Tears of joy: Waratahs are officially back after stunning Crusaders victory

The Waratahs are officially back.

In front of 10,293 fans at Leichhardt Oval, minus Wallabies captain Michael Hooper for the final 13 minutes, NSW have pulled off a stunning and emotion-charged 24-21 win against all odds against the Crusaders.

The bookies installed the Waratahs as $15 outsiders after their loss to the Chiefs last week, and it’s hard to imagine NSW have ever been at longer odds.

They opened up a 17-0 half-time lead, withstood a predictable Crusaders fightback, before icing the franchise’s most important win in years thanks to a late penalty try.

The sight of Waratahs No.10 Tane Edmed fighting back tears after full-time, on the same hallowed turf where his father Steve played rugby league for Balmain, showed just how much it means to this playing group, who didn’t win a game in 2021.

“I’m just lost for words ... I don’t know what to say,” said Edmed on Stan Sport. “I’ve got 30 friends and family up there. These boys, I love ’em. The fans tonight were just outstanding. I can’t believe it. Just unbelievable.”

Hooper came from the field in the 67th minute after an ugly head clash which saw Crusaders reserve Hamish Dalzell red-carded. He will undergo return to play protocols but was groggy during celebrations.

At the next lineout, the Waratahs began a rolling maul that ended in a penalty try, making it 24-14 and with the Crusaders down to 13 men when Pablo Matera was shown a yellow card.

But with just over six minutes to go, the Crusaders scored to trail by three points. Despite a chaotic final few minutes and some gritty defence, NSW got the job done in emphatic fashion.

It was the Waratahs’ first victory over a Kiwi team since their 20-12 win over the Crusaders in 2019.

The Waratahs celebrate their win, while Tane Edmed gets emotional after the siren.

“I was fighting [tears] back,” Coleman said. “You just don’t know when those emotional victories are going to come. To knock off the top Kiwi team is awesome.

“It’s all a bit of a blur ... we were hanging on a bit there at the end. I think the average punter that has put shit on us is starting to see we’re having a crack and a team worth following. We may not be perfect but we’ll keep fighting until the end.

“The naysayers or the negative people will probably say we beat them a little understrength. I don’t give a rat’s arse. We beat them. The boys are Tah tough.”

Captain Jake Gordon added: “I’m stoked. Last year was a tough one for the organisation and all the boys involved. In the last 10 minutes you could really hear the crowd.”

Mark Nawaqanitawase crosses for the Tahs. Credit: Getty

In the back of fans’ minds was the night in 2018 when NSW led the Crusaders 29-0 before falling by two points at the death.

As Coleman pointed out at half-time on Stan Sport: “They can score 17 points in the blink of an eye.”

There were standouts everywhere as the Waratahs knuckled down and missed just four of their first-half tackles. Edmed oozed class beyond his years, Charlie Gamble was immense over the ball and bent the line against the team he once aspired to play for, while hooker Mahe Vailanu excelled in his run-on debut.

“We were on the back foot straight away,” said Crusaders coach Scott Robertson.

This could be a win to help kickstart rugby’s fortunes in NSW again.Credit: Getty

Annihilated by every Kiwi side last year, the Waratahs’ transformation under Coleman has been impressive. His trusty assistants also deserve just as much credit for helping the stars align at Waratahs HQ.

The Waratahs’ scrum was average, and they conceded seven more penalties than their opponent, but the team held its nerve.

After bombing a certain try a fortnight ago with an errant pass, winger Dylan Pietsch had the best game of his short Super Rugby career.

He got the party started by slicing through a gap to score under the sticks inside two minutes, before zig-zagging his way through multiple defenders with a sensational 50-metre break from inside NSW territory.

Pietsch beat seven defenders in the first half and 10 for the match.

When Mark Nawaqanitawase crossed down the right edge, the Waratahs were up 14-0 after 12 minutes thanks to a booming Edmed conversion from the western side of the ground.

Beyond the rugby, the result was an important stepping stone for the men in sky blue.

Maybe it’s the Coleman effect, or perhaps just a by-product of winning regularly, but the atmosphere compared to last year is chalk and cheese.

The picturesque pink sunset behind a packed Leichhardt Oval hill looked as good as the Waratahs’ attack in the first half.

Waratahs supporters can be some of the most fickle in Australian sport, but they are coming back and that is only a positive thing for rugby.

Hundreds stood while drinking canned beer. Those in the stands gave a standing ovation at half-time to a team bereft of confidence and cohesion this time last year.

They booed when decisions didn’t go their way and roared when the Waratahs earned the match-winning penalty try. The passion is back.

“I’m going to enjoy the night,” Coleman said.

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