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Turner steals a win for Waratahs

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 12:37

Pivotal player: Waratahs flyhalf Daniel Halangahu

The Waratahs recorded a crucial 39-32 win over the Blues in their Super 14 Round Seven match in Sydney on Saturday, to move past compatriots the Brumbies into the top four on the standings.

In a very entertaining game that produced nine tries - five to the 'Tahs - it was an opportunist interception by wing Lachie Turner inside the final 10 minutes that stole victory for the Waratahs.

As 'Tahs captain Phil Waugh admitted, it was a crucial win in the context of their season.

He praised his team for "hanging in" after the Blues came back strongly in the second half - following a brilliant opening quarter by the home team.

"We made some big plays in crucial moments," Waugh said in reference to Turner's 90-metre intercept score - which came at a time when the Blues looked to score what may well have been a match-winning try.

Waugh said the closeness of the game shows how tight the Super 14 competition is and he also praised both teams for "showing the intend to run".

In a thrilling opening quarter the Waratahs scored two scintillating tries - by Dean Mumm (in the fourth minute) and Daniel Halangahu (four minutes later), before the Blues opened their account in the 13th minute with a Rudi Wulf classic.

The 'Tahs were not done yet and in the 19th minute Halangahu scored his second, as the Waratahs' ball-in-hand approach paid very good dividends.

However, the Blues eventually settled down and two late tries - Isaia Toeava (34th minute) and Rene Ranger (38th minute) - showed just how dangerous this Blues team can be.

The visitors trailed by just two points - a failed conversion - as the 'Tahs took a narrow 21-19 lead into the break.

And, with Waratahs captain Phil Waugh off the field with a leg injury, the Blues opened the second-half scoring in the 50th minute - as they displayed their great passing skills and the 'Tahs eventually ran out of defenders. Ranger was at the end of the final pass and when Brett landed the touchline conversion the Blues hot the front for the first time.

Halangahu and Brett exchanged penalties as the Blues maintained their five-point lead (29-24), towards the end of the third quarter.

The 'Tahs, as they did on occasion in the first half, then caught the Blues napping at a line-out and Tatafu Polota-Nau barged over for the home team's bonus-point try. Halangahu couldn't add the extras, but at 29-all it was game on going into the final quarter.

Almost from the restart Brett landed a penalty from near halfway, as the Blues continued to run at a tiring Waratahs defensive line.

The Waratahs, in turn, preferred the pick-'n-drive. But with tiredness setting in, and the concentration levels dropping, it was their execution that let them down - unlike in the opening quarter when every pass stuck.

But an intercept try by Lachlan Turner, with the Blues on attack and just 10 metres out, and Halangahu's conversion saw the Waratahs regain the lead with seven minutes left on the clock.

Halangahu added a penalty two minutes later, to leave the Blues needing more than a converted try to win the game.

The Blues, now desperate for something to go their way, wasted a number of golden opportunities with poor touch-kicks and shocking line-out throwing to hand the victory to the 'Tahs - 39-32.

Man of the match: It would be easy to look to wing Lachie Turner for his match-winning score, but our award goes to the Waratahs flyhalf Daniel Halangahu - not only did he score two great tries, and contributed 14 points with the boot, but his general play was masterclass.

The scorers:

For the Waratahs:
Tries: Mumm, Halangahu 2, Polota-Nau, Turner
Cons: Halangahu 4
Pens: Halangahu 2

For the Blues:
Tries: Wulf, Toeava, Ranger 2
Cons: Brett 3
Pen: Brett

Teams:

Waratahs: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Daniel Halangahu, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh (captain), 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson. 
Replacements: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Will Caldwell, 19 Ben Mowen, 20 Josh Holmes, 21 Tom Carter, 22 Sosene Anesi.

Blues: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Viliami Ma'afu, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (captain), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Taniela Moa, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Paul Williams.

Referee: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Paul Marks (Australia), Angus Gardiner (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

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