Super Rugby: NSW Waratahs beat Melbourne Rebels 23-20
Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson revealed that his side was left mentally and emotionally exhausted following the Israel Folau controversy and their remarkable comeback victory over Melbourne on Saturday night.
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WARATAHS 23 REBELS 20
Update: Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson revealed that his side was left mentally and emotionally exhausted following the Israel Folau controversy and their remarkable comeback victory over Melbourne.
The Tahs staged an incredible 16-point second half turnaround to win 23-20 at they Sydney Cricket Ground, having endured a week of distraction after star fullback Folau was embroiled in a homophobic social media storm that now threatens his career.
The NSW dressing room was eerily sombre following the victory against Melbourne on Saturday night.
“I’m very pleased with the grit we showed, particularly given the circumstances of the week, that was a really subdued changing room,” Gibson said.
“It’s a weird feeling, we’ve won a game, the emotion of the week, to come out with a win has been good, but it’s a strange feeling.
“I just think it’s been an emotional week all round, and to come out here and perform well and get a win is job done, but it takes a lot out of people emotionally and mentally.”
FOLEY v QUADE
Rarely has there been such disparity in two halves.
Cooper was master orchestrator in the first 40 minutes, implementing the Rebels’ pressure-kicking game plan perfectly as his side took a big lead.
But Foley won this head-to-head battle with a sterling second half fightback.
Foley dragged his side back into the game from 20-7 down at half-time to 23-20 ahead by the 65th minute.
He scored all 16 of those points; two penalty kicks in the 49th and 53rd, a runaway converted try in the 58th, followed by another penalty in the 65th.
The Rebels had an attacking lineout in the 57th minute, but it was overthrown. The bouncing ball was there to be claimed by one of two men; Cooper or Foley.
The Tahs playmaker grabbed it, and raced 80 metres to score the most significant try of the contest.
Foley had blundered two kicks to the sidelines in the first half after NSW were awarded penalties. The first failed to go out, the second went out over the in-goal.
But his touch-finder in the 66th minute under enormous pressure from the Rebels defence underscored his value.
THE BIG SWITCH-OFF
If not for NSW tuning out just before the break, they would not have required such an inspired comeback.
Melbourne led 20-7 at half-time, though the score had been 10-7 two minutes prior to the break.
Rebels fullback Reece Hodge was crucial to the extended lead, scoring a try and kicking a 41-metre penalty.
Cooper kicked an early penalty before Adam Ashley-Cooper scored his first Super Rugby try since 2015.
In a smartly-worked move, a short Rob Simmons pass set free prop Harry Johnson-Holmes.
From the ensuing ruck, Karmichael Hunt threw a clever double cut-out pass to Jed Holloway, who found Ashley-Cooper supporting on the inside, and the centre raced away to score in the 18th minute.
But The Rebels were back in front six minutes later courtesy of a Bill Meakes try.
Melbourne pressed the Tahs’ defence near their own line, but a loose ball should have resulted in a turnover. Winger Alex Newsome pounced on the ball but it slipped out of his grasp, allowing Meakes to stroll under the posts untouched.
The gap reflected the tough tussle unfolding, until the 39th minute.
A midfield bomb by Melbourne was tapped back by Marika Koroibete, and a quick recycle saw Hodge running full steam at a flat-footed, ragged defensive line. He sped through the hole and slid under the sticks.
The Tahs conceded a penalty from the restart, and Melbourne then won a penalty from the ensuing lineout, which Hodge duly booted from long range.
REBELS ILL DISCIPLINE
Coach Dave Wessels will be tearing his hair out. His Melbourne players allowed NSW to walk back into the game, having held full command, with dumb infringements.
The Rebels gave away the first seven penalties of the second half, during which the Tahs stormed back to take the lead.
Referee Damon Murphy warned skipper Tom English that a further infraction would result in a sin-binning.
Sure enough, in the 72nd minute, prop Sam Talakai was shown a yellow card for a breakdown penalty, and with a man down the Rebels could not find a winning score.
NSW WARATAHS 23 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, Bernard Foley tries Foley 2 cons 3 pens) REBELS 20 (Reece Hodge, Bill Meakes tries Quade Cooper2 cons Cooper, Hodge pens) at Sydney Cricket Ground. Referee: Damon Murphy
Originally published as Super Rugby: NSW Waratahs beat Melbourne Rebels 23-20
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