Two moments of sheer willpower – and the rarely seen kicking smarts of a veteran forward – helped the Waratahs snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium and keep alive their finals hopes with five rounds remaining.
After leading at half-time, the Waratahs fell apart in the second half, conceded two tries and looked headed for a dispiriting defeat against the Kiwis. But after mounting an attack on the Highlanders line in the last 10 minutes, the Waratahs banged away with forwards until reserve hooker Mahe Vailanu barged his way over the paint in the 78th minute.
Ben Donaldson nailed the conversion – ridding himself of the demons of his Test debut in Italy – and the Waratahs won by a single point, 21-20. The Tahs’ third victory of the year saw them move up into the top eight, and Waratahs players celebrated after the final hooter like they’d won a final.
Earlier in the game, Izzy Perese had helped the Tahs establish a first-half lead after scoring an incredible solo try where he bounced off four defenders and carried Aaron Smith around his ankle and still got across the line.
Veteran forward Michael Hooper also chipped in with a moment of skill that led to a try, but with a rarely sighted kick. After a turnover, Hooper picked the ball up and grubbered for a 50-22, and the Waratahs scored through Lalakai Foketi soon after.
The Waratahs led 14-6 at half-time after a tightly fought opening half that saw the hosts only stop defending for brief displays of attacking willpower.
Izaia Perese powers over to score in the first half.Credit: Getty
Returning from a calf injury, No.8 Langi Gleeson almost scored in the second minute when he hit a flat ball and burst through the Highlanders’ line. A desperate tackle from fullback Connor Garden-Bachop stopped Gleeson short of the line, but it looked like it only be a matter of minutes before NSW cracked the Highlanders’ defence.
Only they didn’t. The Kiwis maintained possession for the next 15 minutes and hammered away at NSW’s defence, but it held firm, with strength in contact and discipline.
In the 17th minute, the Waratahs finally found themselves in the Highlanders’ quarter and Jake Gordon gave an inside ball to Perese about 10 metres out. He was wrapped up but in a remarkable feat of strength, Perese stubbornly refused to submit, and with Aaron Smith hanging onto one leg, Perese pushed forward and beat another four men to dive over and score.
NSW’s ill-discipline at the ruck undid most of their lead, with Sam Gilbert nailing two penalties, but the blue wall continued to repel the Highlanders’ attack, with Dave Porecki, in particular, effecting multiple dominant tackles.
Langi Gleeson charges with the ball.Credit: Getty
The pressure told, and some wily old fox smarts from Hooper after a turnover led to a second try. Hooper picked up a loose ball in his own half and grubbered it for a 50-22, and a lineout throw.
From the next set of phases, a run and pop almost on the Highlanders’ line from Gordon found Taleni Seu, who also offloaded in contact. Foketi was on hand to take the pass and dive over from close range.
The second half turned out to be a much different story. The Waratahs’ scrum began to get beaten up, after conceding a scrum penalty, Harry Johnson-Holmes missed a tackle soon after gave the Highlanders a five-metre lineout. They rolled it in for their first try of the night through Ethan de Groot.
More unforced errors in attack gifted the Highlanders another try. After kicking away aimlessly on attack, the Waratahs took a kick and Dylan Pietsch lost the ball trying to pass in contact. Smith kicked a 50-22, and then scored from close range in the ensuing play.
To make matters worse, a frustrated Foketi was binned for a tip tackle and the Tahs looked in massive trouble.
But they gathered their composure just in time and scored the late match-winner.
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