In the end it came down to a last minute long range penalty from the boot of Waratah fly-half Foley to win the game. The ball practically grazed the edge of the bar giving the Australian outfit the one point lead to see out their first ever Championship win. The game could not have been summed up better than the final score; the game was constantly back and forth between the two finalists.
From the outset the Waratahs looked to spread the ball quickly, outside the Crusader's blitz defence. It paid off almost instantly, the Waratahs scoring 8 points in five minutes, giving themselves an obvious upper hand in the first half. Adam Ashley-Cooper finishing off a wonderful set of phases with powerful run dragging three defenders with him over the line. The ferocity of the Australians in the opening exchanges showed the Crusaders to be very shaky, a lazy outside blitz allowed the double play-makers of Foley and Beale to unleash the talent out wide with typical Australian flair. The speed of the breakdown enforced by the likes of Hooper and Palu forced even the experienced operative of McCaw to commit penalty after penalty, and before long the Waratahs had built a 14 point lead and looked to be cruising to their first Super 15 title.
It took almost 20 minutes but the Crusaders finally showed their pedigree after a hacked clearance by the Waratahs, five New Zealanders made the effort to get back behind the ball. A half break by number ten Colin Slade started a flowing move, feeding IRb player of the year Kieren Reed who showed his famous delicate hands out of the tackle to release his back-row partner Matt Todd to sprint home 40 metres. The Dan Carter touchline conversion brought the Crusaders right back into the game.
Both teams proceeded to exchange penalties for the remainder of the half, Colin Slade having taken the kicking duties from the - sadly - injured Daniel Carter achieving a 100% record for the game to maintain a 7 point gap at the break. The tide had been stemmed by the Crusaders after their blitz majorly improved effectiveness pitch-wide.
Half Time Score: Waratahs 20 - Crusaders 13
The second half started with a bang, the seven time champions came out fighting. Two minutes in a break on half way split apart the Waratahs' defence, which the Crusaders flooded through. Beautiful link up play of classic New Zealand style between McCaw and scrum-half Ellis, released the huge Fijian Nadolo on the winger to power down the flank and finish in the corner - despite the joint attentions of two Australian defenders. It should be noted the try leads to some debate as to the legitimacy of the score, but the TMO referral deemed it grounded, which gave the Crusaders the belief they needed to really contest the game.
For another twenty minutes the two kickers battled each other from the tee, Craig Joubert doing little to dispel the opinion that he is fond of the noise of his own whistle, bringing the score to 23-26 to the New Zealand outfit. The Waratahs scrum committing the majority of the penalties after substitutions had seriously weakened their front row.
The Waratahs sensing the swing in the game, found their original form, retaining possession for almost a dozen phases, with superb handling skills across the park. Numerous forwards positioning themselves outwide to ensure quick ball retention, and crisp flat passes on the gain-line allowing the big ball-carriers to take on the rushing red-shirt defence. More than once Foley and Beale found the pass to unleash the wide-men outside the Crusaders tacklers. Until in an almost carbon-copy of his first try Ashley-Cooper dived in at the opposite end of the pitch do a huge roar from the local crowd to give the home side a 30-26 lead as it went into the last 15 minutes.
The Crusaders struck back quickly to bring the game to a one point difference for the final ten minutes, before kicking up their attacking play a gear. A beautiful pass by Colin Slade sent Nadolo steaming away, unable to find support; the Crusaders were desperate to spread the ball wide. The Waratahs were having none of it, and found the defensive ferocity which had served them well all season, rushing with all that remained in the legs to shut down the outside pass. Once again Joubert's whistle echoed around the park, giving Slade the easiest of kicks to all but hand the game to the Crusaders - which he duly slotted between the posts with four minute remaining.
But the Waratahs' refused to accept their fate, getting the ball back and working it up the field, looking for the opportunity to take the game, and it came. It came from the infamous master of the dark arts Richie McCaw, so long the commander of the break down able to trick referees into whatever penalty he wanted. Joubert wasn't having any of it; with a shrill blast we award the Australian team the chance to take the game. Two minutes from time. 43 meters to kick. Straight in front of the posts. Foley shut out the noise of the stadium to slot over with no room to spare. A quick kick-off was not retained by the Crusaders, and the Waratahs saw out the last minute of time to record their first Super Rugby Final win ever on the third attempt.
[Attendance: 61,823 - Record for Super XV final]
Scorers
Waratahs:
Tries - Ashley-Cooper (2)
Penalties - Foley (7)
Conversions - Foley (1)
Crusaders:
Tries - Todd (1), Nadolo (1)
Penalties - Slade (6)
Conversions - Carter (1), Slade (1)
Any opinions from readers concerning the Nadolo try? Joubert's refereeing? All the final in general?
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