NSW Waratahs five-eighth Bernard Foley will back himself to make the next kick he takes that’s identical to the crucial one he missed in his side’s opening round Super Rugby home loss to the Hurricanes.
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With NSW trailing 20-19 and just over a minute to go, Foley pulled the ball wide of the left upright from a position just off centre from little more than 30 metres out.
It was his sole miss in six attempts on a night when he became the franchise’s all-time leading Super Rugby pointscorer.
The Wallabies playmaker rued being unable to capitalise on the good work of the NSW scrum.
“It’s disappointing (not) to reward the front row and the scrum there at the end, they did a great job to win that penalty,” Foley said.
“But it’s process driven, we’re not driven by outcomes so it’s the same with my kicking.
“In terms of just keep trying to stick at it, get consistent, get better at it, and given that shot again, I’ll back myself.”
While disappointed by Saturday’s result, Tahs coach Daryl Gibson identified some positives in their stout defence and the efforts of debutant props Chris Talakai and Rory O’Connor.
While Talakai gave away some penalties, he was also instrumental in securing the one that gave Foley his late opportunity.
“Thrilled for the rookie front row to earn that penalty that gave us the opportunity,” Gibson said.
“I thought they came back well and those guys showing that they can do it at this level, which is a real positive.”
The Hurricanes’ dangerous backs had few attacking chances out wide as the Waratahs defended well.
“It was probably one of the positives that came out of the game, we’ve been doing a lot of work there,” Gibson said.
Both Hurricanes tries came from forwards.
“One was from a maul, one was from a pick and go,” Gibson noted.
“Overall we did an excellent job on their ruck speed, it was pretty slow for them.”
Gibson praised the defensive work of his new centre pairing of veterans Adam Ashley-Cooper and Karmichael Hunt, saying they acquitted themselves well.
Ashley-Cooper and prop Sekope Kepu picked up knocks, but Gibson confirmed playmaker Kurtley Beale would be back for next weekend’s away game against Japan’s Sunwolves after being rested from Saturday’s match.
Meanwhile, Hunt and several other Reds rejects impressed during the Super Rugby opening round, with Quade Cooper and James Slipper also starting brightly for their new teams.
Cooper provided playmaking creativity and direction lacking at the Melbourne Rebels last year, combining well with former Reds and Wallabies teammate Will Genia in the Rebels’ 34-27 win over the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday night.
Former Wallaby Greg Martin rated Cooper’s performance the most commanding from an Australian fly-half in three years and the talent-packed Rebels now look capable of pushing hard for a maiden finals appearance.
Hunt was so impressive in both attack and defence when starting at inside centre for the NSW Waratahs in place of rested Wallabies star Kurtley Beale that it will be hard for coach Daryl Gibson to bench him.
On his last chance in Australian rugby after a second drug-related incident made him unwanted at the Reds, Hunt – like Cooper – showed he could yet force his way back into Michael Cheika’s Wallabies, at least as a back up option, ahead of this year’s World Cup if he can maintain that form.
Test prop Slipper, who fell out of favour at Queensland last year after testing positive for cocaine, played well for the Brumbies when starting ahead of Test incumbent Scott Sio against the Rebels.
The main injury concern in round one was a concussion to star Brumbies and Wallabies backrower David Pocock early in the game in Canberra.
He is is in doubt to play the Chiefs next Saturday night, while wingers Toni Pulu (cheekbone) and Henry Speight (hip) were two other Brumbies casualties.
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Elsewhere, the Crusaders started their pursuit of a third straight title with a 24-22 win over a much-improved Blues outfit in Auckland with winger Manasa Mataele crossing twice.
In the other New Zealand derby, the Highlanders beat the Chiefs 30-27 in Hamilton, despite playing with 14 men for the last 15 minutes, after replacement centre Sio Tomkinson was sent off for a dangerous head high tackle on All Black lock Brodie Retallick.
In Pretoria, the Stormers were smashed 40-3 by the Bulls, following a 20-minute delay to the start after the visitors’ bus was caught in traffic.
Flanker Marnus Schoeman bagged a hat-trick of tries in the Lions 25-16 victory over the Jaguares in Buenos Aires and the Sharks crossed six times in a 45-10 victory over the Sunwolves in Singapore.