Waratahs outgun Western Force on Super Rugby return

Western Force were handed a rude awakening to the topflight on Saturday with NSW Waratahs scoring 23 unanswered points to overwhelm them in their first game of Super Rugby in nearly three years.

The Perth club were 14-0 ahead and more than holding their own before a Michael Hooper-inspired ‘Tahs stepped up a gear in the second half to win 23-14 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Angus Bell and Tom Staniforth bagged tries and Will Harrison kicked five goals to earn the home team their first win in Super Rugby AU after a six-point loss to the Queensland Reds in the opening round last week.

It was payback for the last time the two teams met, when they were hammered 40-11 in what was Force’s final Super Rugby outing before being controversially axed by governing body Sanzaar at the end of the 2017 season.

Force, who were playing the Asia-Pacific Global Rapid Rugby tournament before the coronavirus pandemic handed them a lifeline in Super Rugby AU, were impressive in the first 40 minutes before being overrun.

They started with an attacking mindset and secured the first points, with Prior cleanly booting a penalty to set them on their way.

The ‘Tahs were under pressure with Force scoring a first try on 28 minutes with young winger Byron Ralston dotting down on his debut after taking Henry Stowers’ pass.

Prior missed the conversion but made amends minutes later by landing two penalties in quick succession to stretch their lead to 14-0.

But that was as good as it got as the ‘Tahs woke up with Hooper in the thick of the action.

They finally earned a try when big prop Bell crashed over after a well-worked driving maul on the halftime whistle.

It boosted their confidence and they returned with better energy, putting together a 17-phase move that led to a penalty which Harrison converted.

Another Harrison kick hauled the score back to 1413 and with all the momentum they took the lead for the first time soon after courtesy of Staniforth dotting down.

Harrison’s conversion and a late penalty kick made sure of the win.