Waratahs answers their critics with come from behind victory over Rebels
This was the 300th Super Rugby game for the Waratahs and they celebrated in style – at least in the second half.
The Rebels arrived in Sydney on a winning streak, but the fact it was 37 degrees at kick off made both sides cautious at Allianz Stadium.
But the visitors settled quickest, with Tom English going over for five points after some careless play by the Waratahs.
Ten minutes later the Waratahs got on the scoreboard with a penalty from Bernard Foley – the first of many, many points from him today.
A penalty from Reece Hodge and a try from Amanaki Mafi followed by a Hodge conversion, left the Rebels leading 15-3 and looking like their early season form would continue. When Jack Maddocks scored another try for the Melburnians three minutes from half-time, it looked like this game was only going to end one way.
But Lalakai Foketi scored a try with a minute to go, Foley converted and the half-time score was Waratahs 10-20 Rebels.
By four minutes into the second half Rob Simmons had scored a fine try for the Waratahs, Foley converted and we had a contest on our hands.
More home team trys from Mitch Short, Bryce Hegarty and Taqele Naiyaravoro, along with conversions and penalties from Foley, meant the game ran away from the Rebels.
There was a consolation try from Matthew Philip, but the game was long over before Taqele Naiyaravoro scored his second try in the 79th minute. Foley converted, the final siren sounded and the Waratahs’ sparkling second half had reaped a deserved reward.
Final score: Waratahs 51-27 Rebels
What a second half that was. The Waratahs were just superb.
TRY! Another great score from Taqele Naiyaravoro
80 min: That’s a double for Taqele Naiyaravoro, putting the Rebels to the sword. Bernard Foley converts, the siren sounds and it’s all over.
77 min: Israel Folau is off. He had a fairly quiet game (as you will have noted, seeing as this is the first time I’ve mentioned him today). Rebels just need to be put out of their misery now.
Foley scores another penalty: Waratahs 44-27 Rebels
73 min: Penalty for a late hit on Foley. He takes his time about taking it, but makes no mistake when he does. The Victorians are not going to come back from this deficit.
71 min: God, that scrum took forever, having to be reformed three times. Waratahs seem content to hold onto the ball and wind the clock down now.
68 min: Hodge took his eye off the ball – from a Foley kick – for a moment and knocked on. Scrum to the Waratahs.
67 min: Both sides are looking tired which, given the heat and the mostly frenetic pace in the past 20 minutes is not surprising.
TRY! Rebels score and set the game up for an exciting finish
63 min: Lock Matthew Philip scores after the Rebels make a concerted effort to claw their way back into this game. The conversion brings the score to: Waratahs 41-27 Rebels. There is life in this game yet.
61 min: The siren has sounded for another break. The visitors are looking like Rebels without a cause at the moment. I don’t think even James Dean’s flair could save them now, though.
TRY! Taqele Naiyaravoro scores for the Tahs
58 min: Taqele Naiyaravoro scores a superb try. One of the trys of the season so far. And that man Foley converts beautifully. This is becoming a rout, which seemed most unlikely in the first half. Why haven’t the Waratahs played this well previously this season? Waratahs 41-20 Rebels.
TRY! Waratahs in control
56 min: Bryce Hegarty scores in the corner with help from Beale and Foley. The latter hits the upright, but it still goes over. Such is the way the luck is running in this game. Waratahs 34-20 Rebels.
54 min: A tackle in the air relieves a brief moment of Rebels pressure on the Waratahs.
53 min: Foley scores a penalty from distance after taking a really long time to take it. Not surprising in the heat. No one is complaining at the chance to have a quick rest. Waratahs 27-20 Rebels.
TRY! Waratahs take the lead
49 min: What was I just saying? Mitch Short scores under the posts after fine play from the Waratahs and Foley converts. Waratahs 24-20 Rebels. This really is a game of two halves, so far.
48 min: The Rebels have kick from the 22. They need to find some rhythm because the second half so far has been all about the Waratahs.
46 min: Foley knocks on under pressure from Hodge, but this is much better from the Waratahs. Their half-time talk has worked wonders.
TRY! That's more like it from the Waratahs
44 min: I spoke too soon. Rob Simmons scores a fine try for the Waratahs, Foley converts and the home side are right back in this contest. Waratahs 17-20 Rebels.
Peep! Second half under way
41 min: Bit of ping pong between Beale and Genia to get the second half off to a dull, slow start. As is required in this heat.
Half-time: Waratahs 10-20 Rebels
40 min: Both sides will be looking forward to a break given how hot it is out there. And I’m taking a quick break too. Back soon.
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TRY! Waratahs finally show some class
39 min: Lalakai Foketi scores a fine try, just when I’d given up on the Waratahs. Bernard Foley converts.
38 min: Reece Hodge misses the conversion, but the Rebels are leading 20-3 and are not flattered by the score.
TRY! Rebels score again
37 min: Jack Maddocks gets on the scoreboard. When the Tahs have the ball they are wasting it. The Rebels are not.
