The NSW Waratahs slumped to a 40-17 defeat at the hands of the ACT Brumbies at GIO Stadium in Canberra on a chilly Saturday night.
The Dan McKellar coached side conceded six tries to three in a derby match that promised much early but unravelled in a disappointing second half.
Trailing just 19-12 at the break and after fighting back to 12-all after being 12-0 down at one point, the NSW Waratahs were still firmly in the contest at the break.
But they failed to maintain that momentum, and the ACT Brumbies capitalised on defensive lapses and dominated territory to take control of the match.
AS McKellar said after: " Obviously, we lost Jake and then we're down 12-0.
"We were really pleased with how we stuck at it and got back to 12-all. But … yeah, [there were] just far too many errors in the second half, and against a good side away from home, you're not going to win any of those games."
McKellar's frustration was understandable considering the NSW Waratahs had earlier beaten the ACT Brumbies at home, Allianz Stadium in Moore Park.
With two of their last four games away, his players to somehow work out why they can remain undefeated at home, but then still be winless on the road this season.
"Nothing's different, is it? It's a rugby field that's 100 metres long and 70 metres wide with a few less supporters in there," McKellar said.
"It's a mindset thing, we'll turn it around.
"It's going to come down to our consistency with our training.
"We had a really good training week, we were in a good place coming down here.
"We just didn't execute at key times, and away from home you get less opportunity a lot of the time, and you've got to take them.
"We had chances tonight, but we weren't good enough to take them.
"We came here with genuine belief. We beat the Brums up at Sydney a few weeks back.
"We knew they'd be better at home, but we also knew we would be better than we were a few weeks ago. In patches we were, but not for long enough periods."
While that elusive away win was still possible at half-time on Saturday night, three second-half tries to the hosts in the second stanza sealed the result.
The second half began with early promise for the NSW Waratahs, as fullback Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii continued to threaten the line as he did in the first half.
But the ACT Brumbies swiftly shut the door on the gains and took control of the game.
Tries to ACT Brumbies captain and prop Allan Alaalatoa (45’) and hooker Billy Pollard (48’) — both converted by flyhalf Noah Lolesio — pushed their lead out to 33-12.
The NSW Waratahs were then chasing shadows as the game away from their grasp.
Winger Corey Toole’s electric footwork earned him a second try for the game in the 57th minute to put them 40-12 up after another of Lolesio’s five conversions for the night.
ACT Brumbies flanker Tom Hooper was yellow carded in the last minutes, the NSW Waratahs could only manage a consolation try through winger Andrew Kellaway who finished off a move sparked by Tane Edmed in the 77th minute to take their score to 12.
The second half was in stark contrast for the NSW Waratahs to their first half effort.
The NSW Waratahs went into the sheds at halftime trailing the ACT Brumbies 19-12, after weathering a brutal early onslaught from the hosts in Canberra.
It was a shaky opening 20 minutes for McKellar’s men, who found themselves constantly on the back foot as the ACT Brumbies struck hard and fast.
Right from the kick-off, the NSW Waratahs defence was under siege.
Within the first three minutes, Corey Toole had crossed for the opening try of the match that went unconverted by Lolesio but nonetheless put them in the lead 5-0.
The early damage didn’t stop there, as outside centre Len Ikitau crossed NSW Waratahs’ line, and with Lolesio’s try conversion successful that put the ACT Brumbies up 12-0.
The situation worsened in the eighth minute when captain and scrumhalf Jake Gordon was shown a yellow card, for dangerous tackle reducing the NSW Waratahs to fourteen men.
It looked like it could become a long night for the visitors, but to their credit, the NSW Waratahs clawed their way back into the contest with some much-needed possession.
No 8. Langi Gleeson turned the tide in the NSW Waratahs’ favour with a critical intercept try in the 17th minute. Flyhalf Lawson Creighton’s conversion took the score to 12-7.
Momentum continued to shift as Suaalii scored in the 22nd minute. While unconverted by Creighton, the game then even with the score at 12-12.
But the ACT Brumbies through Pollard in the 32nd minute, crashing over for the first of his two tries. Lolesio's conversion took the score to 19-12 at half-time.
Tries: Corey Toole (2), Len Ikitau, Bill Pollard (2), Allan Alaalatoa
Conversions: Noah Lolesio (5)
Tries: Langi Gleeson, Josph-Aukuso Suaalii, Andrew Kellaway
Conversions: Lawson Creighton
