A diving Will Skelton goes over for the Waratahs second try of the night against the Blues
Photo: karenwatsonphotography.com.au

by Paul Cook –

In a game built up as a clash between Israel Folau and Benji Marshall, one superstar who has seemingly conquered both codes and another hoping to match him, it was an unheralded recruit from Sydney club rugby that stole the show as far as the fans were concerned, as the Waratahs racked up five tries in a convincing 33-12 victory over fellow Super Rugby rivals, the Blues.

Alofa Alofa – so good they named him twice – came on in the second half for his home debut and showed plenty of razzle dazzle as he scored one and had a hand in another, rousing the Tahs faithful from their seats and in tandem with fellow excitement machines Folau, Peter Betham, Ben Volavola, Jono Lance and returning hero Kurtley Beale, offered up plenty of promise for an entertaining year at Waratahs HQ.

Here comes the hotstepper: Alofa Alofa
celebrates his first try in Waratahs colours
Photo: karenwatsonphotography.com.au

It was the Tahs that took the early initiative, pinning the Blues back in their own half for the opening 7 minutes and forcing a succession of penalties as the visitors struggled to settle. New recruit Nick Phipps was providing plenty of spark from the base of the ruck and it was he who went closest to opening the scoring in the 8th minute with a dummy and dart to the line but the combined efforts of two dark Blue shirts held him up.

However, from the ensuing 5 metre scrum, the former Rebel halfback fired a long, looping pass under the noses of the Blues defensive line and as they suppressed the urge to stray offside, Kurtley Beale pounced to scoop up the bouncing pill and stretch out for his first try in Waratahs colours since May 2011.

Bernard Foley, entrusted with kicking duties, added the extras and it was the mercurial pivot who almost produced a second with a bit of trademark magic, a swivel of the hips seeing him through the line and away into open field but he was forced to hesitate for his support runners and a forward pass cruelled any further danger.

The Waratahs were showing the greater intent and execution thus far, with little of the understandable signs of rust on display as the handling and offloading in contact from both forwards and backs was providing plenty of continuity. Marshall meanwhile, barely got a sniff with his side firmly on the backfoot and wasted his first attempt to get the Blues into an attacking position when he failed to find touch from a penalty.

Tatafu Polota-Nau found himself in familiar territory just before the end of the first quarter, left prostrate on the turf after a tackle around the legs resulted in another head knock. Thankfully for the nervous supporters who made the trek to Allianz Stadium, the popular hooker was back in the fold after the 1st quarter drinks and just in time to play a part in the Waratahs second.

There wasn’t much on offer for last season’s Super Rugby leading tryscorer, Frank Halai,
on a night to forget for the Blues
Photo: karenwatsonphotography.com.au

The Blues defence was looking porous and this time it was Paddy Ryan, carrying on his swashbuckling form of last year, who put on a sumptuous step and powerful surge to get within 10 metres. The recovered Polota-Nau mopped up from behind and when the ball was sent wide, there was big Will Skelton to deliver a big don’t argue to dot down and make it 14-0 at half-time.

That was that for Marshall as both sides rang the changes for the second half with a host of replacements. The former league favourite will surely have better days in Auckland colours in the months to come but in fairness, his forwards didn’t really create much of a platform with which to truly judge his effectiveness as a pivot.

This was now Alofa’s time to shine, the 22-year-old, who plied his trade in the Shute Shield last year with West Harbour, certainly made the most of his opportunity to shine and provides coach Michael Cheika with a nice selection headache as the Super Rugby season looms.

His first touch in the 43rd minute saw him dance his way inside several tackles on the right flank before making good ground and creating an opportunity for the ball to be spread across the park for the waiting Foley to weave his way to the line for try number three.

The Blues finally got on the board a couple of minutes later as the Tahs switched off momentarily and allowed replacement Jordan Manihera to grubber into the corner, regather and brush Beale aside to find the line. The bounce however, was fortuitous to say the least.

Having worked once, the Blues decided to try the same tactic again for similar reward when another kick in behind the line resulted in an even freakier bounce that took Israel Folau completely unawares and landed straight into the grateful arms of Charles Piutau.

Israel Folau came on in the 2nd half and showed some of his trademark magical touches
Photo: karenwatsonphotography.com.au

Flyhalf Chris Noakes converted one of the two scores and with confidence growing and a foothold in the game, the Blues looked to be a chance of a recovery but the Waratahs, now bristling with a succession of eager ball runners, were not going to retreat into their shell and it was the continued x-factor of Alofa and the first stirrings of genius from Folau that got them back on track.

Peter Betham was the chief architect, drifting wide to where the Tahs had numbers before offloading to Folau. The hottest ticket in town – still only a year into his new venture remember – drew the tackle and passed out of the back of his hand for Stephen Hoiles to grab his second five pointer in two trials near the corner flag.

Four minutes later – in the 62nd minute – came the moment of the match. Another new recruit, Jono Lance, strode over halfway and his low pass was expertly fielded by Alofa – the new darling of the crowd – who in turn fed the onrushing Betham. The dashing winger fed Bernard Foley on his inside and as he was hauled down just short, he popped the ball up for a flying Alofa to skirt into the gap and swan dive for glory. If that’s an indication of what the fans can expect to see this season, the NSW Waratahs can expect to see plenty more people back through the gates.

NSW Waratahs 33 (Kurtley Beale, Will Skelton, Bernard Foley, Stephen Hoiles, Alofa Alofa tries; Bernard Foley 3 cons, Kurtley Beale con) Blues 12 (Jordan Manihera, Charles Piutau tries; Chris Noakes con)