Super Rugby round 15: Waratahs 22 d. Western Force 17, results, analysis
It may be a long shot, but there is still a path for the Waratahs to make the Super Rugby semis following a come-from-behind win against the Western Force.
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The last rites on the Waratahs’ Super Rugby season from hell have been put back on hold, if only for another week, after they produced a miraculous golden point win over the Western Force on Saturday night.
The Waratahs looked dead and buried after twice giving the Force a chance to win the game with long range penalty kicks before winger Darby Lancaster scored the match winner at the end of the first half of extra time with an acrobatic dive in the corner.
The referee, Angus Gardner, initially ruled that Lancaster had dropped the ball, but the TMO confirmed the score was fine to award, sending the Waratahs into wild celebrations as they won 22-17.
“I was unsure. It popped up and luckily the big screen behind me here was enough for the ref to give it,” Lancaster told Stan.
“That was a hell of a grind. I don’t even know how long it took, but we worked for so many minutes for it.
“The rugby gods gave us one today.
“It was a tough game. Absolutely stoked to get to the win.”
The Force had an opportunity to win the match in the last minute of normal time when Kurtley Beale attempted a long-range penalty from near the sideline on his own side of halfway. He had the distance but was just off target.
The home team got another chance in extra time. Replacement Alex Harford instead of Beale and also missed.
“That was a really heartbreaking stuff there,” Beale said. “There was a lot of grit tonight.
“We really wanted to put in a proud performance for our fans. It’s been a bit of a roller coaster season for us.
“We knew the Tahs were kind of fighting for their season as well and took some miraculous stuff there by Darby to put a finish on it.”
After losing their last four matches in a row, the Waratahs still have a lifeline but it’s still a long shot.
To make the semis they have to beat the Blues in Auckland next week, rely on Moana Pasifika losing to the Hurricanes and bonus points going in their favour.
But they still have a pulse, whereas the Force are finished for 2025, with a bye coming next week.
The Force twice came from behind to lead 17-14 at halftime and looked to be in control.
The Waratahs opened the scoring when winger Triston Reilly scored off an intercept but the home side hit back with a try from open side flanker Carlo Tizzano, his 13th of the season, a new record for a forward in Super Rugby.
Another interception from Reilly led to a second NSW try from Lancaster, giving the visitors a nine-point lead.
Western Force fullback Mac Grealy finished off a long range break to cut the margin to three before Hamish Stewart sliced through the NSW defence to dive over and give his team for the first time as tensions flared and both teams got involved in a bit of argy bargy.
With rain bucketing down in the second half, both sides struggled to control possession and the only points came from a penalty by NSW replacement Jack Bowen in the 75th minute that tied the scores and set up the dramatic finale.
Bowen missed a penalty in extra time but it didn’t matter as Lancaster scored straight after.
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