Ten years after Bernard Foley kicked the Waratahs to their first-ever championship, replacement flyhalf Will Harrison has kicked his side to a memorable 43-40 Golden Point win in a match which was designed to honour the 2014 Champions.
NSW defeated the Crusaders 37-24 in Round 2 and the visitors were no doubt out for revenge, coming out of the blocks firing to score inside the opening minute of play, with Sevu Reece finishing off some crisp passing down the right flank.
But the Waratahs replied swiftly with a try to Lachlan Swinton three minutes later. Inside centre Lalakai Foketi popped a sublime ball on the inside to winger Dylan Pietsch who found the passionate blindside flanker looming up in support.
Flyhalf Tane Edmed kicked the 50th conversion of his career to level scores 7-all.
Alas, the finishing ability of Reece was again on display as he jetted over from 20 metres out in the ninth minute to once again put the Crusaders in front.
Edmed slotted two consecutive penalties to regain the lead for the Waratahs, but in a seesawing first half, the Crusaders again hit the front. It was Sevu who again stepped up for the Crusaders, but this time in an orchestrating role, as played a pivotal hand in a try to inside centre Dallas McLeod in the 23rd minute.
But the Waratahs refused to lie down.
After a successful lineout win by Jed Holloway, Ned Hanigan muscled his way over from the ensuing rolling maul. Edmed’s conversion gave NSW a slender 20-19 advantage.
Riley Hohepa and Edmed traded penalty goals later in the half to round out a 23-22 lead to the Waratahs at the break.
Nine minutes into the second stanza, the advantage again switched hands, with the boot of Hohepa putting the Crusaders back in front, followed by another penalty goal eight minutes later extending their lead out to 28-23.
But the Waratahs again clawed their way back. A try to Pietsch in the 59th minute drawing level, and Will Harrison’s conversion advanced his side two points in front. Like Edmed in the first half, the conversion saw Harrison notch his 50th goal in the Super Rugby.
Replacement halfback Mitchell Drummond scurried over from the base of the ruck to once again snatch the advantage from the Waratahs, but a scything line break by Joey Walton and offload to the hardworking Julian Heaven saw the hooker put the club he grew up supporting ahead in the 72nd minute.
In seemingly heartbreaking circumstances, in the final minute of play, Christian Lio-Willie powered over down the blindside from the base of the scrum to score.
However, in the 80th minute, Crusaders winger Johnny McNicholl was issued a yellow card for an intentional knock-on of a Walton pass, enabling Will Harrison to slot a penalty goal from over 40 metres out to send the match into Golden Point.
And in the third minute of extra time, it was the lion-hearted replacement flyhalf who slotted a clutch field goal to deliver his side a memorable 43-40 victory for the Waratahs.
“To see Harro step up after such a long time out was really special,” Captain Jake Gordon said.
“He’s a really special guy in our group. He’s worked so hard to get back from all of his injury setbacks and he’s always one of the last guys to leave training.
“I’m really happy for him and he should be extremely proud of himself.”
NSW Waratahs 43
Tries: Lachlan Swinton, Ned Hanigan, Dylan Pietsch, Julian Heaven
Goals: Tane Edmed 2/2, Will Harrison 2/2
Penalty Goals: Tane Edmed 3/3, Will Harrison 1/1
Field Goals: Will Harrison 1/1
Crusaders 40
Tries: Sevu Reece 2, Dallas McLeod, Mitchell Drummond, Christian Lio-Willie
Goals: Riley Hohepa 2/3, Rivez Reihana 1/2
Penalty Goals: Riley Hohepa 2/2, Rivez Reihana 1/1
Crowd: 12,894
