The NSW Waratahs have endured a tough night in Wellington, going down 41-12 to the top-of-the-table Hurricanes at Sky Stadium.
Already battling an extensive injury toll, NSW went into the match without experienced forwards such as Ned Hanigan and Jed Holloway from the week prior.
The home side came out of the blocks firing with outside centre Billy Proctor racing away to score down the left-hand edge off an attacking scrum win in just the third minute of play.
On the back of a mountain of dominant field position, the Hurricanes posted two further tries in the 14th and 17th minutes to flyhalf Brett Cameron and winger Joshua Moorby.
When Number 8 Brayden Iose scored in the 27th minute from a succinct and effective display of passing between both the forwards and backs, the Hurricanes soared out to a commanding 26-0 advantage.
NSW nearly got on the scoreboard moments before half-time when a sublime pick-up from fullback Mark Nawaqanitawase and subsequent offload off the deck put Dylan Pietsch in open space.
The dynamic winger then delivered a promising chip and chase, but unfortunately, the ball was batted away by the Hurricanes’ cover defence with the try line looming, leaving the scoreline at a 26-point deficit at half-time for NSW.
The Waratahs came out with renewed vigour in the second stanza and ultimately delivered a vastly improved final forty minutes.
The home side once again opened the scoring in the second half, with Salesi Rayasi storming onto a nice short ball from Xavier Numia in the 61st minute, but NSW hit back promptly four minutes later, with flyhalf Tane Edmed creating a gap for former Fijian Rugby League international Vuate Karawalevu to score on debut.
Rayasi responded for the Hurricanes with an acrobatic finish on the left wing in the 69th minute, but NSW again returned serve, with Hugh Sinclair scoring in his 50th match for the Waratahs off a brilliant cut-out pass from halfback Jack Grant.
But a final try to TJ Perenara in the final stages of play sealed a 41-12 victory for the Hurricanes.
Captain Jake Gordon was disappointed with the result, but somewhat pleased with the improvement showing in the second stanza.
The experienced halfback emphasised the need to learn from this defeat and rectify the deficiencies promptly with an always hotly contested local derby coming up against the ACT Brumbies in Round 12.
“They’re a quality team,” Gordon said. “The way they played with speed at the start of the game was hard to stay with. Up front, we knew they were powerful, and we struggled to contain them. They were a really good outfit tonight.
“We do some good stuff but then let ourselves down. There were some really good moments late in that second half but against a quality team like that we need to do it for longer.
“It’s always a big game playing the Brumbies, especially at home. We’re going to have to review this and review it pretty heavily but it’s a sprint this competition and we’re going to have to move on pretty quickly.”
Hurricanes 41
Tries: Salesi Rayasi 2, Billy Proctor, Brett Cameron, Joshua Moorby, Brayden Iose, TJ Perenara
Goals: Brett Cameron 3/7
Penalty Goals:
NSW Waratahs 12
Tries: Vuate Karawalevu, Hugh Sinclair
Goals: Tane Edmed 1/2
Penalty Goals:
