Super Rugby AU: NSW Waratahs defeat Melbourne Rebels but narrow margin has a risk

The Waratahs have set themselves up for a massive disappointment despite beating the Rebels 38-32.

Matt Toomua of the Rebels scores a try during the round-9 Super Rugby AU match between the Waratahs and the Melbourne Rebels at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

A Waratahs win over Melbourne is not to be sneered at, not least because the Rebels have won their two earlier clashes this season. But NSW have set themselves up for a massive disappointment after failing to put their opponents to the sword at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney on Saturday night.

The Tahs won 38-32, deservedly coming out ahead in a tough, grinding match. But a penalty four minutes from full-time by Rebels captain Matt Toomua means that Melbourne only has to win next Saturday against the Western Force to go through to the Super Rugby play-offs for the first time in the club’s 10-year history.

“It was a little bit of pragmatism,” said Toomua, explaining why he had taken the penalty shot that pulled the Rebels up to six points from their rivals. And under competition rules, any loss by seven points or less earns a bonus point. “We’re playing the long game here. If we win next week, we’re through.”

The Waratahs’ win took them to 19 points but their regular season has finished. They have the bye next week and will be desperately hoping that the Force, who are winless in this competition but did fight out a Supertime draw with the Rebels last time they met before conceding a try in extra time, can pull off a miracle in Newcastle. It will be a meeting of two sides who have both spent well over two months on the road.

The other winners on the night were the Queensland Reds. While they cannot prevent the Brumbies from hosting the Super Rugby AU final in Canberra on September 19, they are now assured of second spot and a qualifying final at Suncorp Stadium on September 12 against the Rebels or the Tahs.

Although the Rebels were first to open their account on Saturday, through a Toomua penalty in only the second minute, the Tahs came out very much in the mindset of a team that knew it was all on the line.

Matt Toomua of the Rebels kicks during the match. Picture: /Getty Images

Halfback Jake Gordon, seemingly being groomed for a formal leadership role next season, was first to score, plunging over from the ruck base, his simple act of picking up the ball and driving low so inspiring Jack Dempsey that the Wallabies back-rower emulated him precisely for a try in the 23rd minute.

At 14-3, the match was trending well for NSW supporters. But the Tahs have been guilty all season of relaxing once they have scored and the Rebels, riding a run of four straight penalties, hit back late in the half, as Toomua charged on to the ball from point-blank range and effectively exploded the NSW defence.

Waratahs second-rower Ned Hanigan had been caught up in that run of penalties and was still in the sin bin as the Rebels again struck on the other side of halftime, with No 8 Isi Naisarani powering through a hole in the Tahs’ driving maul defence to score the try that equalised at 17-17.

But another ground-hugging try from tighthead Harry Johnson Holmes and a rare piece of creativity from the Tahs, with Michael Hooper creating a gap in midfield and outside centre Joey Walton steaming straight through it, saw the NSW side again take command in the match, leading 31-17 at the 56th minute.

Once again, however, the Rebels rebounded, aided by an amazing 10m slide by Test winger Marika Koroibete for a try in the corner – his momentum actually accelerated by Hooper’s crunching tackle – and then, as he so often does, Naisarani took advantage of a rare officiating mistake – seemingly centre Billy Meakes had been driven into touch but it wasn’t called – to level the contest at four tries apiece.

Sadly, though, Toomua was astray with his conversion and the match lurched into the final 10 minutes with the Tahs ahead but only just, 31-29.

Fittingly it was Hooper who produced the game-breaker, charging down a kick from Rebels five-eighth Andrew Deegan, the ball bouncing right into the arm of NSW playmaker Will Harrison, who scampered away for his first try in Super Rugby.

At 38-29, with just six minutes remaining, the Tahs were in position to at least deny the Rebels a losing bonus point but all that changed when referee Graham Cooper signalled a penalty to Melbourne 30m out and on the angle, and this time Toomua hit it sweetly, the ball never deviating from its target.

Waratahs captain Rob Simmons chose to look on the bright side, congratulating his side for playing with purpose. “I’m pretty pleased with that performance,” he said. “We haven’t played so well against the Rebels all season. It’s with the gods now.”

Dempsey turned in one of his most determined performances of the season, while debutant centre Tepai Moeroa went looking for the ball and found it often enough to make a serious contribution.

For the Rebels, Test pair Koroibete and Naisarani figured throughout, while Toomua provided the generalship and, when required, the straight-forward courage to lead from the front.