Super Rugby
Physical Waratahs take grand final rematch
Sam Bruce
May 23, 2015
Date/Time: May 23, 2015, 19:40 local, 09:40 GMT
Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney
New South Wales Waratahs 32 - 22 Crusaders
Half-time: 17 - 8
Tries: Foley, Horne, Naiyaravoro 2
Cons: Foley 3
Pens: Foley 2
Tries: McCaw, Nadolo, Todd
Cons: Carter 2
Pens: Carter
The Waratahs' Taqele Naiyaravoro flies in for a try, Waratahs v Crusaders, Sydney, May 23, 2015
The Waratahs' Taqele Naiyaravoro flies in for a try
© Getty Images
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New South Wales Waratahs have repeated their victory over the Crusaders from last year's epic Super Rugby decider, emerging victorious in another gripping encounter at ANZ Stadium.

The 2014 champions recovered from a disastrous start to record a 10-point win which leaves the Crusaders' semi-final hopes on life support, and moves the Waratahs above the Brumbies in the Australian conference.

Coach Michael Cheika may have a couple of judiciary cases on his hands from what was a physical game however, with both hooker Tolu Latu and lock Will Skelton involved in off-the-ball incidents.

Waratahs 32-22 Crusaders (Australia only)

The defending champions could not have made a more inglorious start as winger Taqele Naiyaravoro knocked on from the kick-off, gifting the Crusaders an immediate attacking opportunity. And it was one the visitors wouldn't waste as they worked the ball through a number of phases before fly-half Colin Slade put Fijian star, and former Waratahs squad member, Nemani Nadolo over in the corner. Dan Carter couldn't land the conversion from the touchline but it was otherwise the dream start for the seven-time champions.

The response from the hosts was almost immediate however and it would be Naiyaravoro, the villain from the kick-off, who would touch down out wide. The winger, who is believed to have signed to play in Scotland with Glasgow, put the finishing touches on some sharp handling from the Waratahs as well as some excellent runs from both Israel Folau and Nick Phipps; the code-hopping full-back providing the final pass for Naiyaravoro's five-pointer. Fly-half Bernard Foley managed to slot the conversion from the touchline to give the Waratahs a 7-5 lead after eight minutes.

The furious opening to the match continued as the Crusaders rumbled their way to the Waratahs' line with a powerful rolling maul. All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw was ruled to have been held up over the line by the Television Match Official but referee Marius van der Westhuizen came back for a penalty which Carter slotted for an 8-7 lead. Crusaders skipper Kieran Read remonstrated with van der Westhuizen about a possible penalty try but, somewhat luckily, the Waratahs were punished with just the three points.

There was no sign of the action abating but where the opening 15 minutes had been all about attacking rugby, an incident in the 17th minute was all about discipline. The Waratahs should have been making the most of a lineout 40 metres out from the Crusaders' line but the TMO was again called into action to check a lifting tackle; the fourth official eventually ruling Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu had lifted Sam Whitelock beyond the horizontal and recommended a yellow card, and the NSW rake could probably count himself lucky it wasn't a different shade with replays appearing to show a punch as well.

Oddly enough it was the Waratahs who were next to score as Foley, who's endured an indifferent year in front of the sticks, split the uprights on 20 minutes. And It would only get better for the home side a few moments later, too, as winger Rob Horne swooped on a loose ball and sprinted 60 metres to score the Waratahs' second try. A poor pass from Carter was grassed by Slade and, with no fullback at home, Horne had a free run to the line which turned into 17-8 lead after Foley added the extras.

The Waratahs had managed to come out 10 points to the good while Latu was in the bin and they very nearly increased their lead just after his return. A thumping hit from Dave Dennis forced Carter to spill the ball which was picked up by flanker Stephen Hoiles, who delivered a superb pop pass to keep the play rolling. The ball was soon shifted to Foley who touched down in the corner but, upon checking with the TMO, the try was denied due to a knock-on from Dennis in the hit that started the sequence. There was just one more scoring opportunity for the half as Folau went within metres of the try-line, the full-back spilling the ball to keep the margin at nine points at the break.

The Waratahs would be first on the board after the break as they continued their momentum from late in the first half to push deep into Crusaders territory. Outside-centre Adam Ashley-Cooper came close to scoring out wide but the hosts were forced to settle for three points as the Crusaders were penalised at the breakdown.

If he hadn't already done so, Naiyaravoro more than made up for his opening blunder when he crossed for his second try on 51 minutes. Again much of the good work had been done closer in as the likes of Michael Hooper and Sekope Kepu made strong runs but, just like the winger's opening five-pointer, it was Folau who provided the final pass for a 25-8 lead.

Just when it looked like the Crusaders were finished, the Waratahs offered up a second golden opportunity of the match as a Nick Phipps clearing pass missed its intended target and rolled into the in-goal area; fortunately for the home side, Folau was there to clean it up but his kick was charged down giving the Crusaders a five-metre scrum. The visitors wasted no time in accepting the chance as Nadolo picked up an inside ball from Carter, and bobbled a pass to veteran Richie McCaw who touched down right under the black dot. Carter added the extras to reduce the gap to 10 points.

The Crusaders will likely need to win their final three games to make the play-offs © Getty Images
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Waratahs lock Skelton was treading a fine line discipline wise as he launched a shoulder charge into the back of McCaw; the towering second-rower escaped a yellow card on review to the TMO but could well hear more about the hit from in the coming days.

The momentum had certainly shifted to the visitors and they would set up a thrilling final 15 minutes when their second rolling maul attempt came up trumps. Again well set from a line-out, the Crusaders rumbled their way to the line with Matt Todd eventually awarded the try after referee van der Westhuizen took some time to find a grounding. Carter's conversion left the gap at just three points in a match that was beginning to look a lot like last year's decider.

The Waratahs then missed the chance to set up a driving maul of their own from close range as Crusaders lock Sam Whitelock managed to get his hands on the ball to force the turnover. But the visitors were unable to clear from the scrum and, with the ball loose on the ground, McCaw was ruled to have committed a cynical foul and was sent to the sin bin for the final 10 minutes.

The hosts first missed the opportunity to seal victory as another rolling maul was nullified, allowing the Crusaders to clear. But they would secure the five points through Foley four minutes from time, the fly-half chipping for himself and then regathering to slide over for the Waratahs' bonus-point try.

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