Super Rugby 2015, round 17 review: Israel Folau fires as Waratahs retain Australian conference lead

IT might not have been a great dress rehearsal for finals rugby, but the Waratahs’ roller-coaster romp over the Cheetahs sure was entertaining.

Super Rugby Rd 17: Toyota Cheetahs v Waratahs

TAH-RIFIC

IT might not have been a great dress rehearsal for finals rugby, but the Waratahs’ roller-coaster 58-33 romp over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein sure was entertaining.

Tackling was optional as star NSW fullback Israel Folau shook off a rare poor outing against the Lions to glide in for a hat-trick — despite being subject to a blatant foot trip by Cheetahs inside centre Ryno Benjamin.

The nine tries to five bonus point triumph put Michael Cheika’s men in the box seat for a crucial top-two finish heading into the final round of the regular season.

The Waratahs are locked on 47 points with the Brumbies but lead the Australian conference by virtue of having more wins than the Canberra side.

It sets up a thrilling final round, with the Brumbies having an opportunity to pile pressure on the Tahs on Saturday with a bonus point win over the now eliminated Crusaders, before NSW tackle old foes Queensland in the late game on Saturday.

“We’ve always had a lot of history with the Reds,” said Waratahs skipper Dave Dennis.

“They’re playing some good rugby at the back end of the season, so we need to recover well and get back to Australia and prepare for that game.”

SIX OF THE BEST

THE 19-19 draw between the Stormers and the Lions on Sunday means the Super Rugby top-six is set in stone heading into the final round — with the Lions, Crusaders and Bulls all knocked out of contention in round 17.

However, the pecking order remains up for grabs.

The high-flying Hurricanes cannot be caught at the summit of the ladder but the Waratahs, Brumbies and Stormers all have a shot at finishing in that all-important second slot.

History shows it is nigh-on impossible to win the competition from outside the top-two — only three teams have achieved the feat in 19 years.

As in football’s A-League, the top-two teams earn the first finals weekend off then host a semi-final a week later.

The third and fourth-ranked sides host the sixth and fifth-ranked teams respectively in the opening finals weekend, slugging it out the hard way.

SUPER RUGBY’S FINALS CONTENDERS

1. *HURRICANES (62 points, +162) — Chiefs (away)

2. *WARATAHS (47pts, +70) — Reds (home)

3. *STORMERS (45pts, +72) — Sharks (a)

4. CHIEFS (48pts, +81) — Hurricanes (h)

5. HIGHLANDERS (48pts, +80) — Blues (a)

6. BRUMBIES (47pts, +121) — Crusaders (h)

* Indicates conference leaders

MAUL RATS

HAVE the Brumbies been munching on a steady diet of biltong?

Coach Stephen Larkham wasn’t exactly known for his rolling maul ability but his side have perfected the dark arts of what is traditionally a South African specialty.

David Pocock scored a hat-trick of tries — his second trifecta of the season — and all off the back of rolling mauls in the Brumbies’ 33-20 win over his old team the Force in Perth.

It raises the question of whether the Wallabies will employ — or have the ability to — the same tactics when the international season gets underway.

Brumbies hooker Stephen Moore told The Daily Telegraph that his side couldn’t rely solely on the maul as they approach the business end of the season.

“Some nights you just seem to get things rolling well for you and so you have to take full advantage, but we know it’s not going to enough to rely on the rolling maul to score tries against teams,” Moore said.

“We have to get the balance right, between that and using the ball with width. Our backs have been working hard on that part of our game and when we do get balance in our game, we are very effective.”

SO LONG, SUNCORP

DESPITE a miserable 2015 Super Rugby season, 25,841 Queensland faithful turned up to Suncorp Stadium for Will Genia and James Horwill’s last home games in Reds colours before taking up lucrative contracts in Europe.

Both played strongly but as a team the Reds were no match for the injury riddled Chiefs, who continue to defy the odds with clever coaching and gritty defence.

Chiefs captain Liam Messam dedicated the 24-3 win to Jerry Collins, the All Blacks great who died with his partner in a car crash in France on Friday.

“We talked a lot about Jerry Collins as an All Black ... We just tried to honour him with how we tackled tonight,” he said.

Hurricanes captain Conrad Smith, meanwhile, choked back tears as he remembered old teammate Collins following the side’s 56-20 thrashing of the Highlanders on Friday.

“He was a legend. He was a hero. I watched him play and then was fortunate enough to join him in the team [Hurricanes],” Smith said.

“To see the pride he had in the jersey every time he wore it and the same with the All Blacks. “He was a proud man, people loved him, the players loved him. I’m glad I never had to play against him.”

BULLS ROBBED AS REBELS YELL

THE Rebels and the Bulls played out an entertaining contest at AAMI Park, with the men from Melbourne prevailing 21-20 to end the South African side’s playoff hopes.

The visitors were unlucky after the video referee disallowed what appeared to be a fair try late in the game by inside centre Burger Odendaal.

But Bulls coach Frans Ludeke was gracious in defeat.

“The call was made and it doesn’t matter what you say now — it’s not a try,” Ludeke said.

“So we will go with that. To argue it now is not going to change the result.

“It’s a pity we couldn’t finish that one off because it would have helped a lot.

“It definitely would have swung the momentum in the game.”

Originally published as Super Rugby 2015, round 17 review: Israel Folau fires as Waratahs retain Australian conference lead