The Waratahs have made it back-to-back wins to keep in touch of the conference leading Rebels with a tough 24-17 win over the Brumbies in Canberra. A two-try performance from winger Taqele Naiyaravoro and a good display from their forward pack saw the Waratahs get a deserved win as they had to do it without star Israel Folau, who went off early with a hamstring injury and is likely to be out for up to a month.
The visitors dominated the territory stats and didn’t allow the Brumbies to get into their game as Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale stepped up with their leadership in Folau’s absence to claim only their fourth ever win in Canberra and get their season back on track.
The Match
The Waratahs sent an early warning signal to the Brumbies as they attacked using the edges but settled for an early Bernard Foley penalty goal. But they did suffer a huge blow as they lost Israel Folau to injury within the opening five minutes.
Both teams traded penalties in the opening 25 minutes, with the Brumbies landing two of their own from Wharenui Hawera as Foley’s high percentage so far in 2018 evaded him as he missed two handy chances before finally landing another to level the scores.
A mistake from Jed Holloway off the restart gave the Brumbies good field position and winger Lausii Taliauli swooped on a Hawera grubber to score the opening try of the match to make it 11-6.
It was a real grind for the rest of the half with the Waratahs enjoying the better of the field territory but their five handling errors were hurting them in good attacking positions.
But right on the stroke of half time they hit back with a try from a turnover to Taqele Naiyaravoro as he brushed aside Henry Speight and had a simple run to the line and Foley’s conversion in via the post gave his side a 13-11 lead.
Naiyaravoro was it again just after the break as the Waratahs executed a brilliant backline move with Foley and Beale the architects as Alex Newsome found the gap and offloaded in the covering tackle to give the big winger his second try and make the margin seven.
With little ball to play with, Hawera converted his third penalty of the night to reduce the margin to four but it was the Waratahs who looked the better of the sides as they made the Brumbies play from deep inside their own half under pressure.
With the game in the final 20 minutes, Foley restored the seven-point margin with his third penalty goal as they looked to close out the game by starving the Brumbies of possession.
Hawera landed his fourth penalty form long range to again make it a four-point gap with ten minutes. A brain snap from Henry Speight after unnecessarily tackling Beale undid all their good work but Foley was unable to punish them as his penalty attempt hit the upright but he was able to convert with five minutes remaining to make it 24-17.
The Brumbies had a few chances to hit back late but they failed to execute their set piece opportunities as the visitors held on for a gritty seven point win.
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The Game Changer
The Naiyaravoro try right on half time got the Waratahs back into the game and his second just after the break gave them a lead they would not relinquish as they ground out a tough win.[/one_third][one_third last=”no”]
The G&GR MOTM
Taqele Naiyaravoro – Another try scoring double to the big winger and his two tries either side of half time got them back into the match.[/one_third][one_third last=”yes”]
Wallaby Watch
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was in attendance and would have been happy with David Pocock’s return as he burgled a few rucks. Michael Hooper was his usual self getting involved and the step up from Foley and Beale in Folau’s absence with their leadership was crucial.[/one_third]
The Details
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]BRUMBIES 17
Tries: Taliauli
Conversions:
Penalties: Hawera 4
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]WARATAHS 24
Tries: Naiyaravoro 2
Conversions: Foley
Penalties: Foley 4
[/one_half]
Cards
Nil
