Looking more settled with each outing, the win takes the Waratahs to 17 points and eighth place on the overall table, just a point behind the sixth placed Cheetahs.

“I think it was a real game of contrasting styles,” said Waratahs coach Michael Cheika after the game.

“They played very tight with forward pick-and-go which was quite effective and we were trying to play with more width. When we had any type of flow, they’d generally foul so we had to take the kick. I think that will be something we’re going to encounter because we’re putting it out there that we’re going to run.”

League/AFL convert Israel Folau showed further signs of his value to the Tahs this season
Photo: Carl Peterson

The Force refused to quit, but ultimately were too one dimensional in their approach to peg back the eventual four point deficit.

“It’s disappointing any time you lose but there was a lot in that performance that I was really proud of,” said Force coach Michael Foley.

“What we need to do is keep taking away the small wins within the game and make those little adjustments that will make the difference because there were large parts of that game we played really well.”

In an ill-disciplined first half the physical Force forward pack hammered the Tahs up the middle and the visitors went up 6-0 thanks to two Ebersohn penalties.

Although they were bruising the Waratahs pack on attack, poor discipline on defence killed the visitors. Salesi Ma’afu was sinbinned for a reckless high tackle on first cousin and front row counterpart Tatafu Polota-Nau, while McKibbin slotted five consecutive penalties for the Tahs. Ebersohn added another to his tally before the break to leave the home side with a 15-9 halftime lead.

Playing with width, decoys and strong, straight running, the Waratahs tested the Force defence on several occasions before being thwarted by mishandling or ruck infringements from the Perth based side.

Starting the second half where they left off in the first, the Force gave away an early penalty before conceding the first five pointer of the game to Adam Ashley-Cooper.

In his 100th Super Rugby game, Ashley-Cooper scrambled over the line after a patient Waratahs build-up and a clean line break by Israel Folau.

Ashley-Cooper and Folau were both excellent for the Waratahs. Ever dependable, Ashley-Cooper made meters in midfield, never missed a tackle and was great in support play while Folau’s rapid development continues. The league convert made plenty of line-breaks, was solid under the high ball and kicked a couple of times in what was his best game in the Cambridge Blue so far.

“I’ve been quite happy with his progression and his comfort on the ball,” Cheika said of Folau.

“He’s entering the line, his ruck work is good, he’s great under the high ball and he’s returning meters. The last few weeks he’s really been more involved and he’s really enjoying his footy, which is good.”

Scrum-half Brendan McKibbin racked up 18pts from the boot
Photo: Carl Peterson

Declining a kickable penalty with over half an hour to play, the Force opted for a lineout and let their big forwards get to work in the middle of the park where they had made significant gains all game. Full back Alfie Mafi rewarded the efforts of his pack with his fifth try of the season to go to the top of the Super Rugby try scoring ladder when he burrowed over on the right. Ebersohn added the extras and landed another penalty shortly after to make it a four point, 23-19 game going into the last 20 minutes.

As the match wore on and gaps started to appear, the Tahs had plenty of opportunities to put the game away but composure in the final third let them down on numerous occasions. Instead of putting the finishing touches on a comprehensive win, they ended up repelling a fast finishing Force side in the final minutes in front of a crowd of 15,348.

The Waratahs travel to Wellington next weekend to face the seventh placed Hurricanes who defeated the Kings 46-30 on the weekend.

Waratahs 23 (Adam Ashley-Cooper try; Brendan McKibbin 6 pens)

Force 19 (Alfi Mafi try; Sias Ebersohn con, 4 pens)

Crowd – 15,348