Defending champions New South Wales Waratahs were pushed to the limit before fending off South Africa’s Coastal Sharks 33-18 in their Super Rugby match in Sydney on Saturday.
The Waratahs only sealed the match with a runaway solo try by Bernard Foley in the final minute after a Sharks handling error.
The win took the Waratahs to the top of the Australian conference ahead of the ACT Brumbies match against the Western Stormers in Cape Town later Saturday.
The win didn’t come without some controversy with the Durban-based Sharks missing out on a try in the corner while trailing 26-18 only for the video referee to rule that winger Sibusiso Sithole’s knee had come in contact with the sideline in the process of diving over to score.
The Sharks were still chasing the win when fly-half Lionel Cronje fumbled a pass from a lineout win presenting Foley with an unimpeded 40-metre run to the try-line.
The Waratahs scored three tries to two with Foley not missing a kick and finishing with 23 points from a try, three conversions and four penalty goals.
It was a far from convincing win for the Waratahs, who made 12 handling errors and conceded 18 turnovers.
The Waratahs got away to a flyer with a try inside the opening minute from Adam Ashley-Cooper, but both sides traded penalty goals for the home side to lead 13-6 at halftime.
The Sharks caught the Waratahs napping when Cronje angled his quickly taken free kick for winger Odwa Ndungane to score in the 49th minute.
The Sydneysiders hit back minutes later when giant winger Taqele Naiyaravoro carried Sithole over the line to be awarded a try via the video referee before the Sharks fought back with their second try.
Cronje got away a pass as he was tackled for Francois Steyn to score and trail the Waratahs 20-18 with over a quarter of the match remaining.
Foley gave the Waratahs breathing space with two penalties before his last-minute try blew out the final margin.
The Sharks have now not won in Sydney since 2000.
“The Sharks played well, they stuck to their strengths, there were a lot of kicks and didn’t give us much opportunity in their 22,” Waratahs skipper Dave Dennis said.
“And when we got down there we were probably a little bit too impatient and turned the ball over, but pleased to get the result in the end.”
Sharks skipper Marco Wentzel said his team couldn’t keep the pressure on the Waratahs.
“We lost a lot of ball through turnovers and they scored. They are a quality side and if you make mistakes they punish you,” he said.
The Waratahs face a rematch of last season’s final against the Canterbury Crusaders in Sydney next week, while the Sharks play the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.