Super Rugby 2015 semi-finals: Coverage of Waratahs v Highlanders from Allianz Stadium

THE defending champion Waratahs have been beaten by the Highlanders in a controversial second Super Rugby semi-final.

Waratahs Jacques Potgieter is yellow carded for a swinging arm and a penalty try was awarded to Highlanders Patrick Osborne during the NSW Waratahs v Highlanders Super Rugby Semi-Final at Allianz Stadium, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello

WARATAHS coach Michael Cheika had to choose his words carefully, but there was no doubting his feelings towards the controversial try that dumped his side out of the Super Rugby finals.

Cheika, who still has a suspended ban from SANZAR hanging over his head and could potentially be barred from coaching the Wallabies if he criticises officials, said the ruling by referee Craig Joubert against Jacques Potgieter was “pretty difficult”.

“I haven’t seen too many head high tackles 30 centimetres from the ground,” Cheika said.

It was all he could say about the try awarded to the Highlanders, who nevertheless were more composed and consistent in the semi-final at Allianz Stadium, winning 35-17 to set up an all Kiwi decider against the Hurricanes in Wellington next week.

Waratahs flanker Jacques Potgieter is yellow carded for a swinging arm.

Furious Waratahs fans hurled a torrent of abuse at referee Joubert after the penalty try call.

The Highlanders were awarded the penalty try in the 58th minute – taking them to a 27-17 lead - after their winger Patrick Osborne went inches short of the line after a swinging arm from Potgieter struck his head inches above the tryline.

NSW skipper Dave Dennis told Joubert that Potgieter had been trying to knock the ball out of Osborne’s grasp when he ducked and fell into Potgieter’s forearm, but Joubert awarded a try under the posts, and also sin-binned Potgieter, which under the rules must be done if a penalty try is given.

The packed and vocal Allianz Stadium crowd of 32,632 berated Joubert constantly for the remainder of the game.

Dennis was equally frustrated after the match, saying: “Unintentional, yellow card, seven points, pretty difficult.”

But the Highlanders were adamant the penalty try should have been awarded.

“I had no doubt it was a yellow card, we saw similar when the

Hurricanes got one from the Chiefs (when Tom Marshall shoulder-charged Julian Savea over the tryline),” Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said.

Rob Horne of the Waratahs beats Waisake Naholo of the Highlanders to score in the corner.

“The referee and TMO (George Ayoub) had no choice because the precedent had been set.”

Joubert had also awarded the Highlanders a debated try in the first half, to centre Richard Buckman, leaving the Tahs and their supporters exasperated.

Osborne scored a late try with two minutes remaining to seal victory for the visitors, who had also defeated NSW in the regular rounds earlier this season.

While Joubert made some debatable calls, the Highlanders held the edge in basics; lineouts, and ball-handling.

Individual brilliance from Highlanders winger Waisake Naholo gave his side the momentum in the second half.

In the end, the Highlanders scored five tries to one and were the dominant side.

Naholo scored a 54th minute try, putting the ball on the boot from 20 metres out and outsprinting NSW’s cover defence to touch down just before the ball went dead.

Super Rugby’s top tryscorer took his season tally to 12, one short of the record.

Malakai Fekitoa of the Highlanders runs the ball against the Waratahs.

In a see-sawing opening half, the lead changed five times, with the Highlanders leading 15-14 at the break courtesy of a controversial try to centre Buckman.

It appeared Buckman had been tackled by Wycliff Palu, but he sprung back to his feet and raced 35 metres to score in the 33rd minute.

Joubert ruled Buckman was not being held when he hit the ground, despite Dennis protesting in frustration.

The try put the Highlanders 15-11 ahead before a Bernard Foley penalty brought his side back to within one point.

NSW winger Rob Horne, returning from a three-week suspension, opened the scoring for NSW with a fine try, taking a cross-field chip from Foley and touching down despite the pressure of rival Waisake Naholo.

The 11th-minute try came from NSW’s first attacking raid in the Highlanders’ quarter, having spent the early part of the game defending in their half.

It wasn’t long before the Tahs were back in their own quarter again, and from a wobbly 19th minute scrum, Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith scored an intercept to put his side in the lead once more.

Smith came around the back of a wheeling scrum and as Wycliff Palu tried to fling it winger Taqele Naiyaravoro, Smith plucked the ball out of the air and ran seven metres to the line untouched.

The try went unconverted, and scores were level four minutes later when Foley kicked a penalty.

Another Foley penalty from 39 metres out in the 31st put NSW back in the lead 11-8.

NSW showed early jitters, with the first ruck-base pass of the game from Nick Phipps missing target Foley and flying into the in-goal, forcing Israel Folau to hurriedly clean up.

Then after absorbing some defensive pressure, the tahs turned over possession with a breakdown penalty, only for Foley to fail to kick the ball into touch.

Rival Lima Sopoaga then kicked a penalty goal in the fifth minute.

When the Waratahs got the ball back, loose passing again put them on the back foot.

Originally published as Super Rugby 2015 semi-finals: Coverage of Waratahs v Highlanders from Allianz Stadium