Waratahs Off to Flying Start in Wellington
Kurtley Beale of the Waratahs in action against the Hurricanes. (Marty Melville/Getty Images)
The 2008 finalists proved they will once again be a force to be reckoned with this season, despite losing some key players, to give new coach Chris Hickey a dream start.
Doughty defence, some deadly finishing from their outside backs and a strong set-piece effort were major factors in the bonus-point victory.
First-half tries from fullback Sam Norton-Knight and wingers Lote Tuqiri and Lachie Turner set up a 19-0 lead for the visitors.
The home team dominated territorially, but was frequently foiled by a steely blue defensive line.
Conversely, NSW made the most of their rare incursions into enemy territory, to lead 19-5 at the break.
The home side twice got within four points in the second half, but NSW held on to record only their second win in eight games over the Hurricanes in New Zealand.
Playing just his second season of Super 14 rugby, classy 19-year-old speedster Horne caused plenty of problems for the Hurricanes.
He created the opening try with a decisive break and scored the fourth bonus-point securing try.
"He (Horne) is going to be a superstar said flanker Waugh, who required stitches in a wound which left him with a bloodied face," said Waugh.
"We saw what he could do last year and he's a kid who has got so much enthusiasm and keeps putting it out not only on the playing field, but at training."
Waugh said there had been some big questions surrounding the NSW pack following the departure overseas of Test stalwarts, Rocky Elsom, Dan Vickerman and David Lyons, but both he and Hickey were pleased with the side's set-piece performance.
"I thought our scrum went really well, really happy with that," Hickey said.
"Our own throw in the lineout was pretty strong and we were able to mount a fair amount of pressure on their lineout.
"I thought in the first half our backline showed glimpses of being able to do something and I suppose the biggest thing to take out was the defensive effort in the second half."
Hickey said he wasn't aware of an incident involving Waratahs reserve forward Wycliff Palu, which some observers suggested could attract the attention of the citing commissioner.
NSW scored from their first significant attack after 10 minutes, when Horne busted the Hurricanes line to send Norton-Knight clear.
Tuqiri outpaced Hurricanes flanker Scott Waldrom to score the second try and Turner sprinted close to 90 metres for the third after he pounced on a loose ball.
The Hurricanes got on the board shortly before half-time, when Waratahs five-eighth Kurtley Beale had his attempted clearance kick charged down by opposite number Daniel Kirkpatrick.
Kirkpatrick failed with the conversion, but after the break landed a penalty and added the extras to a try to from hooker Dane Coles to make the score 19-15.
NSW moved out to a 26-15 lead with 10 minutes left, after Horne finished off good work from Beale and Turner, with the Waratahs pivot converting.
The Hurricanes retaliated immediately with a converted try to lively winger Hosea Gear to set up a tense finish but the visitors held on.
Ioane Brightens Fuming Reds Coach
Digby Ioane (R) of the Reds avoids the challenge of Zane Kirchner. (Lee Warren/Getty Images)
Ioane was almost unstoppable as he scored one brilliant try and set up another for Peter Hynes as the Reds lost 33-20 to the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday morning (AEDT).
In a stand-out performance, the 23-year-old suggested his days on the fringes of Wallabies selection may be over as he emerged as a world class finisher.
Beaten coach Phil Mooney couldn't help but be enthused by Ioane's attacking display which drew the Reds back to 18-13 down in the 52nd minute before the underdogs hopes were cruelled by controversial refereeing decisions.
The four-Test speedster's performance and the energetic cameo of former Canberra Raiders playmaker Mark McLinden were the heartening upsides of the four-tries-to-two defeat for Mooney.
"Digby was outstanding, he showed his class," Mooney told AAP.
"Every time he got the ball he was dynamite. He was a threat every time.
"He's worked extremely hard on his game and he's getting better all the time.
"We're certainly very excited about what he brings."
His ability to finish a 60m bust from a Will Genia flick pass from the ruck-base, showed incumbent Test wingers Hynes and Lote Tuqiri would have a fight to keep their Australian jerseys.
Ageless lock Van Humphries and reserve halfback Genia were also impressive as the Reds battled gamely but ultimately paid the price for a lack of second-half control at the breakdown as the Bulls counter-rucked effectively.
Genia provided second-half spark after Ben Lucas was dragged after conceding two soft tries either side of half time which saw Queensland's 6-3 lead turn into a 18-6 deficit.
On top of their own turnovers and inferior kick-chase game, the Reds were stewing about the momentum-stopping sin-binning of debutant lock Adam Byrnes for a reckless cleanout in the 56th minute.
