Super Rugby
Waratahs battle past Brumbies in physical derby
ESPN Staff
May 1, 2015
Date/Time: May 1, 2015, 19:40 local, 09:40 GMT
Venue: Canberra Stadium
Brumbies 10 - 13 New South Wales Waratahs
Half-time: 10 - 7
Tries: Tomane
Cons: Leali'ifano
Pens: Leali'ifano
Tries: Ashley-Cooper
Cons: Foley
Pens: Beale, Foley
The Waratahs' Michael Hooper charges at the defence, Brumbies v Waratahs, Canberra, May 1, 2015
The Waratahs' Michael Hooper charges at the defence
© Getty Images
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New South Wales Waratahs have moved to within one point of the Australian conference lead following a hard-fought victory over bitter rivals the Brumbies.

A physical local derby was expected and that was exactly what transpired as the two sides battled each other ferociously throughout the 80 minutes. The No.7 battle between Wallabies rivals Michael Hooper and David Pocock certainly didn't disappoint either with the Waratahs man probably shading his rival in the first 40 only for the senior combatant to leave his mark after the break. But it was Hooper and the Waratahs who would walk away smiling, Michael Cheika's side closing the gap on the Brumbies at the top of the Aussie standings with a game up their sleeve.

"A classic Brumbies-Tahs game, I think," Waratahs captain Dave Dennis told Fox Sports. "We didn't get much flow, but we defended really well, even with a man down. That's where we probably won the game. Really pleasing to come down here and get the result."

The Waratahs defeat the Brumbies in a physical local derby (Australia only)

Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham was left to lament some missed second-half opportunities but paid tribute to the Waratahs' defence.

"We certainly had a few chances in the second-half there but the Waratahs defended really well," he said. "They put pressure on us, they were hard at the breakdown when they needed to be and they had really good line speed there, and they forced us into a few mistakes."

The Waratahs were rocked early when hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau was collected in a high tackle and forced off with concussion. The visitors' handling was poor early on, too, despite the fine conditions on offer in Canberra.

And they were made to pay for it on just eight minutes as Christian Leali'ifano got the Brumbies inside the Waratahs' 22 with a superb run. A couple of forward runs kept the momentum going before centre Robbie Coleman floated a beautiful cut-out pass to winger Joe Tomane who tip-toed down the touchline for the game's first try. Leali'ifano added the extras from wide out, giving the Brumbies the perfect start at GIO Stadium.

But their advantage wouldn't last long as the Waratahs' much-vaunted attacking game clicked into gear. The visitors swept up-field via a strong run from Israel Folau, the Waratahs then retaining possession as the likes of Will Skelton and replacement hooker Tolu Latu got involved. The try would go to the backs however as half-back Nick Phipps floated a pass out to centre Adam Ashley-Cooper, the Wallabies veteran strolling over untouched.

Responsible for all three tries of Pocock's hat-trick last week, the rolling maul was always going to be high on the Brumbies agenda again. But their first attempt came to no avail as they knocked on just five metres out; the hosts having spurned a regulation three points to push for the try on 19 minutes. Another penalty opportunity went begging just a couple of minutes later, too, Leali'ifano pushing a simple attempt to the right of the posts.

The Brumbies would eventually get out to a 10-7 lead on 28 minutes after the Waratahs were penalised at the scrum, Leali'ifano this time successful with his trademark right-to-left draw. A couple of penalties in quick succession got the Waratahs into some decent field positon, the second of which gave Bernard Foley the chance to level the scores. But the Waratahs fly-half was off target as well in what was a worrying repeat of last week's poor goal-kicking display against the Rebels.

Mistakes dominated the remainder of the first half from there as the Waratahs were unable to capitalise on a period of sustained possession; a final forward pass from Kurtley Beale capping a disjointed 40 minutes from the visitors.

The defending champions almost made the ideal start to the second stanza as Beale scooted down the touch-line and put a kick in for Folau to chase; but Brumbies full-back Jesse Mogg out-sprinted his opposite number to get back and force the ball in goal. The visitors had certainly started the stronger after the break and they earned three points for their dominance when Ben Alexander was penalised for off-side; Beale taking over the goal-kicking duties from Foley to level the scores at 10-all after 48 minutes.

Christian Leali'ifano had a strong game at fly-half for the Brumbies © Getty Images
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The game had threatened the boilover at times and the physicality of the contest ensured that continued to be the case as South African Jacques Potgieter - who was fined for homophobic slurs in the corresponding clash in Sydney earlier this year - and his opposing flanker Scott Fardy exchanged words. The visitors appeared to just be getting on top however and they would take the lead for the first time as the game neared the hour mark as Foley grabbed the kicking tee back from Beale and nailed a penalty from just right of the posts.

The Brumbies eventually got their hands on the ball and slowly edged their way into Waratahs territory. The hosts were then given a perfect opportunity to use their rolling maul and this time it worked; there was no try, but a promising drive forced Rob Horne to enter from the side and referee Glen Jackson had little hesitation in sending the Waratahs winger to the sin-bin. Larkham's side were unable to take immediate advantage of Horne's yellow card though as they coughed up possession and allowed the Waratahs to clear.

The Waratahs had done well to slow the game down in Horne's absence but the Brumbies kept on coming and they went within a couple of metres of scoring in the left-hand corner through Mogg on 74 minutes. Centre Tevita Kuridrani created the opportunity with a fine offload for Coleman but the diminutive centre's pass was spilled by Mogg and the try went begging.

The hosts were given one final chance to snatch the victory when they were awarded a penalty at the scrum inside the final minute. They again went for the line and the rolling maul but the Waratahs were able to bring the drive down legally, before prop Benn Robinson secured a penalty for the Waratahs at the breakdown a few phases later.

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