ID :
52635
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 08:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/52635
The shortlink copeid
Tahs go top with victory over the Blues
The NSW Waratahs broke an 80-year hoodoo to shoot to the top of the Super 14 ladder with a landmark 27-22 victory over the Blues on Friday night.
The Waratahs hadn't won at Auckland's Eden Park since the 1920s but buried their
demons in style to revive their title hopes after back-to-back losses to the
Brumbies and Crusaders had threatened to derail their 2009 campaign.
Chris Hickey's decision to hand Daniel Halangahu his first start of the season, at
the expense of star five-eighth Kurtley Beale, proved a coaching masterstroke.
In addition to adding a steadying hand - and boot - to the NSW backline, Halangahu
contributed 17 points for the Tahs from a try, three conversions and two penalties.
With both sides scoring three tries, Halangahu's five goals from six attempts
ultimately proved the difference.
The Waratahs made a dream start, racing to a 10-0 lead in as many minutes - with all
the early points coming from Halangahu.
After some relentless attack inside Blues territory, Halangahu dummied his way over
for the opening try from close range in the seventh minute.
He landed the conversion, then added a penalty goal before the Blues struck back in
the 17th minute with a 60-metre try to winger Anthony Tuitavake.
From a scrum win, the Blues quickly shifted the ball right to Tuitavake, who fended
off Waratahs centre Rob Horne and shimmied past fullback Sam Norton-Knight before
racing away to score.
Halfback Luke Burgess extended NSW's lead to 17-5 in the 27th minute with an
intercept try from after a Blues scrum win close to their own line.
The Waratahs were reduced to 14 men on the half hour when Wycliff Palu was
sin-binned for a deliberate knock-down, allowing the Blues to narrow the deficit to
nine points through a Jimmy Gopperth penalty.
The visitors suffered another setback early in the second half, with Burgess forced
off with a leg injury.
Flanker Onosa'i Auva'a edged the Blues to within two points of the Waratahs when he
capitalised on a botched NSW lineout to score the home team's second try in the 50th
minute.
The Waratahs, though, rebounded quickly with hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau - with the
support of his driving forward pack - charging over to restore NSW's nine-point
lead.
Halangahu made it 27-15 with another penalty before a converted try to Blues
replacement Michael Hobbs set up a tense final 10 minutes for the Waratahs.
The Waratahs hadn't won at Auckland's Eden Park since the 1920s but buried their
demons in style to revive their title hopes after back-to-back losses to the
Brumbies and Crusaders had threatened to derail their 2009 campaign.
Chris Hickey's decision to hand Daniel Halangahu his first start of the season, at
the expense of star five-eighth Kurtley Beale, proved a coaching masterstroke.
In addition to adding a steadying hand - and boot - to the NSW backline, Halangahu
contributed 17 points for the Tahs from a try, three conversions and two penalties.
With both sides scoring three tries, Halangahu's five goals from six attempts
ultimately proved the difference.
The Waratahs made a dream start, racing to a 10-0 lead in as many minutes - with all
the early points coming from Halangahu.
After some relentless attack inside Blues territory, Halangahu dummied his way over
for the opening try from close range in the seventh minute.
He landed the conversion, then added a penalty goal before the Blues struck back in
the 17th minute with a 60-metre try to winger Anthony Tuitavake.
From a scrum win, the Blues quickly shifted the ball right to Tuitavake, who fended
off Waratahs centre Rob Horne and shimmied past fullback Sam Norton-Knight before
racing away to score.
Halfback Luke Burgess extended NSW's lead to 17-5 in the 27th minute with an
intercept try from after a Blues scrum win close to their own line.
The Waratahs were reduced to 14 men on the half hour when Wycliff Palu was
sin-binned for a deliberate knock-down, allowing the Blues to narrow the deficit to
nine points through a Jimmy Gopperth penalty.
The visitors suffered another setback early in the second half, with Burgess forced
off with a leg injury.
Flanker Onosa'i Auva'a edged the Blues to within two points of the Waratahs when he
capitalised on a botched NSW lineout to score the home team's second try in the 50th
minute.
The Waratahs, though, rebounded quickly with hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau - with the
support of his driving forward pack - charging over to restore NSW's nine-point
lead.
Halangahu made it 27-15 with another penalty before a converted try to Blues
replacement Michael Hobbs set up a tense final 10 minutes for the Waratahs.
