Waratahs edge Rebels in wet Sydney
The Waratahs held off a desperate late charge by the Rebels to edge their rivals 18-16 in a Super Rugby encounter in a very wet Sydney on Saturday.
The win, albeit fortuitous, kept the Waratahs in the play-off race.
The storm that hovered over Sydney most of Saturday turned the second half into lottery, with the rebels coming back from 3-13 at the half-time break to just fall short by those two points in the end - a knock-on ending their final charge.
The Waratahs looked in control of their Australian derby at Sydney's Olympic stadium with a 13-0 lead, but wayward goal-kicking by Bernard Foley and the never-say-die Rebels made for a gripping duel in the second half.
The Sydneysiders prevailed as the Rebels made an error with the ball in the fourth minute of added on time after the siren to trail the Brumbies by four points in the Australian conference.
The Waratahs scored three tries to one, but flyhalf Foley could manage only one penalty goal from five attempts as Jack Debreczeni kept the Rebels in the contest with three long range penalties and a conversion.
It was far from a convincing performance from the Waratahs, while the Rebels continue to prove a tough nut to crack after upsetting the Brumbies in Canberra last week.
Wallaby flank Michael Hooper scored behind a driving maul in the ninth minute and the Waratahs were in again when Adam Ashley-Cooper finished off a lovely set play involving Kurtley Beale and Hooper in the 20th minute.
Debreczeni kicked the Rebels to trail 9-13 before Wallabies wing Rob Horne carried over three tacklers to squeeze inside the corner post in the 60th minute for an 18-9 lead.
But the Rebels continued to press for their first win in Sydney and replacement back Bryce Hegarty finished off a flowing move after a midfield break by Mitch Inman.
Debreczeni's conversion had the Rebels trailing by two points with six minutes left as the Waratahs avoided conceding a kickable penalty in the dying stages.
A bloodied Waratahs skipper Dave Dennis said his side had allowed the Rebels to play their way back into the ANZAC Day contest.
"We controlled the game well in patches, but we probably dropped our heads a little bit when we didn't have the ball and didn't stay at it and allowed them to play a bit too much rugby," Dennis said.
"I thought our game management in the last five minutes was good, we were smart about what we did and he [Debreczeni] kicked well, so we were cautious about it as well."
Rebels skipper Scott Higginbotham said it was bitter-sweet to settle for the losing bonus point.
"It's disappointing. After a woeful first half the boys did well to get their heads up and really give it a crack in the second half and it was just a lack of execution in the end," he said.
The Waratahs face the Brumbies in Canberra next weekend, while the Rebels host the Chiefs.
Man of the match: Jack Debreczeni kept the Rebels in the hunt with his boot, Nic Stirzaker was energetic, Scott Higginbotham worked hard and Jordy Reid made an impact off the bench - as he always does. Kurtley Beale had his moments in the first half, Michael Hooper was a constant threat at the breakdown and Paddy Ryan made a massive impact off the bench. However, our award goes to the Waratahs' South African import Jacques Potgieter - the kind of abrasive loose forward you just don't find in Australia. He was central to the 13-0 lead they build up in the first quarter, an advantage that proved crucial in the final wash-up.
Scorers:
Tries: Hooper, Ashley-Cooper, Horne
Pen: Foley
For the Rebels:
Try: Hegarty
Con: Debreczeni
Pens: Debreczeni 3
Yellow card: Sefanaia Naivalu (Rebels, 26 - professional foul, slowing down the ball)
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Peter Betham, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Dave Dennis (captain), 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Jacques Potgieter, 5 Mitch Chapman, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Wycliff Palu, 20 Stephen Hoiles, 21 Brendan McKibbin, 22 Matt Carraro, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro.
Rebels: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Sefanaia Naivalu, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Nic Stirzaker, 8 Scott Higginbotham (co-captain), 7 Scott Fuglistaller (co-captain), 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Cadeyrn Neville, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Pat Leafa, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Tom Sexton, 17 Cruze Ah-Nau, 18 Tim Metcher, 19 Sam Jeffries, 20 Colby Fainga'a, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Jordy Reid, 23 Bryce Hegarty.
Referee: Rohan Hoffman
Assistant referees: James Leckie, Ed Martin
TMO: George Ayoub