Summary
“We probably played the best half of our season in the first half, and then our worst in the second.”
That was the full-time review from the departing Lima Sopoaga. He was certainly the standout player in the first forty, but he’ll leave the Highlanders on a low note.
Three converted tries while the Dunedin-side were reduced to fourteen after Naiholo’s high shot on Kepu in the 50th minute. But was the Waratahs revival lurking from the first whistle of the second half?
Tolu Latu came on at the break to immediate effect, and where in the first half a Waratahs played toed at a loose ball, in the second half it was Nick Phipps diving on a breakdown in play that helped change their fortunes.
Experienced heads like Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley became more prominent; Israel Folau - a virtual bystander in the first thirty minutes or so - was suddenly finding space and exploiting a stretched Highlanders backline.
And yet for all that, the Highlanders were perhaps only centimetres away from parity, as Shannon Frizzell’s late try attempt was shown to have just missed the white line - a try that could have forced extra-time.
A dramatic comeback, and a crucial win to keep an Australian side alive in the Super Rugby finals. The Waratahs await the outcome of the Lions v Jaguares game, and will either be South Africa-bound or back in front of their own fans.
Thanks for your company, emails and tweets tonight - apologies we could include more as that second half exploded to life.
The dream remains alive for Darryl Gibson and his men, as the Waratahs chase their second Super Rugby crown.
The commentators aren’t shy in calling this “one of the greatest games in Waratahs history”.
In fairness a) they’re all former Wallabies, and b) let’s face it; it’s been a pretty lean run.
Do you agree with that?
Your on-the-whistle thoughts on that one?!
Where did it go wrong for the Highlanders? Was it just Naiholo’s yellow? Was it that crucial intercept from Naiyaravoro in the 50th minute?
Or was it simply a case of the Waratahs lifting and wresting back the momentum in that second half?
Updated
Full-time: Waratahs 30-23 Highlanders
80 min: And they’ve hung on! Can you believe that! What a tale of two halves that was. Their scrum holds up and they kick to touch just as the hooter sounds. And that - is all she wrote.
Huge involvement from some of their senior players, Phipps, Foley, Beale and Folau to get them home, the Waratahs. Fifty odd minutes gone they were utterly dead and buried.
Updated
78 min: Waratahs frantically clear their line again, but they don’t get much purchase on the kick. Highlanders come again; but B. Smith tries the tap pass to switch it wide, and it goes into touch!
Is that the game?!
Updated
76 min: What a let off!! Sopoaga tries to get an offload away but A. Smith can’t quite pick it up, off his bootlaces, at pace! It’s a knockout, with the tryline beckoning!
Waratahs pack a scrum 5m out - Newsome comes in to join the scrum, winger-cum-backrower! They hold up, and get the ball clear from their own line!
Highlanders with the lineout feed about 35m out. Surely it’s now or never for the visitors.
75 min: They pack down with just seven, 5m out from the own line! Crazy brave - or cunning from the home side?! They prefer the extra man out wide to match up against the Highlanders backline; and they survive the big push.
And Beale almost pulls off a terrific intercept! It goes to ground, but it’s not cynical - it’s a deliberate attempt at the ball.
Highlanders pack down another scrum, 10m out. The pressure continues!
74 min: No try - Frizzell just millimetres short - and Ryan’s gone to the bin! They have to finish this game with one man short, the Waratahs.
Huge six minutes to end this one. Hasn’t this game come to life!
72 min: Highlanders finding some good metres down the Waratahs’ rightside defence, but they’re pulled down about 10m out. They move past the 10 phases, but without much penetration.
They get the numbers, but Naiholo may have bombed that; Frizzell charges on but has he got it over the line?
A huge TMO now - it’s either a try to Frizzell; or a yellow card to replacement Paddy Ryan for a blatant offside pick up!
Penalty! Waratahs 30-23 Highlanders
There it is from Foley, and they’re out to a converted-try lead.
