Waratahs Lose to the Hurricanes

The NSW Waratahs will have to win the Tooheys New Super 14 title the hard way after forfeiting semi-final hosting rights to the Hurricanes in Saturday’s 19-14 loss to the Wellington-based outfit at Aussie Stadium.

The loss means the Waratahs head to Westpac Trust Stadium for Friday’s re-match, with the winner to be the first through to the Super 14 Final.

The Waratahs had almost all the ball in the second forty after heading into half time trailing 19-7, however they could only manage a converted try against a Hurricanes side that was reduced to 14 men on two occasions.

In the end the home side would be left to rue lost opportunities, with dropped ball and aimless kicking all to often letting them down.

The Hurricanes began the match on fire, scoring two tries inside the first twenty minutes to lead 12-nil deep into the first half.

Both came about as a direct result of midfield breaks, man of the match Ma’a Nonu shrugging off Adam Freier to lay the platform for the Hurricanes first, which was finished off by winger Shannon Paku.

Jimmy Gopperth’s normally radar like boot failed him early, however the Hurricanes were out to a five nil lead after eight minutes.

12 minutes later it was on again, with flanker Jerry Collins doing the damage on this occasion. Collins’ break was followed on the very next phase by a try to prop John Schwalger.

This time Gopperth had no such trouble with the conversion, putting the Hurricanes ahead 12-nil.

Stephen Hoiles appeared to have opened the scoring for the Waratahs in the 26th minute of play, barging his way over only to be ruled held up by TMO Paul Marks.

However momentum had swung momentarily in the Waratahs favour, with flanker Phil Waugh doing what Hoiles couldn’t two minutes later when he went over wide out on the right hand side.

Peter Hewat converted the try from the sideline, and with the score at 12-7 the Waratahs were right back in it.

A 37th minute penalty against Daniel Vickerman for over vigorous rucking two metres out from the Hurricanes line would soon prove pivotal, the Hurricanes going over for their third try just minutes later after a Hewat clearance was charged down by Chris Masoe.

Gopperth won the race to the ball before converting his own try, sending the Hurricanes into half time with a handsome 19-7 lead.

The second half began with the Waratahs on the attack, South African referee Craig Joubert coming under fire for not yellow carding the Hurricanes despite numerous and repeated professional fouls at the breakdown.

Eventually the pressure cracked on the rookie whistleblower, sending Hurricanes hooker Andrew Hore to the sin bin in the 48th minute after he’d killed the ball at the breakdown.

And yet still the Waratahs couldn’t crack the defensive line despite spending almost all of the ten minute period in good attacking position.

With Hore back on the field and the Waratahs still searching for a breakthrough Joubert binned his second Hurricane, sending scrumhalf Piri Weepu to the bin for a high shot on David Lyons in the 65th minute.

60 seconds later the Waratahs cracked the defence, Sam Norton-Knight bursting through a gap before touching down midway between the posts and the sideline.

Hewat converted and all of a sudden the Waratahs were just five points down.

The Waratahs surged again late in the match, coming within inches of the line and a potential match winner one minute before full time, however as would be the tale of the night spilt ball would cost them dearly, the Hurricanes holding on for a well-deserved victory.

The Waratahs will spend the next two days in Sydney, holding their annual awards dinner – the Matthew Burke Cup – at Circular Quay tomorrow night. They fly out for Wellington on Tuesday.

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