Waratahs Lose Match But Gain Respect in One Point Loss to Crusaders
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Saturday, 31 March 2007
NSWRU Media Unit
The HSBC Waratahs have come desperately close to scoring an upset against the Crusaders, regaining lost form in their 34 points to 33 defeat at Aussie Stadium.
Lote Tuqiri lines up a hit against the Crusaders
Lote Tuqiri lines up a hit against the Crusaders
The Crusaders scored six tries to four, scraping home after the Waratahs crossed to narrow the gap to one point with 11 minutes left on the clock.
Despite not being able to breach the defence in the dying stages, the Waratahs - on the back of their best effort in both attack and defence for the season - finished with two bonus points, for scoring four tries and losing by less than seven.
The narrow loss also fills the home side with renewed vigour heading into back to back Australian derbies against the Brumbies next Sunday in Canberra, against the Reds in Sydney on April 14.
The match began badly for the home side with the Crusaders scoring in just the third minute of play through prop Campbell Johnstone, who took advantage of non-existent defence on the short side to score from the base of the ruck.
Stephen Brett converted for a seven-nil lead.
The visitors were then dealt a massive blow, losing All Black lock Chris Jack to a knee injury on ten minutes.
Waratah winger Lachlan Turner provided inspiration for the vociferous home crowd soon after when he went in for his side's first try.
On the end of an expansive passing movement Turner turned on the speed, leaving Rico Gear, Stephen Brett and Scott Hamilton in his wake as he sprinted in to score his first Super Rugby five pointer.
Three minutes later the Crusaders were in again, Rico Gear on the end of some neat phase play.
Subsequent tries to Mose Tuiali'i and Aaron Mauger put the Crusaders in the box seat at 22-5 after half an hour, the reigning champions also securing themselves an early bonus point.
However far from giving in the Waratahs rallied, centre Sam Harris touching down beside the posts after some excellent lead up work from Kurtley Beale, Sam Norton-Knight and Will Caldwell.
Peter Hewat converted then added a penalty goal after the half time siren to see the teams head into the break at 22-15.
The Waratahs started the second stanza in a positive fashion, their kicking game seeing them set up camp in the Crusaders half.
Another Hewat penalty was soon joined by a try to Norton-Knight, who ran an acute angle onto an excellent Brett Sheehan short ball to see the Waratahs take the lead 25 points to 22.
Again the Waratahs joy was short lived, Casey Laulala scoring the Crusaders fifth try ten minutes after the break to put them back into the lead.
Following Laulala's try Waratah openside flanker Tim Davidson was replaced, having largely nullified the threat posed by Crusaders skipper and expert fetcher Richie McCaw.
The Crusaders crossed again six minutes later, man of the match Gear selling a dummy before sprinting across to put his side out to a nine point lead with 24 minutes left to play.
None of the 25,494 strong crowd was leaving their seat this time around as the Waratahs mounted yet another assault, Hewat edging the home side closer with a 48 metre penalty to take the score to 34-28.
Lote Tuqiri then provided the spark for his side's fourth try, making a bust down the right hand touchline before feeding Tatafu Polota-Nau who sprinted away to score next to the posts
Hewat missed with his conversion in what would prove the final scoring opportunity of the night, the Crusaders finishing the match in front and pressuring the Waratahs line, albeit without success.
Turner was outstanding for the Waratahs, nearly stealing man of the match honours from eventual winner Rico Gear.
The teenage winger was ably supported by Norton-Knight, Tuqiri, Caldwell, Hewat and Rocky Elsom, who was tireless in his fiftieth match in Waratah colours.
The game was also notable for the debut off the bench of Waratah Professional Academy flanker David Dennis, who became the eighth new Waratah for season 2007.
The Waratahs are next in action on Easter Sunday night in Canberra against the Brumbies, that match to be followed by their next home encounter in two weeks time against the arch enemy, the Reds.
HSBC WARATAHS - 33
Tries: Lachlan Turner, Sam Harris, Sam Norton-Knight, Tatafu Polota-Nau
Conversions: Peter Hewat 2/4
Penalty Goals: Peter Hewat 3/3
CRUSADERS - 34
Tries: Rico Gear 2, Campbell Johnstone, Mose Tuiali'i, Aaron Mauger, Casey Laulala
Conversions: Stephen Brett 2/6
At Aussie Stadium, Sydney
Crowd: 25,494
Man of the Match: Rico Gear (Crusaders)
Referee: Craig Joubert (RSA)