Despite the lack of clear chances for either side, it remained an engrossing contest as the Rebels displayed much greater resilience than in the reverse encounter in Melbourne. Unfortunately for them however, whenever they achieved good field position they invariably turned the ball over – twice to obstruction.
As is becoming customary, the Rebels were forced into a couple of late changes with Laurie Weeks making his run on debut in place of Rodney Blake. The big prop was considered fit enough for a place on the bench, but a niggling knee injury was not risked from the start. There was also a late change on the bench, with Adam Byrnes replacing Hoani Macdonald.
In comparison to the frenetic losses of recent weeks, the Rebels looked much more compact and solid in defence. This solidity was augmented by the imperious kicking of Mark Gerrard and Julian Huxley, lining up together for just the fourth time this season. Their presence ensured the Rebels defence was always one monstrous boot away from a counter-attack. Penetrating kicks for touch were a feature of the Rebels’ game plan as the slippery conditions did not encourage keeping the ball in hand.
The Waratahs dominated the early stages, penning the Rebels inside their own 22 for long periods. That pressure eventually told as the freshly corn-rowed Tatafu Polota-Nau hustled his way over after a gap finally opened up in Melbourne’s defensive line. The returning Berrick Barnes, who marshalled his troops convincingly throughout, added the formalities.
It took 19 minutes for the Rebels to force a foothold in the game and in the blink of eye the deficit was reduced to a single point. Julian Huxley, assuming the kicking duties in the absence of Danny Cipriani, struck two clinical penalties. The first was from distance, but the second, the product of a darting midfield run from debutant Peter Betham, was more straightforward.
Kurtley Beale responded with a penalty for the Waratahs as the game resembled an arm-wrestle at the increasingly rain-soaked Sydney Football Stadium.
Both sides threatened to break through as the game moved towards halftime but a missed Beale penalty was the only clear opportunity as the wet conditions began to take their toll. The Rebels rueing costly turnovers as ball retention proved a challenge.
The second half began with an early Huxley penalty reducing the deficit once more to just one point. Thereafter the play settled into the pattern established early, with the Waratahs probing with the ball in hand and the Rebels taking advantage of the kicking distance of its outside backs.
The resolute Rebels defence continued to hold firm but as the half wore on the penalty count began to rise and Beale punished the side he will join next season after 55 minutes.
Cipriani, on as a second-half substitute, was immediately into the action but his long-range penalty attempt slid just wide of the posts. This proved to be the closest the Rebels would come to forcing their way back into the contest as minutes later Beale extended the Waratahs’ lead to seven with his third penalty of the night.
The Rebels expanded their repertoire as the clock began to tick down but as every half-chance emerged it was undone by a mistake.
Those mistakes were capitalised upon by the Waratahs, who scored two tries in the final eight minutes, to add a more convincing look to the scoreboard. First David Dennis stretched over to reward a terrific rolling maul, with Beale’s conversion effectively icing the game. There was still time however for Dean Mumm to cross in the dying seconds as the Rebels lost their shape in search of a late consolation.
Rebels
1. Greg Somerville, 2. Ged Robinson, 3. Laurie Weeks, 4. Alister Campbell, 5. Hugh Pyle, 6. Jarrod Saffy, 7. Michael Lipman, 8. Gareth Delve (vc), 9. Nick Phipps, 10. James Hilgendorf, 11. Peter Betham, 12. Stirling Mortlock (c), 13. Mark Gerrard, 14. Lachlan Mitchell, 15. Julian Huxley
Reserves: 16. Heath Tessmann, 17. Rodney Blake, 18. Adam Byrnes, 19. Tim Davidson, 20. Richard Kingi, 21. Cooper Vuna, 22. Danny Cipriani
Head Coach: Rod Macqueen
Waratahs
1. Benn Robinson, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 3. Sekope Kepu, 4. Dean Mumm (c), 5. Sitaleki Timani, 6. Dave Dennis, 7. Pat McCutcheon, 8. Ben Mowen, 9. Luke Burgess, 10. Berrick Barnes, 11. Sosene Anesi, 12. Tom Carter, 13. Ryan Cross, 14. Lachie Turner, 15. Kurtley Beale
Reserves: 16. John Ulugia, 17. Al Baxter, 18. Kane Douglas, 19. Chris Alcock, 20. Brendan McKibbin, 21. Daniel Halangahu, 22. Tom Kingston
Head Coach: Chris Hickey
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