34 min: Waratahs have had 90% of possession in the last five minutes, and 99% of the last five minutes has been played in the Rebels’ half, but it all comes to nothing as the visitors get a penalty and clear the ball.
33 min: Scrum to the Waratahs close to the Rebels line. Some good play from the home team through the phases here. But can they get some more points on the board before half-time?
31 min: It has been a while since I’ve seen Will Genia play. When did he get his hair done in the plaits? It’s pretty cool.
29 min: Reece Hodge converts and the Rebels are leading 15-3.
TRY! Mafi scores for the Rebels
27 min: Amanaki Mafi runs 60 metres to score. Unstoppable once he got that ball.
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27 min: Good clearing kick from Genia relieves the pressure. Kepu is getting more treatment and the ref asks him if he’s staying on the pitch.
26 min: Sekope Kepu was down injured off the pitch and got treatment, but he’s back on now, much to the Waratahs relief.
25 min: Genia gives away a penalty, but Foley hits the post.
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Waratahs 3-8 Rebels
23 min: Reece Hodge scores a penalty. And I’ve noticed the ground is so empty that it looks like every one there is going to get their moment on the giant screen at some point.
21 min: We’ve just heard that Haylett-Petty has failed and will not return in this game. Hopefully he recovers quickly.
20 min: Reece Hodge is not impressed that he is judged not to have got the ball down. No try. It’s the correct decision though.
There is a quick water break now, so hot is it out there. Players are both drinking water and pouring it over themselves.
19 min: Fine defensive play from the Waratahs prevents the rolling maul from becoming a second try conceded.
17 min: Rebels piling on the pressure through the phases, but Genia has just kicked for touch.
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Waratahs are on the scoreboard! Waratahs 3-5 Rebels
16 min: The ever reliable Bernard Foley scores the penalty.
15 min: Penalty to the Waratahs for not releasing.
14 min: Billy Meakes is on for Haylett-Petty, who is gone off for a HIA. I don’t think he will be back this game.
14 min: The game has been stopped during play due to an injury to Dane Haylett-Petty of the Rebels. The referee said he had to stop it for “player safety”. He does not look well. Concussion probably.
13 min: Will Genia has had a strong start to the game for the Rebels, as he’s had a strong start to this season in general.
11 min: Another scrum for the Rebels. Their front row weighs 345 kilso, while the Waratahs front row weights in at 330.
9 min: Nice work by Kurtley Beale as the game steps up with a little bit of pace.
7 min: Knock on by Foley and a scrum to the Rebels. How hot will that scrum be? The Rebels pack weighs 936 kilos against 878 kilos for the Waratahs.
6 min: Reece Hodge hits the post and misses the conversion. Waratahs 0-5 Rebels.
TRY! Rebels take the lead
5 min: Tom English goes over for five points after some careless play by the Waratahs.
3 min: A slow game so far. The teams are playing like they are in a cauldron. Which they are.
Peep! Waratahs v Rebels is under way.
1 min: The ground is sparsely populated. It looks like the ferocious heat is keeping people away in their droves.
Rebels line-up.
Introducing your Rebels to take on the @NSWWaratahs pic.twitter.com/dCm0xTZWHW
— Melbourne Rebels (@MelbourneRebels) March 16, 2018
Waratahs line-up
So the Waratahs team v Rebels on Sunday will be thus ... pic.twitter.com/pnXMVV4GlQ
— Iain Payten (@iainpayten) March 16, 2018
It’s 37 degrees in Allianz Stadium. Not what you expect at this stage of autumn. Nor did we expect the Rebels to be coming here on a roll, but on a roll they are.
It’s ladies day at the Waratahs on Sunday and their women’s side beat the Western Force women 32-10.
This is the 300th Super Rugby game for the Waratahs, by the way. An auspicious occasion. But if we learnt anything from Billy Slater’s 300th NRL game last night, some times things just don’t go to plan.
It’s one Wallaby in, one Wallaby out, for the Rebels who are attempting a clean sweep of Australian teams today.
Rebels lock and skipper Adam Coleman returns from a sternum injury, but fellow Wallaby, hooker Jordan Uelese, is out with a hamstring injury.
Test winger Marika Koroibete couldn’t be denied a starting jersey after his barnstorming display off the bench in his return from injury last round, with Sefa Naivalu relegated.
Queensland’s Super Rugby renaissance has continued with a stirring 18-7 victory over the Jaguares in Buenos Aires, their third win in a row. Nice way to put some pressure on the Waratahs and the Rebels.
And here is the best about Sydney. OK, they were originally a Brisbane band, but the Go-Betweens recorded this song in Sydney, and filmed the video there, so I’m claiming it as a Sydney song.
Melbourne and Sydney have been blessed with great songs written about them. Here’s one of the best written about the former.
Preamble
Good afternoon rugby fans, and welcome to the Waratahs v Rebels live blog. While I go check the latest team news, have a read of our coverage of the St Patrick’s day massacre that was Ireland’s Six Nations grand slam victory over England.
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