There haven’t been too many tricky ones, but we’ve only seen one kick missed tonight, from memory.
Ten to play, who can finish the stronger?
Updated
68 min: Beale appears to be everywhere as he looks to inject some confidence into his side. They’re inside the 22, and now Beale looks for the chip and chase, with his side enjoying an advantage. Naiholo claims the mark, but we’re back for a penalty. Some deliberation, but they eventually decide to take the potential three.
66 min: It’s really opening up as the game goes on. The Highlanders are looking to spread it as best as they can. Folau rushing up on Naiholo, and the visiting outside backs force the pass and put it to ground.
Waratahs penalty on halfway, and they go to the air. Naiholo comes racing through to claim, but the winger spills it forward!
64 min: And for possibly the first time all game we’ve seen a side string more than 10 phases together. They’re working it middle of the field, pick and run, pick and run - almost twenty phases; but it’s a penalty to the Waratahs! Great defence there.
62 min: Wowee. And that, kids, is why you don’t throw out wild swinging arms. The Waratahs with three converted tries while Naholo was off the pitch in the bin. Now they’re back to their full complement - what can the Highlanders muster now?
Try! Waratahs 27-23 Highlanders (Foley)
58 min: Good work from Alex Newsome who bundles his opposite number into touch, they’ve got their tails up all of a sudden the home side. So much so they’ve even landed one of their line outs!
They spread wide once again, and it’s a huge double step from Folau to beat two markers, he goes inside to Phipps, who switches it back to find Foley.
And he’s plugged the conversion once again! What a remarkable turnaround this has been. You’re scratching your chin if you’re a Highlanders supporter.
Updated
Try! Waratahs 20-23 Highlanders (Folau)
55 min: Sopoaga in no hurry with the restart, with the Highlanders down a man for another six minutes. Phipps with some great work to regain possession. They swing wide and Beale straightens to find the hole - it’s a great break and he’s found the fullback outside him!
Where has this come from?! They’ve been second-best for the best part of 50 minutes; and all of a sudden, we’ve got a five point game.
Make that three, because Foley has converted the kick.
Updated
Try! Waratahs 13-23 Highlanders (Foley)
52 min: Waratahs with the advantage, they opt to tap and run - they’re just inside the 10m here. Some high passes though, and the Highlanders defenders are just picking off the runners.
It’s all looking a bit scrappy - lovely work from Beale who checks back inside and gets Foley on an angle on his inside!
Under the posts, and Foley adds the extras. Ten point game!
Updated
49 min: Big moment in the game here, as Highlanders pack a scrum about 10m out. Smiths Aaron & Ben hold a conference with Sopoaga involved. What do they have up their sleeves from this set play.
Big offload as they’re pulled down about a metre short; Squires within millimetres of the line - but there’s a big intercept!
Naiyaravoro scampers 40m but he’s caught by a swiftly recovering Ben Smith. The Waratahs look to sustain the momentum. Now it’s Kepu with a run - and the Highlanders are penalised for a high shot on Kepu. It could be Naiholo in trouble.. yellow card!
Fair call, he’s caught him around the neck - big ten minutes for the Waratahs here.
47 min: No, no, no. Just as they’ve bought some relief, it’s Latu who misses the throw once again, and they’ve turned over possession so very, very cheaply. It’s either one very greasy ball (that seems to only affect the Tahs) or they’re just succumbing to the occasion here, the Waratahs hookers.
Bad to worse here as Phipps attempts the box kick, straight into the back of one of his own players. It’s Keystone Cops business here.
Updated
45 min: Foley clears his line after Thompson tries a grubber kick and the Tahs regather. But its the Landers on the attack once again, just 25m out.
A momentary reprieve with a knock on, and the Waratahs look to bring it out from their own line.
Very fortunate - Lienert-Brown pinged for an off-the-ball tackle, a bit unlucky there, Beale could have been a receiver there.