Queensland did well to bravely hold the Bulls out for nine minutes of the lock's 10-minute spell but one breakdown turnover too many saw Burton Francis score a long-range counter.
Mooney's frustrations then boiled over when Genia was wrongly penalised for being off-side off a high ball that rebounded off a Bulls player.
The ensuing Morne Steyn three-pointer sealed the result at 28-13 with 10 minutes left.
"That (Byrnes) clean-out was reckless but it was no more reckless than our blokes being taken out in the air four times from bombs," Mooney told AAP.
"There were more bombs than Pearl Harbour and their chaser doesn't even go for the ball and takes the catcher out.
"We get a bloke pinged and they score points from their (misdemeanours)."
Mooney, who will lodge a complaint on the issue, wasn't just blaming Jonker as Brando Vaaulu and Quade Cooper were victims of ugly challenges.
"Touch judges have a role to play as well," he said. "They have a duty of care to protect a guy in the air."
Only Genia (rib) finished with a slight injury concern but the Reds will again be without Wallabies forward Hugh McMeniman in Friday's clash with the Stormers due to a family illness.
Super 14 Results and Standings-Round 1
BRUMBIES 33 (Stirling Mortlock 2, Adam A-Cooper, Mark Gerrard tries Gerrard 2 cons 2 pens, Christian Lealiifano dg) bt HIGHLANDERS 31 (Daniel Bowden, Chris King, Jason Rutledge, Jason Shoemark, Fetuu Vainikolo tries Bowden 3 cons) at Carisbrook Stadium. Referee: James Leckie (AUS).
BLUES 25 (Anthony Boric, Justin Collins, Chris Lowrey, Taniela Moa tries Jimmy Gopperth con, Paul Williams pen) bt WESTERN FORCE 19 (Tom Hockings, Drew Mitchell, AJ Whalley tries Matt Giteau 2 cons) at Subiaco Oval. Referee: Bryce Lawrence (NZL).
LIONS 34 (Ashwin Willemse 2, Cobus Grobbelaar, Henno Mentz tries Earl Rose 4 cons dg, Andre Pretorius dg) bt CHEETAHS 28 (Heinrich Brussouw, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Frans Viljeon tries Potgieter 2 cons 3 pens) at Ellis Park. Referee: Craig Joubert (RSA).
CRUSADERS 19 (Casey Laulala 2, Tim Bateman tries Colin Slade 2 cons) bt CHIEFS 13 (Richard Kahui, Lelia Masaga tries Stephen Donald pen) at AMI Stadium. Referee: Chris Pollock (NZL).
WARATAHS 26 (Robert Horne, Sam N-Knight, Lote Tuqiri, Lachlan Turner tries Kurtley Beale 3 cons) bt HURRICANES 22 (Dane Coles, Hosea Gear, Daniel Kirkpatrick tries Kirkpatrick 2 cons pen) at Westpac Stadium. Referee: Stuart Dickinson (AUS).
SHARKS 20 (John Smit, Stefan Terblanche tries Rory Kockott 2 cons 2 pens) bt STORMERS 15 (Gcobani Bobo, Peter Grant tries Grant con pen) at Newlands Rugby Stadium. Referee: Mark Lawrence (RSA).
BULLS 33 (Fourie du Preez, Burton Kenvin Francis, Wynand Olivier, Pierre Spies tries Morne Steyn 2 cons 3 pens) bt REDS 20 (Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane tries Berrick Barnes con dg, Quade Cooper con, Ben Lucas pen) at Loftus Versfeld. Referee: Marius Jonker (RSA).
Super 14 Ladder P W D L PF PA PD BP PTS
- Bulls 1 1 0 0 33 20 13 1 5
- Lions 1 1 0 0 34 28 6 1 5
- Blues 1 1 0 0 25 19 6 1 5
- Waratahs 1 1 0 0 26 22 4 1 5
- Brumbies 1 1 0 0 33 31 2 1 5
- Crusaders 1 1 0 0 19 13 6 0 4
- Sharks 1 1 0 0 20 15 5 0 4
- Highlanders 1 0 0 1 31 33 -2 2 2
- Hurricanes 1 0 0 1 22 26 -4 1 1
- Stormers 1 0 0 1 15 20 -5 1 1
- Chiefs 1 0 0 1 13 19 -6 1 1
- Western Force 1 0 0 1 19 25 -6 1 1
- Cheetahs 1 0 0 1 28 34 -6 1 1
- Reds 1 0 0 1 20 33 -13 0 0
