'Tahs off to a flying start

The Waratahs started the 2005 Super 12 by beating the Chiefs 25-7 on Friday evening in Sydney, scoring a bonus point in the process.

Brilliant: Mat Rogers

The Chiefs did well in their way in the first half but they had no pressure points, nobody who could score. The Waratahs had the pressure points all right, and they scored. Above all they had Mat Rogers.

The first try had its origin in their own territory when Peter Hewat and Shaun Berne combined to make defence into sharp attack.

Down on their left near the Chiefs' line, the Waratahs used advantage to the fullest. The referee called Advantage and the ball came back to fullback Rogers who was playing fly-half. He dropped the ball onto a left foot for a sweet chip. Morgan Turinui had all the time in the world for the ball to sit up in in-goal before he grabbed it and flopped on it for a try under the posts. Rogers converted. 7-0 after nine minutes.

The Chiefs came close when David Hill broke but the Waratahs scored a delicious try.

They were attacking down the left and then played the width of the field to their right. Justin Harrison started it and in a sense made it all possible. He gave to burly Wycliff Palu. Palu gave to Matt Dunning who made a bit of running before passing to Turinui. Turinui performed a minor miracle and flipped the ball on to Rogers who was near touch with two Chiefs in front of him and ten metres or so to go to the line. His left foot nudged the ball ahead. He darted after it and nudged it ahead again, avoided the staggering Chiefs and dotted down in the corner. 12-0.

Chunky Chiefs hooker Aleki Lutui then intercepted but his powerful legs lacked the pace to make it into points.

Rogers came weaving into the backline on his left and outwards towards touch. Lote Tuqiri came inside. Rogers popped the ball to him and Tuqiri set off to the corner where he scored.

Half-time came and the Waratahs led 17-0.

The second half lacked sparkle, except for a magic moment. The magician was Rogers and his sleight of boot. He was going left and chipped. The ball bounced off David Hill straight back into Rogers's arms. The fullback sped ahead. From the tackle the Waratahs went wide to the right for Turinui trio score his second try. Again it was in the corner and again the conversion attempt went awry. 22-0.

Rogers then went off, and when Kevin Senio was penalised at a tackle the goal kicking was given to wing Peter Hewat, and he made it 25-0.

A kind bounce gave right wing Sosene Anesi a try. Stranded out on the right with only Waratahs in the vicinity he chipped. It looked harmless but the bounce was generous. He footed on and the bounce was generous again as the smiling ball stood up for him to pouch and run round for the try, which David Hill converted.

There were four minutes left but they did not make any real difference.

Man of the Match: Much as one admired Lote Tuqiri, Phil Waugh and lively Chris Whitaker of the immaculate service, it has to be Mat Rogers who really made the biggest difference and provided the greatest thrills. He was taken off but his time on the field was worth gold.

The scorers:

For the Waratahs:
Tries: Turinui 2, Rogers, Tuqiri
Con: Rogers
Pen: Hewat

For the Chiefs:
Try: Anesi
Con: Hill

Teams:

Waratahs: 15 Mat Rogers, 14 Peter Hewat, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Shaun Berne, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Lachlan MacKay, 9 Chris Whitaker (captain), 8 David Lyons, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Wycliff Palu, 5 Daniel Vickerman, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Alastair Baxter, 2 Adam Freier, 1 Matt Dunning.
Replacements: 16 Brendan Cannon, 17 Gareth Hardy, 18 Alex Kanaar, 19 Rocky Elsom, 20 Chris O'Young, 21 Nathan Grey, 22 Winston Mafi.

Chiefs: 15 Loki Crichton, 14 Sosene Anesi, 13 Mark Ranby, 12 Grant McQuoid, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 David Hill, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Steven Bates, 7 Marty Holah, 6 Wayne Ormond, 5 Sean Hohneck, 4 Jono Gibbes, 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Simms Davison.
Replacements: 16 Scott Linklater, 17 Ben Castle, 18 Bernie Upton, 19 Sione Lauaki, 20 Kevin Senio, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Adrian Cashmore.

By Paul Dobson