In a thrilling match on Saturday night, the NSW Waratahs ended a frustrating 13-game losing streak against the ACT Brumbies, securing a 28-23 victory at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Waratahs coach Dan McKellar celebrated a significant win over his former club, with standout performances from players like Max Jorgensen, whose skills set up a crucial try for Joey Walton in front of a lively crowd of 20,572.
This win propels the Waratahs into fourth place on the Super Rugby Pacific standings, boosting their hopes for the finals after a disappointing loss to the Queensland Reds previously. Ex-Waratahs player Morgan Turinui heralded the victory as “the upset of all upsets,” marking the end of a decade of struggles against the Brumbies.
The Brumbies, however, could feel aggrieved, having endured some contentious refereeing decisions during the match, including the disallowance of a try by Tom Wright due to a previously unobserved knock-on by Noah Lolesio. New Zealand referee Ben O’Keeffe initially allowed the play, raising further debate among experts regarding the decision. Matt Burke, president of NSW Rugby, stated that he would have made the same call if the situation had involved a Waratahs player, while Justin Harrison, a former player for both teams, suggested the officiating fell below expectations that evening.
Earlier in the week, the Waratahs faced criticism for their poor performance against the Reds, with McKellar labelling some aspects of their play as “soft.” Captain Hugh Sinclair expressed pride in the team’s resolve and dedication in the face of adversity, indicating they were keen to silence the critics following their prior performance.
The Waratahs will now head to Wellington to face the Hurricanes, while the Brumbies will host the Highlanders in Canberra later in the weekend. The match concluded the sixth round of the Super Rugby season, with only one game remaining: the Western Force against the Fijian Drua in Perth on Sunday.
The full match scoreline reflects the Waratahs’ tries from Wilson, Reilly, Leota, and Walton, alongside three conversions from Creighton and one from Edmed, while the Brumbies responded with tries from Alaalatoa, Reimer, and Muirhead, as well as two penalties and one conversion from Lolesio and Debreczeni respectively.