Dan McKellar’s NSW Waratahs finally ended their seven-year hoodoo against the ACT Brumbies with a pulsating 28-23 victory at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night in front of a raucous 20,572 crowd – the largest attendance for a Waratahs match since 2023.
Key moments:
2′ – Noah Lolesio penalty goal gives Brumbies early lead (0-3)
9′ – Noah Lolesio penalty goal after 50-22 kick extends advantage (0-6)
17′ – Teddy Wilson try after Isaac Kailea turnover, Lawson Creighton conversion (7-6)
23′ – Triston Reilly try from 50m chip-and-chase, Lawson Creighton conversion (14-6)
26′ – Billy Pollard yellow card for high tackle on Langi Gleeson (Brumbies)
34′ – Rob Leota try after Max Jorgensen assist, Lawson Creighton conversion (21-6)
47′ – Tom Wright try disallowed for earlier Len Ikitau knock-on (21-6)
51′ – Allan Alaalatoa try from close range, Noah Lolesio conversion missed (21-11)
54′ – Tom Hooper yellow card for dangerous tackle on Daniel Botha (Brumbies)
67′ – Luke Reimer try from rolling maul, Jack Debreczeni conversion (21-18)
72′ – Joey Walton try after Max Jorgensen chip-and-chase, Tane Edmed conversion (28-18)
75′ – Andy Muirhead try from Jack Debreczeni cross-field kick, conversion missed (28-23)
81′ – Isaac Kailea turnover secures victory for Waratahs (28-23)
The Waratahs, who had lost their previous 13 encounters with the Brumbies stretching back to 2018, produced a scintillating first-half performance to build a commanding lead before withstanding a furious second-half fightback from their fierce rivals. The victory lifts the Sydney-based team above their Canberra counterparts to fourth place on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder.
It was a night of redemption for the Waratahs after coach McKellar had questioned their character following last week’s disappointing performance against the Queensland Reds, labelling aspects of their play as “soft” and “embarrassing”. The response from his squad was emphatic, particularly from number eight Langi Gleeson who brought tremendous physicality to the contest.
Prior to kick-off, the Waratahs suffered a late setback with Wallabies hooker Dave Porecki ruled out of the starting lineup, forcing Mahe Vailanu into the starting role with Julian Heaven promoted to the bench. This added to their existing injury concerns with captain Jake Gordon, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Lalakai Foketi already sidelined.
The Brumbies, meanwhile, were boosted by the return of two-time John Eales medalist Rob Valetini at number eight after recovering from a hamstring injury that had kept him out of Super Rugby action this season.
In front of a passionate crowd that included over 2,000 children from junior rugby clubs across New South Wales who had participated in a pre-match march, the Brumbies started with typical efficiency. Noah Lolesio slotted two early penalties to establish a 6-0 lead as the visitors dominated territory in the opening exchanges, enjoying a scarcely believable 97% territorial advantage in the first 14 minutes.
Lightning winger Corey Toole threatened with an early break down the sideline, signalling the Brumbies’ intent to attack from deep, while Lolesio demonstrated his tactical acumen with a perfectly executed 50-22 kick that put his side deep in Waratahs territory.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically midway through the first half. Despite losing Vailanu to a wrist injury after just 14 minutes – forcing the inexperienced Heaven into an extended stint – the Waratahs struck with two opportunistic tries against the run of play.
First, replacement prop Isaac Kailea, who had temporarily replaced Angus Bell, forced a crucial turnover with a shuddering hit on Andy Muirhead that ignited a sweeping move down the left flank. The ball passed through the hands of Taniela Tupou and Rob Leota before finding halfback Teddy Wilson who raced away to score. The Brumbies were left frustrated as replays suggested Andrew Kellaway may have touched the sideline earlier in the sequence, but referee Ben O’Keeffe allowed the try to stand.
