A brave and wounded Waratahs side have gone down swinging 24-14 against the Chiefs at Allianz Stadium.
In a disrupted week, Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman was missing 13 front-line players and was forced to make multiple changes to his matchday 23.
Coleman made eight changes to his starting XV with Joey Walton named in his first Super Rugby match for the Waratahs in over two years, while Zac Von Appen and Harry Wilson made their debuts off the bench.
Despite being undermanned the Waratahs showed plenty of fight throughout the match and pushed the ladder leading Chiefs the distance, through a solid blue wall of defence in the first half.
The Chiefs dominated the opening half in terms of possession, having 70% of the ball, but the Waratahs defence held firm, time and time again in their defensive 22m zone.
Bryn Gatland got the opening try of the match before a trademark Jake Gordon intercept try had the team level seven all at the break.
Damien McKenzie, playing in his 100th Super Rugby match, grabbed the lead in the second half with a penalty goal before winger Emoni Narawa grabbed his first of the night courtesy of an inside ball from Alex Nankivell.
Michael Hooper, who became the most capped Waratah backrower of all-time tonight with his 133rd cap in sky blue, got his side back in the game and within three points, finishing off a beautiful lineout maul variation for his try.
Emoni Narawa put the game to bed late in the game for the men from Waikato, finishing off a grubber in the corner with a McKenzie conversion from the sideline leaving the scores 24-14.
Waratahs Captain Jake Gordon said: “It was a real tough match.”
“Defensively both teams put in a really good shift. Especially that first-half, I think we had about 30 per cent possession. But it was a disappointing transfer into attack.
“Once again, we had opportunities. The breakdown was a bit of a mess. But I was really proud of our effort.”
Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman said: “It hurts doesn’t it. You just want to get out of that hole of confidence and form. We tried hard. It wasn’t through effort that we didn’t get [the result] there today.
“It’s an ordinary feeling. I just hope – I sound like I’m bleeding here – that the NSW rugby public appreciate the boys’ effort. I’ve just got to coach better to get that clinical nature in our attack.
“We didn’t get too many chances with the ball in the first half. In the second, we did and we just didn’t take them.”
“You hurt over it and you try and find the solutions to make it better.”
The Waratahs now turn their attention to their round six clash against traditional rivals the Brumbies on Saturday 1 April at GIO Stadium.
CHIEFS 24
TRIES: Gatland, Narawa 2
CONS: McKenzie 2/2
PENS: McKenzie 1/2
WARATAHS 14
TRIES: Gordon, Hooper
CONS: Donaldson 2/2
WARATAHS (1-15): Te Tera Faulkner, Mahe Vailanu, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jed Holloway, Ned Hanigan, Lachlan Swinton, Michael Hooper, Will Harris, Jake Gordon (c), Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Joey Walton, Izaia Perese, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Ben Dowling
RESERVES: Tolu Latu, Tom Lambert, Dan Botha, Taleni Seu, Zac Von Appen, Harrison Goddard, Harry Wilson, Nemani Nadolo
CHIEFS (1-15): Aidan Ross, Bradley Slater, John Ryan, Brodie Retallick, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Samipeni Finau, Same Cane (co-c), Pita Gus Sowakula, Brad Weber (co-c), Bryn Gatland, Etene Nani-Seturo, Rameka Poihipi, Alex Nankivell, Emoni Narawa, Damian McKenzie
RESERVES: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ollie Norris, George Dyer, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Kaylum Boshier, Cortez Ratima, Daniel Rona, Shaun Stevenson
Referee: Jordan Way Assistant Referees: Angus Gardner, Matt Kellahan
