tahs).

At speed, “Bread” dives to the ground to save the ball and miraculously scoops it inside to Betham who has been supporting Lance.  Betham runs, in and away, then passes the ball back to Foley, backing up, then, when he is tackled he pops the ball up to Alofa who somehow gets off the ground like a jackrabbit to support, and he scores.

Bread of Heaven—”Feed me till I want no more”.  The backing up and just-in-time passing in this move is divine.

The final score is  Waratahs 33—Blues 12.

The Players

Blues

Benji Marshall would be disappointed with his performance tonight, but Bill Noakes put his hand up to start at first-five when the season starts.

Frank Halai could have been a game breaker in the first half but his team could not follow through.  His normal co-winger George Moala did not look comfortable playing at centre.

The best of the forwards were prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi, over the ball, and no.8 Peter Saili, who did some rugged ball-carrying and tackling.

All Blacks Charles Piutau and Francis Saili showed their class in their too-brief stints in the backline.

Waratahs

Alofa Alofa was probably the Man of the Match for his miracle try—but he also had a few other light-footed, elusive moments.

Foley had his normal mixture of steadiness and enterprise at flyhalf, and his involvement in the Alofa try was top class; but his rival for the flyhalf spot, Kurtley Beale, was back to his brilliant best in his stint at 10 and wherever else he played.  There was scarcely a time when he was not dangerous carrying the ball.

Israel Folau had some trademark weaving runs but he spoiled his game with a few errors, such as his gaffe for the Piutau try and a couple of miracle passes, on contact, that could never be caught.

Nick Phipps had a influential game, especially before the break, but he was late to the ruck a couple of times afterwards.

The Tahs pack was physical; only the Browns’ cows bunching and watching detracted from their performance.

Kane Douglas was the best forward on the park:  he was shooting out of the line to make big hits to stop the ball.  His tally of dominant tackles was impressive.

Lock Will Skelton was also powerful in the tight.  If he can carry the ball into contact with a lower body height he will be a force in Super Rugby this year.

Scoring

Waratahs  33

Tries—K. Beale, W. Skelton, B. Foley, S. Hoiles, A. Alofa
Conversions— B. Foley (3), K.Beale.

Blues  12
Tries—J. Manihera, C. Piutau
Conversion—C. Noakes.

Click on the right  arrow to see pics of the “Bread of Heaven” try