They were courageous, enterprising, and relentless, but ultimately the NSW Waratahs went down 38-22 against the Chiefs in front of 14,982 fans at Allianz Stadium.
Already without the likes of Angus Bell, David Porecki, and Mahe Vailanu in the front row, the Waratahs lost Hayden Thompson-Stringer late in the week with the experienced prop unable to recover from a cork. As a result, Sydney University’s Brad Maituanai was selected to make his debut from the interchange bench.
The Chiefs were aggressive in their defence from the outset, but winger Etene Nanai Seturo crossed the line in the eighth minute of play, hitting Mark Nawaqanitawase high and subsequently issued a yellow card.
And the Waratahs capitalised on their one-man advantage three minutes later with a try to the ever-improving Julian Heaven. On the back of a great line-out win by Ned Hanigan, the hooker dashed 10 metres behind the ruck to open the scoring.
Just as Seturo returned to the field, the Chiefs were again punished for their ill-discipline with Tupou Vaai also issued a yellow card.
And in similar circumstances, NSW once again made the most of their overlap with Captain Jake Gordon darting down the blindside from a strong rolling maul.
Shaun Stevenson hit back for the visitors in the 22nd minute in a rare attacking opportunity down the Waratahs end in the first half. The Chiefs fullback appeared to pull his hamstring when scoring and left the field shortly afterwards.
Two minutes before the close of the first half, the Chiefs managed to square the ledger when a brilliant long cut-out pass from Damian McKenzie allowed winger Emoni Narawa to get on the outside of Max Jorgensen. McKenzie then converted from the sideline to level scores at 12-all at the break.
The Chiefs came out with renewed vigour in the second stanza and after a lineout win from attacking range, swift passing out the backline saw Narawa score his second in the 48th minute.
Flyhalf Tane Edmed slotted a penalty goal in the 52nd minute to return serve, but the Chiefs regained the ascendency a minute later when halfback Cortez Ratima scored after supporting a break by Samipeni Finau.
The Chiefs backed that up with a further try to Number 8 Wallace Sititi moments later, before the home side fired back after the spirited Lachlan Swinton barged over from close range off an inside ball from Will Harrison.
A final try to openside flanker Kaylum Boshier five minutes from full-time, and a subsequent sideline conversion from McKenzie sealed a 38-22 victory for the Chiefs, who now jump to third place on the ladder.
“It was really fast and physical from the start,” inside centre Lalakai Foketi said. “We knew that they were going to come out swinging, so we wanted to match that.
“I thought our first 30 minutes was great. We retained the ball and played running rugby, but we couldn’t maintain it.
“We gave them the ball too easily and they executed really well, especially off set-piece. We knew what was coming but we still couldn’t stop it. It was really frustrating.”
“The first 40 was a really good battle,” added Jake Gordon. “I thought we controlled field position and were getting dominance through our maul.
“We weren’t as consistent in the second half and turned the pill over far too easily. We allowed their backs to get quality ball and they were too good.
“It’s a balance between giving them possession and defending well and we probably got the balance wrong in the second half.”
Chiefs 38
Tries: Emoni Narawa 2, Shaun Stevenson, Cortez Ratima, Wallace Sititi, Kaylum Boshier
Goals: Damian McKenzie 4/6
Penalty Goals:
NSW Waratahs 22
Tries: Julian Heaven, Jake Gordon, Lachlan Swinton
Goals: Tane Edmed 1/2. Will Harrison 1/1
Penalty Goals: Tane Edmed 1/1
Crowd: 14,982
