AFP/Sydney
Defending champions New South Wales Waratahs hung on for a scrappy 18-16 Super Rugby win over the committed Melbourne Rebels in Sydney yesterday.
The Waratahs looked in control of their Australian derby at Sydney’s Olympic stadium with a 13-0 lead, but wayward goalkicking by Bernard Foley and the never-say-die Rebels made for a gripping duel in the second half.
The Sydneysiders prevailed as the Rebels made an error with the ball in the fourth minute of added on time after the siren to trail the ACT Brumbies by four points in the Australian conference.
The Waratahs scored three tries to one, but fly-half Foley could manage only one penalty goal from five attempts as Jack Debreczeni kept the Rebels in the contest with three long range penalties and a conversion.
It was far from a convincing performance from the Waratahs, while the Rebels continue to prove a tough nut to crack after upsetting the Brumbies in Canberra last week.
Wallaby flanker Michael Hooper scored behind a driving maul in the ninth minute and the Waratahs were in again when Adam Ashley-Cooper finished off a lovely set play involving Kurtley Beale and Hooper in the 20th minute.
But the Rebels fought back to trail 13-3 at half-time and continued to unsettle the Waratah defence in the second half.
Debreczeni kicked the Rebels to trail 13-9 before Wallabies winger Rob Horne carried over three tacklers to squeeze inside the corner post in the 60th minute for an 18-9 lead.
But the Rebels continued to press for their first win in Sydney and replacement back Bryce Hegarty finished off a flowing move after a midfield break by Mitch Inman.
Debreczeni’s conversion had the Rebels trailing by two points with six minutes left as the Waratahs avoided conceding a kickable penalty in the dying stages.
A bloodied Waratahs skipper Dave Dennis said his side had allowed the Rebels to play their way back into the Anzac Day contest.
“We controlled the game well in patches, but we probably dropped our heads a little bit when we didn’t have the ball and didn’t stay at it and allowed them to play a bit too much rugby,” Dennis said.
“I thought our game management in the last five minutes was good, we were smart about what we did and he (Debreczeni) kicked well, so we were cautious about it as well.”
Rebels skipper Scott Higginbotham said it was bitter-sweet to settle for the losing bonus point.
“It’s disappointing. After a woeful first half the boys did well to get their heads up and really give it a crack in the second half and it was just a lack of execution in the end,” he said.
The Waratahs face the Brumbies in Canberra next weekend, while the Rebels host the Waikato Chiefs.
Action from New South Wales Waratahs-Melbourne Rebels match.
