Match Report - Undermanned Waratahs go down to Blues in Auckland

Sat, Apr 22, 2023, 9:29 AM
Waratahs Media
by Waratahs Media

The Blues have run out 55-21 winners over the Waratahs in slippery conditions at Eden Park in Auckland.

Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman was missing 12 of his front-line players, due to injuries and Wallaby resting protocols, forcing wholesale changes to his team that defeated the Force last weekend at Allianz Stadium.

Zac Vona Appen, Hunter Ward, and Harry Wilson were all handed their starting debuts while Nephi Leatigaga, Michael Icely and Jack Bowen made their Waratahs Super Rugby debuts off the bench.

The Blues jumped out of the blocks in a frantic start to the match, stretching the Waratahs defence and forcing them to scramble in the channels out wide.

Poor Waratahs kicking and exits from inside their own half, piled on the pressure for the men in sky blue, gifting the Blues easy territory and scoring opportunities throughout the entire match.

The Blues raced out to a 13-0 lead through two Stephen Perrofetta penalty goals and a Ricky Riccitelli pick and drive try.

Mahe Vailanu hit back for the Waratahs, peeling off the side of an attacking rolling maul and barging over to close the gap to 13-7

The joy was short lived for the Waratahs, as Vailanu was sin binned for hands in the ruck with the Blues on the attack.

The Blues took advantage of their numerical advantage with Zarn Sullivan slicing through a gap in the midfield to leave the scores at 20-7 at the break.

Things went from bad to worse for the undermanned Waratahs, as the rain came down so did the tries in the second half, with the Blues outscoring the Waratahs five tries to two.

Zarn Sullivan and Ricky Riccitelli both grabbed their second tries of the night before Caleb Clarke, who was dangerous throughout the night, scored his off a nice ball from Beauden Barrett who was playing in his 150th match.

The Waratahs scored tries through Dylan Pietsch and Teddy Wilson, with Sam Darry scoring one for the Blues in between.

Cameron Suafoa scored the final try of the night, bringing up the half century for the Blues.

Waratahs captain Jake Gordon was disappointed in his team for providing a dangerous Blues outfit with too many opportunities.

“They were pretty clinical tonight, we just struggled to gain possession and play at the right ends of the field,” Gordon said.

“We spoke clearly about not giving them turnover and transition attack and we gave them a heap of that tonight, and they were pretty clinical.

“We had a really good training week, we prepared well, the coaches did a great job of putting us in a position to perform tonight. We have a lot of quality players in that team, its just disappointing that we didn’t perform tonight.”

The NSW Waratahs now turn their attention to their round ten clash against the Highlanders on Friday 28 April at Allianz Stadium.

BLUES 55

TRIES: Riccitelli 2, Sullivan 2, Clarke, Darry, Suafoa

CONS: Perofeta 1/1, Barrett 6/6

PENS: Perofeta 2/2

WARATAHS 21

TRIES: Vailanu, Pietsch, T. Wilson

CONS: Donaldson 2/2, Bowen 1/1

BLUES (1-15): Ofa Tuungafasi, Ricky Riccitelli, Nepo Laulala, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Sam Darry, Anton Segner, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Harry Plummer, Rieko Ioane, Mark Telea, Stephen Perofeta

RESERVES: Soane Vikena, Jordan Lay, James Lay, Cameron Suafoa, Akira Ioane, Sam Nock, Bryce Heem, Zarn Sullivan

WARATAHS (1-15): Tom Lambert, Mahe Vailanu, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jed Holloway, Zac Von Appen, Taleni Seu, Hunter Ward, Will Harris, Jake Gordon (c), Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Joey Walton, Izaia Perese, Max Jorgensen, Harry Wilson

RESERVES: Tolu Latu, Nephi Leatigaga, Daniel Botha, Michael Icely, Charlie Gamble, Teddy Wilson, Jack Bowen, Mosese Tuipulotu

Referee: Paul Williams

Assistant Referees: Dan Waenga, Angus Mabey

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