Waratahs suffer heartbreaking defeat as Crusaders come from behind in all-time Super comeback

THE Waratahs have blown a record lead and suffered the most heartbreaking loss of their season, as New Zealand’s winning streak over Australian teams extended to 39 games.

Tom Staniforth (C) and his Waratahs teammates react after the loss.

GIVING up the greatest lead in Super Rugby history, the Waratahs suffered a heartbreaking 31-29 defeat to the Crusaders that extended New Zealand’s winning streak to 39 games.

NSW led 29-0 after just 29 minutes, yet failed to notch another point in the final 50 as the defending champions mounted the biggest comeback of all time in Christchurch.

Just how this happened was a combination of NSW’s lack of composure, two crucial missed penalties from Bernard Foley, the Crusaders’ mental and physical excellence, and controversial calls from referee Ben O’Keeffe.

Israel Folau looks on during the late defeat.

Not since 2004 had NSW won in Christchurch but after building their 29-point lead, that stretch should never have been allowed to go on.

NSW now return to Sydney with the hollowness of losing the unlosable.

They scored four quick tries, then conceded four, and have now lost three successive games.

Meanwhile, the Crusaders breathe a sigh of relief knowing they have not allowed New Zealand’s streak over Aussie teams to end, a streak that started two years ago.

O’Keeffe handed the home team a number of calls that affected the outcome, including not picking up an elbow to the throat by prop Joe Moody on Kurtley Beale before Moody scored his side’s first try.

Joe Moody dives over to score the Crusaders’ first try.

A tip-tackle on Tahs backrower Michael Wells was also not sighted.

NSW played 20 minutes of the game with 14 men after Nick Phipps and Taqele Naiyaravoro were sin-binned in each half.

The Crusaders mounted their comeback despite having rested All Blacks Owen Franks, Ryan Crotty and David Havili for this game, and showed remarkable poise to pull it out of the bag.

In a manic first half, NSW raced to their 29-0 before the Crusaders scored three tries in the final minutes to cut the deficit to 29-19.

Winger Cam Clark crossed in the fourth minute, followed by a Foley penalty to lead 8-0 after 13 minutes.

Naiyaravoro then came up with an intercept try off Tim Bateman’s attempted cutout pass.

Taqele Naiyaravoro was sin-binned — and then scored a runaway intercept try.

Folau fielded a bomb, made a break, passed to Beale and trailed the playmaker to finish a stunning 70-metre move in the 23rd minute.

Folau endured endless jeering each time he touched the ball, while the ground announcer played The Village People’s YMCA in response to his anti-gay posts.

The boos rang out when Folau touched down and blew a kiss to the heavens.

The controversial fullback then set up centre Curtis Rona for NSW’s fourth try, giving the visitors their astonishing 29-point lead.

As feared, the Crusaders began clawing their way back.

It took until the 35th minute for them to get on the board, but it was a points avalanche.

Moody scored under the posts from a Richie Mo’unga offload.

Israel Folau, pictured after scoring a try, was booed by the home crowd.

Hooker Codie Taylor then barged over from a dominant rolling maul one minute before the break.

NSW halfback Phipps was sin-binned for a ruck infringement two minutes after the siren sounded, with the Crusaders deep in attack.

Saders winger Seta Tamanivalu crashed over in the corner from the ensuing attack move and the margin was cut to 10 points heading into the second half.

While the Tahs did not concede a point in the first 10 minutes of the second while Phipps was off, Naiyaravoro was also sin-binned in the 54th minute for a deliberate knockdown.

Two minutes later Crusaders replacement Braydon Ennor was over in the corner, taking the score to 29-24.

Foley had the chance to extend his side’s lead in the 61st minute after the Tahs earned a scrum penalty, but pushed his kick wide.

Kurtley Beale on the burst.

But the Crusaders then re-established scrum dominance and after a number of collapses on their own line, the Tahs were punished by O’Keeffe who awarded a penalty try in the 68th minute.

It was the first time the home side had led in the game.

Foley had the chance to put his side back in front in the 77th minute with a 45-metre penalty, but again missed.

NSW pressed on after the full-time siren but a Crusaders turnover sealed the most incredible comeback victory.

CRUSADERS 31 (1 penalty try) (Braydon Ennor, Joe Moody, Seta Tamanivalu, Codie Taylor tries Richie Mo’unga 2 cons) bt NSW WARATAHS 29 (Cameron Clark, Israel Folau, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Curtis Rona tries Bernard Foley 3 cons pen) at Christchurch Stadium. Referee: Ben O’Keeffe.

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