43 min: Penalty to the Highlanders, as Hannigan puts a very late shoulder charge on Sopoaga. He takes a moment to recollect himself, the halfback.
The South Islanders with it centre-field, about 30m out - and again, there’s not too many phases but plenty of ball going side to side, at pace.
Second half!
40min: And we’re back underway, and a positive start for the Waratahs, as they force an early error.
Tolu Latu on at the break for Fitzpatrick and the replacement hooker has an early throw - but it goes straight to a man in vibrant yellow/lime! Deary me.
In fairness he earned the turnover, Latu, but that’s a real morale sapper.
Updated
So, there we go.
Your thoughts on that first stanza: where did it go wrong for the Waratahs? And how do they find a way back into this one?
Half-time: Waratahs 6-23 Highlanders
40 min: Another mistake from the lineout - it’s not been the 50th Super Rugby match Fitzpatrick would have wanted so far, and there’s the hooter.
A relief for home fans, it’s been pretty tough viewing for home fans.
Updated
38 min: Rare poor pass from Sopoaga who wipes his hands as if to indicate a wet ball was the excuse for that. A little bit of dew about, but he’s been otherwise brilliant tonight the halfback.
The Waratahs look to run down a chipped kick over the top, but an isolated Walden does well to regather and hold up for his recovering teammates.
37 min: Deary me. What a key moment this could prove. A 5m lineout - and they’ve literally thrown it away; penalty - not in straight.
Again the jumpers not in sync with the hooker and it’s a golden chance utterly butchered.
Penalty! Waratahs 6-23 Highlanders
No mistake. And it’s quite the lead they’re building here, the visitors. You don’t want to call it too early, but they just don’t appear to be at the races here, the hosts.
Waratahs with the restart, and some good work from Phipps has given the ‘Tahs something to be proud about.
A long lineout missed the jumpers and Phipps put it on the toe, before running down an isolated Naiholo to earn the turnover!
What can they make from this, a real try opportunity?
33 min: Big scrum from the Highlanders. Sopoaga rolls a grubber through for his winger, but Naiyaravoro just gets there first - but he fumbles the catch. Knock on.
And the Waratahs scrum crumbles here, we’ve got another penalty.
32 min: Waratahs with a decent scrum push, but concern here as Wells appears to be in a really bad way after a heavy head knock.
This looks nasty. He’s got neck on hip there, and the NSW backliner has barely moved. Let’s hope he’s okay.
We’ve got a medicab out on the field, and we’ve got time off.
Good news, Wells is on his feet, but I’ll be surprised if he takes any more action tonight. Staniforth comes on.
Updated
29 min: Kepu now looking a bit stiff, with a possible shoulder injury. They need him at 100% already missing the hugely experienced Hooper in the forward pack.
Landers about 30m out - there hasn’t been a lot of phase building, but there’s been some pretty consistent backline moves.
We pause for a TMO for an off-the-ball clash between Squires and Beale. Nothing illegal three, fair enough, we come back for a scrum, Highlanders feed.
Updated
27 min: Tahs kick off but Folau knocks on the attempted regather.
Some great hands out wide as the Highlanders backline light up like their highlighter yellow strips perhaps deserve.
A crossfield kick lands in the unlikely hands of Kepu, and they fire back a deep clearing kick, the hosts.
Try! Waratahs 6-20 Highlanders (Thompson)
25 min: Too easy there for the visitors - smart hands from Sopoaga and too much space down the guts as Thompson strides through a very spaced defensive line from the Waratahs.
Sopoaga with the extras. Gee whiz, they’re not looking too flash early on, the Australian side.
Updated
23 min: Coltman with some treatment on his shoulder; Squires with a ploughing run straight over Miller, but he recovers well to drag A. Smith into touch for the turnover.
But the Highlanders have it again, and they probe the Tahs righthand defence.
