The Chiefs scalped the Waratahs 14-51 with a thrilling second-half attacking display at WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
The Chiefs ran riot in a stellar second-half display on the south Sydney coast. They racked up six second-half tries while inflicting their biggest defeat of the Waratahs in Australia.
It was a second-half blitz that Rob Penney’s men could not withstand, even if they tried.
The Chiefs kept the ‘Tahs scoreless after the interval. It was a sharp defensive display to match their scintillating attacking prowess.
Brad Weber grabbed a quick-fire second-half brace as the Chiefs flew out the blocks after the break.
Shaun Stevenson, Sean Wainui, Lachlan Boshier and the irrepressible Solomon Alaimalo also dotted down for the men from the Waikato.
Super Rugby Video Highlights: Waratahs versus Chiefs at WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Stevenson also had a hand in Weber’s sensational second score.
An audacious no-look out-the-back-door pass sent the scrumhalf racing away down the right-hand touchline to end the game effectively.
The bonus-point victory is only the Chiefs’ second win in 10 games away to the Waratahs, the last win coming back in 2007.
New South Wales have now lost 16 of their previous 19 Super Rugby matches against New Zealand opposition, and fifth in a row.
Warren Gatland’s Chiefs have conceded the fewest second-half tries while scoring the most in this ambitious 2020 Super Rugby campaign.
Waratahs overcome a slow start to lead at the break
The Chiefs started the stronger of the two teams, taking a 13-point lead after 22 minutes.
Aaron Cruden Kicked two penalties and a conversion after Shaun Stevenson’s try to give the Chiefs a two-score lead.
Stevenson scored the game’s first try in the corner after Alaimalo, playing fullback, started the attack with a mini-break through several defenders.
New South Wales, however, overcome a slow start to lead at the break.
They hit back with two converted tries through Kurtley Beale and Jack Dempsey.
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Kurtley Beale ran a great angle, taking Karmichael Hunt’s deft pass before crashing over for his team’s opening try.
Dempsey bashed his way over the chalk to make it a one-point ball-game.
The TMO checked for grounding and a forward pass in the build-up but deemed the number eight did not knock-on in the act of grounding.
Hope soon turned to despair.
Chiefs scalp Waratahs with a second stanza virtuoso
NSW had no answer to the Kiwis’ firepower, and could not rekindle a fightback reminiscent of the first-half.
Whatever Gatland said to his side, it had the desired effect. Whatever Penney told his men, did not.
Five tries in 20 minutes capped an exciting period for the Hamilton men. The hosts simply could not match them.
His side came out flying after the interval; they scored twice in two minutes through scrumhalf Weber.
Weber caught the ‘Tahs napping, ghosting through a gap on the side of the breakdown to put the Chiefs back in front.
He soon had another after a counter-attack from inside his team’s half kick-starting the thrilling try, set-up with a magical piece of skill by Stevenson.
Wainui, thanks to some good fortune, scored his team’s fourth on 52 minutes as the Chiefs pulled away to a 14-32 lead.
Wainui was, perhaps, lucky score after the bouncing ball rebounded off his legs for him to collect and score.
By now, the Australians were a disorganised rabble. Had this was a boxing bout, the trainer would have thrown the towel.
Boshier and Alaimalo also got in on the act, scoring two decidedly different tries.
The flanker bashed his way over after a well-worked lineout move by the forwards.
Alaimalo’s try came from a free-flowing attack down the left-hand channel that put the game to bed.
Anton Lienert-Brown dotted down after Beale’s howler to bring up the half-century.
The fullback, who had been superb in the first stanza, knocked on near his goal-line, gifting Lienert-Brown a try.
Ouch.
Final Score: Waratahs 14 (14) Chiefs 51 (13)
Scorers
Waratahs
Tries – Beale, Dempsey
Pen –
Con – Harrison (2)
Drop –
Cards –
Chiefs
Tries – Stevenson, Weber (2), Wainui, Boshier, Alaimalo, Lienert-Brown
Pen – Cruden (2)
Con – Cruden (3), Trask (2)
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Ref 1: Jordan Way
Assistant Ref 2: James Quinn
TMO: Ian Smith
Teams
Waratahs
Head Coach: Rob Penney
15 Kurtley Beale (captain), 14 James Ramm, 13 Alex Newsome, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Jack Maddocks, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Mitch Short, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Tom Staniforth, 4 Ryan McCauley, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Robbie Abel, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Rory O’Connor, 18 Tetera Faulkner, 19 Pat Tafa, 20 Jed Holloway, 21 Michael McDonald, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Siosifa Lisala.
Chiefs
Head Coach: Warren Gatland
15 Solomon Alaimalo, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Tumua Manu, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Sean Wainui, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Tyler Ardron, 4 Michael Allardice, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Donald Maka, 17 Ryan Coxon, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Lisati Milo Harris, 22 Kaleb Trask, 23 Alex Nankivell.
