Waratahs given a harsh reminder of Kiwi power

The Waratahs got a reminder of the enormous task ahead of them against the Crusaders in Christchurch last night.

NSW Waratahs centre Israel Folau makes a break against the Crusaders in Christchurch last night

If NSW needed any reminder of the scale of their task to finish on top of the Australian Super Rugby conference, they received it in Christchurch last night.

The Waratahs’ four-game winning streak came to an abrupt halt with a 29-10 loss to the Crusaders, the New Zealand conference leaders.

While the Waratahs remain on top of the Australian conference by a point from the Brumbies, they face another three New Zealand teams in their final four games — starting with the Chiefs in Sydney next Friday night — and they will need to improve on last night’s effort to beat any of them. The two teams employed contrasting tactics in the wet conditions. The best offloading team in the competition, the Crusaders, kept the ball in hand. The Waratahs initially attempted to play a tactical kicking game without much success.

With Wallabies coach Michael Cheika in attendance, the Crusaders outplayed the Waratahs in just about every aspect of the game, but the NSW side kept fighting to the end.

The Crusaders outscored the Waratahs four tries to two, but failed to collect a valuable bonus point, while NSW five-eighth and goalkicker Bernard Foley did not score a point, which was unusual.

“We saw that (rain) as a positive for us, a really good chance to pressure the Crusaders,” Waratahs captain Michael Hooper said. “Get them on the back foot and hopefully make mistakes and us get the upper hand, but it wasn’t to be. They were really clinical, especially early on, the first 10 minutes. We put a lot of pressure on them when we did get ball in hand.

“About 15 to 20 minutes in, we got through some phases, got down their end, but not converting. Didn’t put enough scoreboard pressure on them in the first half.”

The Crusaders led 22-5 at halftime after outscoring NSW three tries to one, threatening to run away with the game in the first 12 minutes. Crusaders winger Johnny McNicholl opened the scoring with a try in the third minute.

Prop Joe Moody made a big bust in the midfield and offloaded to fullback Israel Dagg, who was tackled 15m out.

From the ensuing ruck, Crusaders inside centre Ryan Crotty threw a long pass to blindside flanker Jordan Taufua, who sent McNicholl sliding over in the right-hand corner. Five-eighth ­Richie Mo’unga kicked the sideline conversion to make it 7-0.

The Crusaders went to a 12-0 lead after a try by Dagg in the eighth minute. Mo’unga crosskicked to McNicholl who, in midair, popped the pass back to Dagg.

Mo’unga extended the Crusaders’ lead to 17-0 with a penalty goal in the 17th minute after Waratahs blindside flanker Dean Mumm failed to support his body weight at the breakdown.

Waratahs winger Rob Horne got the visitors on the scoreboard with a try in the 25th minute. Outside centre Israel Folau made a beautiful break and his offload to Horne was knocked down by McNicholl, which allowed Horne to ground it.

But the Crusaders struck back with a try to Mo’unga in the 34th minute.

From an attacking lineout Crusaders halfback Andy Ellis, playing his 150th game for the club, put Mo’unga through a gap and he raced 20m to the line.

Realising there was a suspicion Ellis had lost the ball forward before passing to Mo’unga, the No 10 took a quick drop kick to prevent it being referred to the TMO.

But referee Jaco Peyper refused to award the try until he consulted with his assistant referee and Mo’unga had to take the kick again. He got both conversions, but only the second one counted.

The Crusaders’ were denied a 100m try in the 55th minute when they ran the ball from their own goal line. McNicholl raced upfield, but his pass to Dagg on the outside was knocked down by Horne.

The home side got into a bonus-point position when Taufua scored their fourth try in the 60th minute after crashing over from close range.

Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson rang the changes, injecting second-rower Sam Lousi, centre Matt Carraro, halfback Matt Lucas, loosehead prop Jeremy Tilse, hooker Hugh Roach and former Crusaders winger Zac Guildford into the game.

Guildford made an immediate impact on the game with a try in the 65th minute after taking an inside ball from Lucas at the base of a ruck and sprinting 20m to the line to take the Crusaders’ bonus point away.