Back-to-back intercepts hand Waratahs thrilling come from behind victory over rival Rebels
DOWN and seemingly out with 11 minutes remaining, it looked all too familiar. But the Waratahs showed showed incredible resilience to chase down the Rebels in a Super Rugby classic.
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WITH 11 minutes remaining in the game, it looked all too familiar.
The Waratahs were about to blow their golden opportunity to secure first place in Super Rugby’s Australian conference.
Melbourne led 26-17 and had all the momentum.
But two intercepts in three minutes changed the match and their season.
Kurtley Beale took one inside his half in the 69th minute, broke upfield, and eventually flanker Ned Hanigan slammed the ball on the line in the follow-up.
In the 72nd, stand-in NSW skipper Bernard Foley plucked a Rebels pass out of the air and raced more than 50 metres to give his side a 31-26 lead, which they held until the final whistle despite a ferocious raid at their line by Melbourne.
The win means NSW are four points clear of the Rebels atop the local conference with two rounds remaining.
The Tahs have the favourable draw, hosting the Sunwolves and Brumbies, while Melbourne are away to Queensland and the Highlanders.
Having lost skipper Michael Hooper this week to injury and Israel Folau to controversial suspension less than 24 hours before kick-off, NSW were missing their two vital stars.
And having led 17-10 lead at halftime, NSW allowed the Rebels to come storming into the second half.
After pressing the line Melbourne were awarded a penalty and Dane Haylett-Petty took the gamble with a quick tap. It paid dividends when halfback Michael Ruru ploughed over from close range and forced the ball down in heavy goal line traffic in the 44th minute.
Reece Hodge’s conversion and three ensuing penalty goals had the home side 26-17 ahead with 20 minutes to play.
When Foley missed a kick to the sideline from a penalty and NSW lost the ensuing lineout from Melbourne’s clearance, it appeared as though they would choke on the big stage.
But the risk plays from Beale and Foley saved them and secured the Weary Dunlop Shield.
Earlier, NSW capitalised with an extra man when Rebels centre Bill Meakes was sent to the sin bin in the 15th minute for illegally kicking the ball out of a ruck.
The Tahs pressed for the try and it came via Taqele Naiyaravoro, who touched down in the corner after Beale had broken the line 20 metres out.
With that, Naiyaravoro equalled Folau’s Waratahs record of 12 tries in one season.
But Meakes made up for his yellow card by setting up Melbourne’s opening try in the 36th minute, putting fullback Haylett-Petty straight through with a perfectly timed cutout pass 30 metres out.
The lineout set play saw Meakes cut dummy runner Jack Maddocks and put Haylett-Petty through a gaping hole.
It seemed the teams would be locked at the break until NSW produced a spectacular try from deep in their half one minute before the siren.
The ball went from Beale to Foley to Curtis Rona, who lured the defence before unleashing Michael Wells out wide.
Well passed to replacement winger Alex Newsome, who dashed down the sideline before throwing a long pass back inside to Hooper’s replacement Will Miller who scored the five-pointer.
Originally published as Back-to-back intercepts hand Waratahs thrilling come from behind victory over rival Rebels
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