20 min: Some loose hands from the Waratahs who drop the ball twice, but it’s adjudged backwards both times. Fitzpatrick finds himself in a hole but he doesn’t have the toe to get there.
This has got very scrappy, very quickly! Both sides guilty of poor ball possession as the Tahs squander the chance, before the Highlanders throw a return pass straight back to them.
A mad few minutes but it finishes with another penalty against the hosts for, you guessed it, not releasing.
Updated
Penalty! Waratahs 6-13 Highlanders
No mistake. Sopoaga capitalising on the turnover penalty.
Foley restarts deep, but Thompson takes under no pressure. Smith clears his lines, but only reaches about 10m inside his own half. Tahs line out.
16 min: Couple of decent gains before Holloway gets wrapped up. He’s pinged for not releasing and the Highlanders with another chance to build some pressure.
They swing it wide, but the Tahs lefthand defence is quick to shut down the runners.
Folau is isolated, and he’s been caught as well, not releasing! Another penalty to the Landers.
14 min: Landers clear their line with a relieving penalty. They feed the line out about 30m out. But it’s not straight! Huge let off, Coltman done no favours by his teammates there, seemed a touch disorganised.
Tahs pack down the scrum.
Try! Waratahs 6-10 Highlander (Naiholo)
12 min: Sopoaga identifies a gap in the line as Foley rushes up, he picks the gap and puts a cutout pass on the chest of his flying winger, Phipps makes a desperate effort to stop him with the covering tackle, but he can’t!
A lovely effort with the conversion, and Sopoaga adds the extras. Game on!
Updated
Penalty! Waratahs 6-3 Highlanders
Foley returns the favour. No bonus points a factor tonight, so look for both sides to probably lean towards the shot at goals and the easy points.
It’s a stop-start opening ten minutes, with neither side building sustained sequences of possession.
Penalty! Waratahs 3-3 Highlanders
No mistake - straight down the middle, he’s struck that cleanly.
Tahs restart, and in short time they’ve got another penalty. Wells with some good work - and it’s an early shootout; we look for the sticks once again.
5 min: Penalty against Holloway for not rolling away, he’s been pinned in the tackle by Lomax. Sopoaga decides he’ll have a look at the sticks as well. Straight in front but about 40m out.
Penalty! Waratahs 3-0 Highlanders
No mistake from Foley, and it’s first blood to the Australians.
Highlanders kick deep from the restart and force the ‘Tahs to clear from their own line. It’s a line out about 10m inside the Waratahs half.
3 min: Early penalty to the home side for offside - Foley elects to take the kick, and it’s very getable, just to the right of the uprights.
1 min: A mixed start for both sides, with the Highlanders putting an early pass into touch. The Tahs now with possession inside their opponents’ half and they look to spread it side to side.
Kick-off!
And we’re off - Bernard Foley gets the Tahs underway, but his kick looking for Folau doesn’t make the ten. An inauspicious start for the home sides, and we have our first scrum on half-way, with A. Smith to feed.
David McGill has written in:
Howdy Richard - no predictions, but some pre-game ramblings for you on coaching. What’s Daryl Gibson’s status as coach for next season? Has it been confirmed yet? Wondering how much the result of this match will mean for his tenure?
I think a lot has been made about the lack of depth in Australian player stocks, but what about the lack of depth in coaching? Currently we have two New Zealanders, a South African and a rookie Aussie. Surely our the standard of coaches has contributed to our poor results?
We had some very effective coaches (Cheika and McKenzie) when we took out the tournament in recent years - thinking our chances of winning another Super Rugby championship will remain low until we get coaches of their calibre.
That’s a fair shout, David. I guess the Crusaders-style promote from within has always got results; ‘Tahs have tried the same, but you could be right; a fair bit of scrutiny to follow?
So a few tasty matchups tonight - where do you think the key battles will be?
Can the Highlanders neutralise the aerial threat of Israel Folau? Can the ‘Tahs backline cover the absence of the high-energy Michael Hooper?
