Foley’s hesitation costs Waratahs bonus point

NSW Waratahs five-eighth Bernard Foley regrets not taking a quick conversion of Israel Folau’s try against the Cheetahs.

Israel Folau and Kurtley Beale of the Waratahs celebrate victory over the Cheetahs at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

NSW Waratahs five-eighth Bernard Foley regrets not taking a quick conversion of Israel Folau’s try against the Cheetahs on Saturday night, which would have averted the TMO intervention that disallowed it.

Although the Waratahs won 21-6, Foley’s hesitation in attempting the conversion cost them a valuable bonus point, which would have put them on top of the Australian conference table.

The Waratahs had scored two tries to nil, but they needed a third try to collect the bonus point. They had already bombed a try when winger Reece Robinson slipped over in goal while trying to gather a perfectly weighted grubber kick by Kurtley Beale.

Then, after the siren, Folau crossed over in the right-hand corner and referee Nick Berry awarded the try.

But the Cheetahs protested to Berry that a pass from Waratahs captain Michael Hooper to second-rower Dean Mumm had gone forward in the lead-up to the try. TMO George Ayoub then intervened to review the try and disallowed it.

Under the rules, if Foley had rushed the conversion attempt before the review, the try would have stood.

This is what happened in the Brumbies’ loss to the Chiefs in Canberra in round six. Blindside flanker Scott Fardy scored a try, which was disputed by Chiefs captain Sam Cane. Brumbies five-eighth Christian Lealiifano took a quick drop-goal before a decision was reached to refer it to the TMO.

“That’s what I was thinking,” Foley said. “If there is a conversion attempt, is that the game over? You can’t review it.

“I didn’t see it (forward pass) in the game. Then I saw there was a bit of chat between the referee and the Cheetahs players.

“I thought I’ll just take this kick. I was talking to Chris Malone (attack coach). He brought on the tee. I said to him ‘can I just take this quickly?’

“I was setting up to take the kick and the ref said ‘hang on a second’.

“They are the things you don’t want to miss out on if that’s the rule. I would definitely take it if it’s going to benefit the team. If that’s what is required.”

The Waratahs and Brumbies are equal on 25 competition points, but the Brumbies remain on top of the Australian conference table because they have won one more game than NSW.

But the Waratahs have a game in hand, which means if they keep winning, they will control their own destiny. The Waratahs’ third straight win also snapped a three-game losing streak at home.

The Waratahs will receive another potential opportunity to claim top spot on the Australian conference when they host the Bulls, who lost to the Brumbies in Canberra last Friday, in Sydney on Saturday night.