'Tahs snatch Sydney thriller

The Waratahs have bounced back from a disappointing defeat to wrap up a come from behind 34-30 Super Rugby victory over the Sharks in Sydney on Saturday.

Now this was a great game. Two skilful sides reluctant to kick produced a wonderful exhibition of running rugby for 18 000 spectators on a sunny Sydney afternoon, and, as justice demands, the team scoring more tries than their opponents won - their valiant opponents. And it was a thriller - the winning try scored just five minutes from the end and then still a chance for the Sharks to get the lead back and then a chance for the Waratahs to increase the lead and then a great scrum to secure the match.

The match started off in thrilling fashion as the Sharks ran, the Waratahs ran and the Sharks ran again. Riaan Viljoen kicked an up-and-under and caught his own kick. The Sharks ran again and when the game stopped after 2 minutes 35 seconds it was because the Sharks had scored a try.

The Sharks had played the ball to the left. Charl McLeod gave to Meyer Bosman who passed to Tim Whitehead on the touchline. Whithead played back inside to Bosman who played further inside the Lwazi Mvovo who swept over under the posts. 7-0.

This early part of the game belonged to the Sharks and it was only a timely intercept by Berrick Barnes near his line that prevented the Sharks from scoring a second try. When the Waratahs had a rare visit just inside the Sharks 22 Marcel Coetzee was  most unfortunate to be penalised and scrumhalf Brendan McKibbin kicked the penalty. 7-3 after 11 minutes.

When Adam Ashley-Cooper dithered and then conceded a penalty Patrick Lambie goaled into the wind. 10-3 after 15 minutes.

Bosman grubbered but the ball beat Mvovo over the dead-ball line where Ashley-Cooper performed gymnastics over the hoarding.

Gradually the Waratahs got into the running and, as throughout the game, the Sharks hung back waiting for them to arrive. This proved costly. Tom Carter cut through on a long break. Viljoen tackled him five metres from the line but the Waratahs set about bashing till McKibbin sniped over under the posts. 10-10 after 22 minutes.

The penalty count in the match was 11-6 to the Sharks, and a penalty gave the Sharks an attacking line-out. They mauled and Daniel with a fast group of supporters surged over for a try. 17-10 after 25 minutes.

When Anton Bresler was penalised, McKibbin made it 17-13 after 27 minutes.

The Waratahs lost a golden chance to score when with the line just in front of Ashley-Cooper Tatafu Polota-Nau's pass was forward and knocked on.

Half-time came with the Sharks just ahead.

They looked to increase their lead when, following a turnover, Lambie broke but Whitehead spilled the ball. But they stayed on the attack and Bosman was close to the line. There followed a series of three penalties and three five-metre line-outs. Third time lucky, Bismarck du Plessis broke from the maul shoved a Waratah out of the way and powered through four others to score. 24-13 after 50 minutes.

It was looking good for the Sharks but Bresler made a horrible hash of a simple kick-off and the Waratahs were on the attack. McKibbin broke, Wycliff Palu was close and then Bernard Foley swept over on the overlap. 24-20 after 52 minutes.

The Waratahs counterrucked and won the turnover. McKibbin grubbered down to the Sharks' line. Whitehead went back, got the ball and dithered. He was caught and then went offside. McKibbin tapped and went wide right where Carter burst over for the try that gave the Waratahs the lead for the first time in the match. 27-24 after 57 minutes.

The Waratahs attacked again when they won a turnover off Bresler  but a penalty gave Lambie the chance to tie the scores after 63 minutes and then give his side the lead at 30-27 after 72 minutes.

The Waratahs again won the kick-off and attacked but the Sharks won a turnover and - woe for them - kicked downfield looking to attack but some clever footwork by Tom Kingston set his team attacking. A great run by Sarel Pretorius was followed by a storming run by Dean Mumm. The Waratahs went from left to far right where a pass from Polota-Nau sent Kingston surfing over in the right corner. Barnes converted brilliantly from touch. It was a bonus-point try and a lead of four points, which took the home side out of penalty range.

The Sharks won the kick-off and played through phases but against an unyielding defence.  The Sharks had a scrum but the Waratahs destroyed them and won a penalty which they kicked out with less than a minute to play. Sensibly they won the ball at the front of the line-out, held on till time was up and Pretorius tapped out for a famous victory for a team troubled in recent times.

Man of the Match: Our man of the match is scrumhalf  Brendan McKibbin, starting for the first time and having the biggest influence on the outcome of the match.

Scorers:

For Waratahs:
Tries: McKibbin, Foley, Carter, Kingston
Cons: McKibbin 3, Barnes
Pens: McKibbin 2

For Sharks:
Tries: Mvovo, Daniel, B. Du Plessis
Cons: Lambie 3
Pens: Lambie 3

Teams:

Waratahs: 15 Bernard Foley, 14 Tom Kingston, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Tom Carter 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson (captain).
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 Sitaleki Timani, 19 Lopeti Timani, 20 Jono Jenkins, 21 Sarel Pretorius, 22 Daniel Halangahu.

Sharks: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel (captain), 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Jandre Marais, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Wiehan Herbst, 18 Steven Sykes, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Frederic Michalak, 21 Marius Joubert, 22 Louis Ludik.

Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ian Smith (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
TMO: Matt Goddard (Australia)

By Paul Dobson