Just seven minutes later, electric winger Triston Reilly showcased his footballing skills with a speculative chip kick from his own half, regathering after a favourable bounce to sprint away for the Waratahs’ second try. Lawson Creighton’s conversion extended the lead to 14-6, leaving the Brumbies shell-shocked by the sudden turnaround.
The Brumbies’ frustration intensified when hooker Billy Pollard was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Langi Gleeson in the 26th minute. The incident was reviewed by the TMO Glenn Newman, who determined that despite Gleeson dipping slightly, the contact to the head warranted a sin-binning.
The Waratahs capitalised immediately on their numerical advantage. In the 34th minute, Max Jorgensen delivered a superb pass to Rob Leota, who steamrolled Andy Muirhead to score their third try. Creighton’s third successful conversion gave the hosts a commanding 21-6 lead heading into half-time.
The Brumbies needed to respond quickly after the interval, and they thought they had when Tom Wright crossed after a patient 20-phase build-up. However, in a controversial decision that further incensed the visitors, the try was disallowed when TMO Newman spotted a knock-on from much earlier in the sequence.
Undeterred, the Brumbies continued to apply pressure, and captain Allan Alaalatoa eventually crashed over from close range to reduce the deficit after sustained pressure on the Waratahs’ line. Lolesio’s missed conversion left the score at 21-11.
Just as the Brumbies were building momentum, flanker Tom Hooper was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle on Daniel Botha in the 54th minute, described in match reports as a wrestling-style suplex that drew immediate attention from the officials.
The Waratahs attempted to capitalise on the numerical advantage by kicking to the corner, but the Brumbies’ defence held firm, twice stuffing the Waratahs’ rolling maul attempts. This defensive resilience kept the visitors in the contest.
Despite being a man down, the Brumbies’ renowned rolling maul proved unstoppable as Luke Reimer powered over from close range with Jack Debreczeni, who had replaced Lolesio, adding the extras to make it a three-point game with just over 12 minutes remaining.
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The tension in Allianz Stadium was palpable as the final ten minutes approached. The Waratahs, sensing their historic losing streak might continue, needed a moment of inspiration. It came from Max Jorgensen, who has been in scintillating form all season despite the huge shadow cast by Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s impending arrival.
Jorgensen produced a moment of individual brilliance, chipping ahead and regathering before another kick allowed centre Joey Walton to dive on the loose ball for what seemed a decisive score. Tane Edmed, on for Creighton, slotted the conversion to extend the lead to ten points with just eight minutes remaining.
However, the Brumbies responded immediately through a magnificent crossfield kick from substitute Debreczeni that found Andy Muirhead, who finished expertly in the corner. With the conversion missed, the Waratahs clung to a five-point lead.
In a frantic finale, the Brumbies launched one final assault, working the ball from side to side as they sought the winning score. But the Waratahs’ defence, led by Charlie Gamble in his 50th match, held firm with Isaac Kailea winning a crucial turnover in the 81st minute to seal a famous victory.
“I’ve been in a few of those losses to the Brumbies, and they’re tough,” said acting Waratahs captain Hugh Sinclair. “We had our integrity questioned throughout the week, and that’s a tough thing to have as a rugby player and a rugby club. A lot of people wrote a few things about us, and we responded pretty well. I’m just proud of the way that we stuck in there and fought.”
For McKellar, it was a particularly sweet victory against his former team, where he had previously served as an assistant to Larkham before taking the head coaching role himself. Ironically, McKellar had once been tasked by Larkham with creating the Brumbies’ formidable rolling maul, which nearly proved his undoing in this encounter.
“It was everything that we expected,” admitted Brumbies skipper Alaalatoa. “We knew that it was going to be a physical game and a grind.”
For the Brumbies, who recently defeated the Blues in Auckland, this result represents a setback in their campaign, but they showed enough quality in their second-half fightback to suggest they remain genuine title contenders. They’ll need to address their discipline issues, however, after spending 20 minutes with 14 men due to the yellow cards shown to Pollard and Hooper.
