Israel Folau marked his return from a three-week injury layoff with a try in the opening minute as the New South Wales Waratahs beat the Bulls 19-12 in Sydney yesterday.
AFP/Sydney
Israel Folau marked his return from a three-week injury layoff with a try in the opening minute as the New South Wales Waratahs ended their eight-year losing streak against the Bulls with a 19-12 win in Sydney on Saturday.
The fullback, who had been out with a throat problem, took less than 30 seconds to score his ninth try of the season, picking up an inside pass from Adam Ashley-Cooper to cross under the posts.
Bernard Foley also contributed 14 points with the boot as the much-needed victory, after two defeats in their previous three starts, lifted the Waratahs into second place in the Australian conference behind the Brumbies.
The home side, who had lost all eight meetings against the Bulls since 2006, went into the break leading 13-6 and held on for a gutsy win to hand the visitors their fifth defeat this year.
Elsewhere, Waikato Chiefs flyhalf Gareth Anscombe failed with a last minute 52 metre penalty as the Canterbury Crusaders hung on for a 18-17 win over the defending Super Rugby champions in Hamilton yesterday.
Anscombe’s effort after the siren came up just short and left of the sticks to hand the Crusaders their fifth win of the campaign after flyhalf Colin Slade landed six penalties.
The Crusaders opened up an early 9-3 lead but Tom Marshall’s try just before the break gave the hosts a 17-9 advantage, with the Crusaders losing their way after New Zealand forward Kieran Read was forced off with concussion and lock Dominic Bird was shown a yellow card.
They rebounded, though, in the second period with Slade knocking over the winning penalty from 25 metres out with eight minutes remaining to hand the New Zealand conference leaders their second defeat in eight games.