In a performance brimming with attacking flair and defensive resolve, the NSW Waratahs produced their finest display of the season to topple title-favourites Chiefs 21-14 at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
Key moments:
18′ – Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii scores maiden Super Rugby try, beating Damian McKenzie and Quinn Tupaea before carrying three defenders over the line (NSW Waratahs 7-0 Chiefs)
24′ – Triston Reilly extends lead after brilliant Joey Walton break and offload, reaching out to plant the ball on the line despite cover defence (NSW Waratahs 14-0 Chiefs)
30′ – Leroy Carter scores for Chiefs after Luke Jacobson’s line break and offload reduces deficit (NSW Waratahs 14-7 Chiefs)
37′ – Gideon Wrampling yellow-carded for high tackle on Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii with no attempt to wrap arms
45′ – Teddy Wilson finishes spectacular 105-metre team try starting from behind Waratahs’ goal line with Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Lawson Creighton all involved (NSW Waratahs 21-7 Chiefs)
52′ – Samipeni Finau crashes over from close range after sustained Chiefs pressure (NSW Waratahs 21-14 Chiefs)
77′ – Miles Amatosero yellow-carded after repeated team infringements with Chiefs camped in Waratahs’ 22
80+5′ – Waratahs defend 28 phases before forcing decisive double knock-on to secure victory
Before a vocal Sydney crowd of 14,278, the Waratahs snapped an eight-match losing streak against their New Zealand rivals dating back to 2016, with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii announcing himself on the Super Rugby stage with a standout performance that validated the significant investment made to secure his services from rugby league.
The high-profile convert scored his maiden Super Rugby Pacific try and was instrumental in a breathtaking 105-metre team effort that will rank among the greatest tries in Waratahs history, as Dan McKellar’s men weathered a late storm to secure a crucial victory despite being on the wrong end of an 18-5 penalty count.
The opening exchanges promised an entertaining contest, with both sides showing intent to move the ball in perfect conditions for running rugby. The Waratahs thought they had struck first when Teddy Wilson dived over after sharp work from Suaalii, but a TMO review spotted a Joey Walton knock-on earlier in the movement.
The home side continued to press and were rewarded in the 18th minute when Suaalii produced a moment of individual brilliance. Receiving the ball on the right flank, the fullback identified space and accelerated through the gap, shrugging off a tackle attempt from All Blacks star Damian McKenzie, stepping past Quinn Tupaea and showing remarkable strength to carry three Chiefs defenders over the line for his first Super Rugby try. Lawson Creighton added the extras to give the Waratahs a 7-0 lead.
Embed from Getty Images
Six minutes later, the Waratahs extended their advantage through a sublime team effort. Joey Walton, restored to the starting line-up at inside centre, made the initial break near the halfway line, slicing through the Chiefs’ defensive line and showing explosive acceleration to reach the 22. With the cover defence converging, Walton drew the final defender before delivering a perfectly timed offload to winger Triston Reilly, who powered through the attempted tackle to reach out and plant the ball over the line. Creighton’s conversion extended the lead to 14-0.
Embed from Getty Images
With the Waratahs dominant, another spectacular finish from Lalakai Foketi in the corner was controversially ruled out by the TMO, who judged the ball had simultaneously touched the corner flag and try line after the centre had produced remarkable acrobatics to stay in the field of play.
The decision proved pivotal as the Chiefs immediately struck back. Luke Jacobson broke the line with a powerful angled run before freeing his arms in contact to find Leroy Carter with what appeared a marginal forward pass. The winger showed impressive pace to outstrip the covering defence and score under the posts, with McKenzie’s conversion narrowing the deficit to 14-7 at halftime.
The closing stages of the first period saw Chiefs centre Gideon Wrampling sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Suaalii. The midfield defender caught the Waratahs fullback with a shoulder to the head in a tackle with no attempt to wrap his arms. Despite calls for a red card, referee Angus Mabey settled on a yellow card sanction.
The defining moment came five minutes after the restart. Defending desperately on their own line, the Waratahs forced a Chiefs handling error before launching a counter-attack of breathtaking quality. Andrew Kellaway initiated the movement from behind his own goal line, gathering the loose ball and identifying space on the right flank.
The winger accelerated through the gap and sprinted 65 metres upfield before linking with Suaalii, who drew two defenders and timed his pass perfectly. The ball then found Lawson Creighton, who produced a sublime overhead pass back to Kellaway while being tackled. The winger, who had covered almost the entire length of the field, then delivered the final pass to Wilson, who raced away to complete a spectacular coast-to-coast effort that sent the crowd into raptures.
Wilson’s swan-dive finish under the posts capped what was undoubtedly one of the greatest team tries in Waratahs history, with Creighton’s straightforward conversion extending the lead to 21-7.
The Chiefs, renowned for their resilience and attacking prowess, responded through Samipeni Finau, who crashed over from close range in the 52nd minute. The powerful loose forward took a short pass from prop Ollie Norris and drove through multiple tacklers to reach the line, with McKenzie adding the extras to reduce the deficit to seven points, setting up a tense final quarter.
Embed from Getty Images
As the match entered its closing stages, the Chiefs began to dominate territory and possession, aided by a mounting penalty count against the home side. The Waratahs’ defensive line was tested repeatedly, with Hugh Sinclair, Ben Grant and Jamie Adamson making crucial tackles to maintain their advantage.
Even the loss of replacement lock Miles Amatosero to a yellow card in the 77th minute for repeated team infringements couldn’t break their resolve. Reduced to 14 men for the final exchanges, the Waratahs formed a blue wall that refused to yield despite relentless Chiefs pressure.
In a nail-biting finale that extended more than five minutes into stoppage time, the Waratahs repelled 28 phases of Chiefs attack deep in their own territory. The decisive moment came when Suaalii forced a knock-on in the tackle, which was followed by a Chiefs knock-on, allowing the referee to signal full-time and spark jubilant celebrations among the home players and supporters.
The win was particularly sweet for Waratahs captain Hugh Sinclair, who acknowledged the difficulty of recent losses on the road to the Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika. “That’s a special one. That’ll be up there,” Sinclair said. “That crowd was immense, especially in that last passage of play. We copped one at half-time but I’m just stoked to get the win after a tough couple of weeks on the road.”
The result was a significant blow to the Chiefs’ aspirations of finishing atop the standings, with the Crusaders leapfrogging them into first place after their earlier win over the Hurricanes. For Clayton McMillan’s men, it was an uncharacteristically error-strewn performance, with 18 handling errors undermining their efforts throughout.
For Suaalii, who has been the subject of intense scrutiny since his high-profile cross-code switch, this performance was a statement of intent. His powerful running, defensive work and involvement in key moments suggests the Waratahs’ investment is beginning to pay dividends, with the young star growing in confidence with each appearance in the sky blue jersey.
The match was also a notable milestone for Waratahs prop Angus Bell, who celebrated his 50th Super Rugby appearance with an influential showing in the front row. The 23-year-old led his team out and delivered a strong scrummaging performance while also contributing effectively in the loose.
The victory lifts the Waratahs to fourth on the Super Rugby Pacific table with a record of five wins and three losses. After back-to-back defeats across the Tasman, this resilient performance suggests they remain genuine contenders in what is proving to be an increasingly competitive competition.
The Waratahs will now prepare for a challenging trip to Lautoka to face the Fijian Drua, while the Chiefs return home to Hamilton where they will host the Highlanders as they look to rebound from this setback.
International1 week ago
International2 weeks ago
International2 weeks ago
International3 weeks ago
International5 days ago
International2 weeks ago
International1 week ago