The Waratahs finals ambitions are back on track after a courageous 21-20 last minute victory over the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium.
Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman made seven changes to his starting XV from their Round 9 clash against the Auckland Blues, welcoming back six Wallabies.
Recalled number 8 Langi Gleeson got through an impressive 40 minutes for the side, with plenty of tough carries and big hits in tight for the Waratahs.
Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon and Michael Hooper were standouts for the home side, both stepping up as leaders of the group, while Taleni Seu continues to go from strength to strength on both sides of the ball while Mahe Vailanu made a huge impact off the bench.
The Waratahs almost scored in just the second minute of the game when Langi Gleeson burst through the middle of the field but was tackled just short of the Highlanders line.
Izaia Perese continued his strong form, scoring an incredible opening try of the night in the 15th minute of the game. Perese received a carbon copy pass from Jake Gordon from the try he scored against the Force, but this time instead of slicing through a gap had to drag four Highlanders on his way to the try line.
The Highlanders found their way back into the match, gaining plenty of territory and possession deep in the Waratahs half. The home sides defence refused to break, and the Highlanders had to rely on Sam Gilbert slotting two quick penalty goals, to bring the game within a point.
Michael Hooper, who was in the thick of everything for the Waratahs, provided a moment of magic with his boot, kicking a 50-22 right before half-time to set up an attacking lineout.
The Waratahs then launched a rolling maul before Gordon went for a sniping run, offloading to Taleni Seu who then found Lalakai Foketi who crashed over to give the home side a 14-6
The Highlanders started the second half stronger of the teams, and looked to have stolen a crucial away win with tries to Ethan de Groot and Aaron Smith setting up a 20-14 lead.
The Waratahs refused to lay down and were rewarded with Mahe Vailanu barged his way over from close range in the 78th minute, with Ben Donaldson converting from in front to snatch the win.
Waratahs captain Jake Gordon acknowledged shifting momentum within the game.
“It was a tight contest,” Gordon said.
“It sort of went back and forth for a lot of the game. We started the game not bad (but) the Highlanders got their way back into it and we just couldn’t control the momentum for the whole game.
“That’s been us for the whole year. We show glimpses of what we want to do and sort of let the other team back in.”
The Waratahs now move into 6th place on the ladder for the time being and look forward to their match against the Reds next week in Townsville.
WARATAHS (1-15): Te Tera Faulkner, Dave Porecki, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jed Holloway, Hugh Sinclair, Taleni Seu, Michael Hooper, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon (c), Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Lalakai Foketi, Izaia Perese, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Max Jorgensen
RESERVES: Mahe Vailanu, Nephu Leatigaga, Daniel Botha, Will Harris, Charlie Gamble, Harrison Goddard, Joey Walton, Mosese Tuipulotu
HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Ethan de Groot, Andrew Makalio, Jermaine Ainsley Fabian Holland, Will Tucker, Shannon Frizell, Sean Withy, Hugh Renton, Aaron Smith, Mitch Hunt, Scott Gregory, Sam Gilbert, Fetuli Paea, Jonah Lowe, Connor Garden Bishop
RESERVES: Rhys Marshall, Daniel Lienert Brown, Saula Mau, Pari Pari Parkinson, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Folau Fakatava, Thomas Umaga Jensen, Jona Nareki.