And what about these two cats? Who’s the more likely to be an X-factor?
Naiyaravoro or Naholo? 🤔 Leading #SuperRugby try scorer up against an @AllBlacks winger. Who wins this battle❓
— Super Rugby (@SuperRugbyNZ) July 21, 2018
🏉 #WARvHIG pic.twitter.com/PLFQ94UrNa
So, to some team news.
Just one change for the Waratahs where winger Alex Newsome comes in on the right with Cam Clark the one to make way.
Wallabies captain Michael Hooker remains a frustrated sideline figure, nursing the injury he sustained against Ireland, so it’s the backline of Wells, Miller and Hanigan once again with Foley continuing in the armband.
Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Alex Newsome, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Bernard Foley (c), 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Will Miller, 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Tom Robertson.
Bench: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Brad Wilkin, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Cameron Clark, 23 Bryce Hegarty.
For the visitors a few handy inclusions as Smiths Ben and Aaron return, as well as Rob Thompson and Luke Whitelock.
#YOURLanders Quarterfinal side to take on the NSW Waratahs at Allianz Stadium in Sydney this Saturday night, kickoff 10.05pm(NZT) 🔥🗡️.
— Pulse Energy Highlanders (@Highlanders) July 19, 2018
If you are in Sydney, we look forward to seeing you all there in your Highlanders colours!#HighlandersANDyou #YOURLanders #OURLanders pic.twitter.com/4L7sYqhpm4
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (cc), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Jackson Hemopo, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Bench: 16 Ash Dixon (cc), 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Kalolo Tuiloma, 19 Shannon Frizell, 20 Elliot Dixon, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Matt Faddes.
So far, so good for the home sides in Super Rugby’s qualifying finals (sorry, “qualifiers”) after the Crusaders made short work of surprise finalists the Sharks (courtesy a complete and utter implosion from the Rebels).
The title favourites running out 40-10 winners in tonight’s earlier fixture in Christchurch, although it’s a scoreline that’s a touch harsh on the Sharks who mixed it - a little; at least in the first half; maybe.
A slightly more straightforward passage than would-be challengers the Hurricanes who just sneaked home 32-31 against the Chiefs, although two very late tries from the visitors made that one look closer than in reality it perhaps was.
What did you make of those two earlier fixtures? And what did you think of those Julian Savea intercepts?
As always, your predictions, conspiracy theories and tenuously-based hunches are more than welcome: hit a brother up via email (richard.parkin.casual@theguardian.com) or twitter (@rrjparkin) to enlighten your fellow readers.
I’ve got an opening question to get things started. When did Super Rugby start calling them “qualifiers” instead of quarter-finals? And more importantly, why?
Preamble
Australia vs New Zealand. It’s been a rugby mismatch for seemingly ages, but the Australian conference winners, the Waratahs, have a big opportunity to strike a blow for the beleaguered local game as they host New Zealand’s fourth strongest team (according to the table, at least), as the nation’s sole remaining representatives in this year’s competition.
The two sides have met only once this season, in what turned out to be a lopsided affair in Sydney during round 14. The hosts ran out emphatic 41-12 with winger Taqele Naiyaravoro and fullback Israel Folau wreaking havoc with four tries between them.
That result snapped a 722-day hoodoo for Australian teams against New Zealand opposition, but with the game largely shaped by a 19th minute red card to the Highlanders’ Tevita Nabura, expect tonight to be a much tighter encounter.
The ‘Landers haven’t been in hot form lately but can expect to be buoyed by the return of their All Blacks stars, so don’t read too much into a run of three games in which they’ve conceded 127 points.
For their part, the ‘Tahs have looked in pretty decent nick, up until their loss to the Brumbies in the final regular round of the season.
Not too much to choose from between these two therefore - so get the kettle on and settle in, because this is finals rugby and it’s happening: whether you like it or not.
