The Waratahs thrashed the Reds 45-12 in a Round Six Super Rugby AU rout at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney.
Jake Gordon joined a select few sportsmen to claim a hat-trick at the SCG as the Waratahs dismantled the rabble that was the rudderless Reds.
Gordon’s treble was the first since Jed Holloway, who was on the bench, grabbed three in 2016.
Jack Maddocks and Alex Newsome also got in on the act while the metronomic boot of Will Harrison made it 38-0 at the interval.
Harrison continues to impress. He had a hand in a couple of tries and kicked everything for a match-haul of 13 points.
Tom Horton scored the first try of the second half to bring up the forty-burger.
The visitors did manage to get on the scoreboard when Jack Hardy scored soon after Horton.
Jack Dempsey and Newsome both went close but had tries chalked off after TMO reviews as the Waratahs tried to score fifty at the famous cricket stadium.
It was not to be.
James O’Connor scored a late try after the siren to bring up double figures for his team, who ay least, won the second half 12-7.
Queensland’s horrid away form continues. They have not won an away Australian Super Rugby derby since beating the Melbourne Rebels back in 2017.
This chastening defeat is the Reds‘ 10th against fellow Aussie sides and their 12th loss against New South Wales in the last 13 matches after beating the Tahs at home in round one of Super Rugby AU.
Gordon’s 28-minute hat-trick saw the Waratahs open a stunning lead as the Reds imploded at the SCG.
The game was essentially over inside the first quarter but it was well and truly done by halftime.
Rob Penney’s charges flew out of the gates, scoring a point a minute as they notched five tries to nill to rack up a 38-0 lead at the break.
Harrison opened the scoring with an early penalty after he was stopped from a certain try by some stubborn but offside defence.
The Reds had several opportunities to get on the board but they opted for two lineout drives that came to nothing because of some poor lineout throwing by Brandon Paenga-Amosa.
The hooker overthrew, underthrew and had one stolen by Ned Hanigan, which killed his team.
His throwing continues to be a problem for the Reds. The third turnover led to the game’s first try.
The Tahs won possession and sent the ball quickly to the left-wing where Jock Campbell was having trouble containing the home team’s outside backs.
Super Rugby AU Round Six Video Highlights: Waratahs versus Reds at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Some skilful inter-passing saw Gordon race away to score. Harrison’s conversion made it 10-0 after as many minutes.
Gordon soon had another after he took a quick-tap penalty and darted under the posts after Paenga-Amosa got caught offside at the ruck.
Harrison’s could not miss his second conversion.
Campbell’s nightmare ended early when he left the field injured.
The tries kept coming as the Tahs turned the screw.
Another lost lineout kept the Reds pinned inside their half. The Queensland scrum was functioning well, but their lineout has been a killer.
Brad Thorn’s side’s passing and catching were as bad as their lineouts, and the errors mounted.
Maddocks crossed in the 24th-minute after a one-two with Dempsey.
Jordan Petaia could not stop Newsome, whose expert finish put the icing on a sensational first stanza.
Harrison landed the touchline kick.
More missed lineouts continued to hamper the visitors, but they almost grabbed their first try but for some more good work at the ruck by Micheal Hooper.
Hooper had a game, winning several ruck-penalties and a couple of turnovers as he dominated the breakdown.
The rain lashed down making handling tough as the game disintegrated after halftime.
The rain poured down during the second period.
It made for a messy game, which had started to disintegrate with scuffles breaking out due to Queensland’s obvious frustrations.
Horton scored following a powerful rolling maul to claim his second Super Rugby try. Donaldson, on for Harrison, landed the conversion.
The Reds did manage to get on the board.
O’Connor’s cross-field kick was gathered by Hardy after a mistake by Maddocks gifted him the score.
Dempsey thought he had scored with 15 minutes remaining, but the TMO ruled out the on-field ref’s call.
Newsome also thought he scored another stunner, but his try was also taken away after he put the ball on the in-goal line.
The penalties kept the visitors camped inside their 22; they gave away 11 of 12 before Zane Nonggorr got sent to the naughty step.
Yet, for all the territory and possession, the Tahs could not raise their bat and bring up their half-century due to some stubborn defending by the opposition.
O’Connor nabbed a try at the death but it was scant consolation.
Final Score: Waratahs 45 (38) Reds (0) 12
Scorers
Waratahs
Tries – Gordon (3), Maddocks, Newsome, Horton
Pen – Harrison
Con – Harrison (5), Donaldson
Drop –
Cards –
Reds
Tries – Hardy, O’Connor
Pen –
Con – O’Connor
Drop –
Cards – Nonggorr (Yellow, 77′)
Match Officials
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant Ref 1: Amy Perrett
Assistant Ref 2: Jordan Way
TMO: George Ayoub
Teams
Waratahs
15 Jack Maddocks, 14 James Ramm, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Alex Newsome, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lachie Swinton, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Tuala, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Tetera Faulkner, 19 Jed Holloway, 20 Hugh Sinclair, 21 Mitch Short, 22 Joey Walton, 23 Ben Donaldson
Reds
15 Jock Campbell, 14 Jordan Petaia, 13 Hunter Paisami, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Scott Malolua, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Liam Wright, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Angus Blyth, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Dane Zander.
Replacements: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Jack Straker, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20 Fraser McReight, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Jack Hardy, 23 Josh Flook