'Tahs singing in the rain
Sat, 01 Mar 2008 10:24
The Waratahs moved into the top four of the Super 14 standings with an error-ridden15-12 victory over the Highlanders at a wet Carisbrook on Saturday.
New Zealand has had a drought - surprising as it may seem, but that drought is over as the rain came streaking straight down from the heaven - good for the country, tough for rugby in Dunedin when the Waratahs came to play. It was not cold, asDunedin can be, and no wind blew, but it rained. The start for the second half was the signal for the drizzle to turn into a downpour. It had a serious effect on the rugby and the only points in the second half were a runaway try for the Waratahs, enough to give the Sydneysiders the victory.
Mind you, James Wilson hit the upright with a penalty attempt from 50 metres straight after the try and then was adrift with another long-range attempt after the final siren. There was an irony in this as Wilson had kicked much, much better than his Waratah opponent, Kurtley Beale but it was Beale's penalty goal that was the difference in the end.
The Waratahs enjoyed the lion's share of territory and possession but handling, footing, scrumming and line-out throwing made the play insecure and unsure.
The scarfies, enjoying the glee of orientation week, were out in force but otherwise the Carisbrook stands were threadbare.
The Waratahs threw in skew at three line-outs, the first time at their third line-out of the match, a serious error as the line-out was five metres from their line after a clever Jimmy Cowan kick. That gave the Highlanders a five-metre scrum. This was followed by a free kick to the attackers who opted for another five-metre scrum. They worked off the back row and went suddenly left on the short side where Fetu'u Vainikolo plunged over for the try. 5-0 after 16 minutes.
There was just one penalty in the first half - against Tom Donnelly who was lying on the ground at a tackle/ruck and on the Waratahs' side. He stuck a boot up to knock the ball away as Brett Sheehan grabbed at it. That earned Donnelly a yellow card and the Waratahs three points as Beale goaled. 5-3 after 22 minutes.
The next try was an astonishing affair. It started with brilliance on the Highlanders' goal-line and ended with brilliance on the Waratahs' goal-line.
Beale grubbered and under grave pressure Cowan was there to grab the ball as he was driven into his in-goal. Somehow he forced his way just back into the field of play and the Highlanders cleared weakly. Lote Tuqiri charged at them but lost the ball forward in the tackle. Vainikolo grabbed it and footed it straight down the field from well inside his 22. There seemed no plan, just desperation in the kick. Huge Adam Thomson, on for Hayden Triggs who had a damaged eye, charged after the ball, a wonderful sight. He got to it before Sheehan and footed on towards the Waratahs posts. A metre or so from the posts the big man bent low, gathered the slippery ball and dived over for a try which delighted him. Wilson converted. 12-3 after 30 minutes.
Just before half-time the Waratahs got their first try. They battered away at the Highlanders' line - right, left and right again till they had an overlap of two which Phil Waugh tried to nullify before slipping a pass to Ben Jacobs who scored in the right corner.
Ast9onishingly Beale converted in the weather. 12-10. That was the half-time score.
The rain had the biggest say in the second half.
Tuqiri had a run down the left but hoofed the ball infield and Vainikolo saved brilliantly.
Wilson kicked and again Thomson chased. This time Elsom saved.
Tom Carter was close as the Waratahs attacked till their hands failed.
Elsom had a great run from just inside the Highlanders' half, beating three till he got two metres from the Highlanders' line.
Beale hit the upright with a penalty attempt.
The Waratahs conceded their first penalty of the match after 54 minutes - and then Wilson kicked the ball dead.
Vainikolo had a good run.
Those are the noteworthy bits and pieces of rugby that happened till the Waratahs scored the winner.
First-five Michael Delany went left and stabbed a little kick but it went straight into the arms of Jacobs who set off down the field. Delany managed to bring him down with a desperate ankletap but Jacobs got the pass away to Wycliff Palu who thundered over the line as Cowan grabbed him.
Palu took exception to Cowan and slapped him. The referee then gave the try-score a yellow card. Try and yellow card all in the same moment. That's rare.
That led to the penalty on the half-way line. Wilson's kick had the distance but the ball hit the upright and stayed out.
There were still 20 minutes to play but. till the last few desperate minutes, they were played in the Highlanders' half.
Once when the Highlanders attacked, the Waratahs nearly scored. Luke Burgess intercepted, ran downfield beating Johnny Leota and looked about to score till he lost the ball in the tackle and Vainikolo countered.
Man of the Match: Despite other captains, and despite a a slightly jaundiced view of the world Jimmy Cowan is our Man of the Match for all that he means to his team on attack and defence - surely the best defensive scrumhalf in the world.
Moment of the Match: The end-to-end try scored by Adam Thomson that started with the miraculous defence of Jimmy Cowan.
Villain of the Match: Wycliff Palu who decided that however his persona was damaged was more important than the good of the game, producing the unique try-yellow card combination.
The Scorers:
For the Highlanders:
Tries: Vainikolo,
Thomson
Con: Wilson
For the Waratahs:
Tries: Jacobs, Palu
Con: Beale
Pen: Beale
Teams:
Highlanders: 15 James Wilson, 14 Paul Williams, 13 Niva Ta'auso, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Michael Delany, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Hayden Triggs, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Isaac Ross, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Macdonald (captain), 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 David Hall, 17 Chris King, 18 Adam Thomson, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Ben W Smith, 22 Brett Mather.
Waratahs: 15 Lachie Turner, 14 Timana Tahu, 13 Ben Jacobs, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh (captain), 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Dan Vickerman, 4 Will Caldwell, 3 Matt Dunning, 2 Adam Freier, 1 Sekope Kepu
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Dan Palmer, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 Beau Robinson, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Sam Harris,22 Alfi Mafi
Referee: JC Fortuin (South Africa)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
Assessor: Kim Eichmann (New Zealand)
Performance auditor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)
