Waratahs superstar Israel Folau continues to succeed in Rugby Photo: Jason Milich
The NSW Waratahs won their first Super Rugby final on Saturday at ANZ Stadium, 33-32 against the Crusaders. The Waratahs’ nail biting victory avenged painful losses to the Crusaders in their only two previous finals in 2005 and 2008.
It was a bone-crunching, blow-by-blow battle with the seven time champions as the Waratahs raced out to a commanding 14-0 lead after only 15 minutes against their New Zealand counterparts.
Adam Ashley-Cooper scored a try in the 5th minute with Bernard Foley missing the conversion. However, the Test five-eighth slotted two penalties in a row to make it 14-0.
A Crusaders breakaway saw Matt Todd strike in the 18th minute and Dan Carter was there to convert. Foley and Slade traded penalties for the rest of the half to make it 20-13 at the break.
The second half started off in controversy. Television match official George Ayoub awarded a try to Crusaders winger Nadolo despite an apparent foot in touch. Slade converted to level the scores at 20-20.
The next 10 minutes were quite tense for both teams as Foley missed a shot at goal in the 52nd minute, but two minutes later he then levelled the scores at 23-23. Colin Slade had other ideas as his shot gave the Crusaders a 26-23 lead in the 57th minute.
The visitors had NSW under pressure and were forcing errors in attack and defence but the home side kept coming and Ashley-Cooper crossed for his second try of the game in the 63rd minute. Foley converted to make it 30-26 to the Tahs.
It was tense for the rest of the match as Slade and Foley exchanged penalty goals with the score at 32-30 to the Crusaders as time was nearly up. A pressure-filled 45-metre penalty goal from Bernard Foley in the final minute snatched the Waratahs victory from the jaws of defeat in what was a dramatic conclusion to a classic title decider. Long suffering Waratahs fans were finally delivered a Super Rugby title in what was a memorable historic occasion.
NSW Waratahs 33
A Hurricanes 32
Man of the match: Adam Ashley-Cooper
Crowd: 62,000
