The Waratahs won a tight and entertaining game against the Sharks, in a thrilling return to afternoon Super Rugby at the SFS.
Tahs flyer Tom Kingston scored in the corner with five minutes to go, Berrick Barnes converted and the Tahs held onto the 34-30 lead for the win.
The emotion on the Waratahs’ faces after the game said it all. They finally showed they could do it in a close one and buried the hatchet from their round four performance against the Force.
The teams went into the sheds with the score at 17-13 to the Sharks. The first half was open and fast, with the Tahs stringing decent phaseplay together and the Sharks finding space on the fringes. Mvovo scored the first try right on the touchline by fast and simple extension rugby.
Mvovo was always dangerous and it looked like John Plumtree had decided Tom Kingston’s wing was a weak spot for the Sharks to exploit.
Brendan McKibbin made the most of his start at halfback, and scored all of the Tahs’ points in the first stanza. The haul included two penalties and the conversion of his own try.
The second half started pretty much as the first left off, with fast and attacking ball-in-hand rugby from both teams.
Referee Chris Pollock certainly helped the pace of the game, and apart from a couple of interesting ruck calls he put in a very solid performance.
‘Battleship’ Bismarck du Plessis scored the first try of the half, peeling off a maul and through both Palu and Kingston to touch down. Patick Lambie’s conversion took the Sharks out to a comfortable 24-13 lead.
The Tahs were back in the Sharks 22 almost straight away and Bernard Foley scored a try off a flick pass from AAC and a great bust from Palu.
With Palu and Carter back, the Timani brothers and Dave Dennis, the Tahs finally had the hard, straight running they needed.
Over the last few weeks it’s seemed like one of the forwards has been charged with trucking it up alone while this afternoon everyone wanted it.
Tom Carter’s straight running got him a try too, as he crashed over under the posts to put the Tahs in front by three.
Ill-discipline, particularly around the ruck is still an issue, and the Sharks were soon back in front with two penalties to Lambie.
The Tahs were down 27-30 with five minutes to go but looked like a team with belief.
Dean Mumm got them rolling with a big run and monster fend on Marcell Coetzee. The Tahs held onto the pill and a few phases later Kingston scored the final try of the match after great lead-up work from TPN and both Timanis.
With a valuable four-point lead they ran down the last couple of minutes and kicked into touch to win only their second game of the season.
The big question for the Tahs and their fans now is whether this changed approach will stick or if it’s just a one-game turnaround.
There were positive signs like strong running from inside the 22 but there were still aimless kicks in general play and occasional lack of structure. It also helped that the Sharks tired noticeably in the last 20.
They’ve won a tight one now, and that can only help in one of the closest Super Rugby comps ever.
Waratahs 34 (Carter, Foley, Kingston, McKibbin tries. McKibbin 3, Barnes 1 con. McKibbin 2 pens.) def Sharks 30 (Daniel, du Plessis, Mvovo tries. Lambie 3 cons. Lambie 3 pens.)
What did you think? More arvo rugby at the SFS?
