Waratahs Choke On Highlanders' Fling
Sun Herald
Sunday May 2, 2004
HIGHLANDERS 29
WARATAHS 28
THE ever-choking Waratahs have done it again. For yet another season, NSW blew the ultimate chance of consolidating their Super 12 finals hopes, but this time the system crash was simply diabolical.
They were unable to beat a Highlanders outfit, down to 14 men for 37 minutes, then inexplicably missed an easy penalty kick on full-time which would have won them the game and have them well set for a finals spot.
Now they have to rely on numerous final-round results going their way and must win with the bonus point against Queensland in Brisbane on Saturday night to have any hope of making the finals.
While it would rank as one of the most extraordinary comebacks in Super 12 history, NSW have no excuses for looking like crash-test dummies yesterday.
They were ahead 28-7 ahead at the 53rd-minute mark, and the crowd was expecting the Waratahs to finish with 50-plus after South African referee Shaun Veldsman sent off Highlanders second rower Filipo Levi following a lengthy fight with his Waratah counterpart Justin Harrison early in the second half.
But the Waratahs failed to take any advantage of 15 men against 14, with the Highlanders instead picking up their pace and forcing the home team into making endless ridiculous errors during the last 20 minutes.
The Highlanders sensed that the Waratahs were wobbling and went for it. By the 74th minute they had taken the lead when their All Black hooker Anton Oliver scored from a driving maul that followed a lineout.
The 35,959 crowd were in shock that the Waratahs had bombed such an enormous lead. But then a few minutes later they were in a state of ecstasy when with just 35 seconds to go, Veldsman penalised the Highlanders forwards for diving over the top at the breakdown. It was the easiest of penalty shots for NSW goalkicker Matthew Burke , as it was right in front and just 25 metres out.
Amazingly, Burke missed the shot. The Test veteran shook his head in disgust, mouthing the words ``It's going to hit the post" just before the ball hit the right upright.
As the Highlanders revelled in one of the great triumphs of all times, NSW players hung their heads in shame.
Oliver was agape when Burke missed the shot. ``I would have bet my house on Matt getting that kick," Oliver said last night. ``He is a class kicker and he should have kicked it. . . lucky for us he didn't."
Highlanders five-eighth Tony Brown was as bewildered by what he had just witnessed.
``I can't believe it," the former All Black pivot said. ``We were behind 28-7 and we thought `let's have some fun'. We honestly thought the game was over."
When asked if the Waratahs deserved to be called chokers after losing the unloseable game, NSW five-eighth Shaun Berne replied: ``We deserve any criticism we get.
``It shouldn't have been left to Matt Burke's kick, but more because there were too many lost opportunities earlier in the game. We had a lot of chances to get that fourth try and win the game . . . it's a shame."
Berne's sentiments were correct, as NSW bombed out well before putting the pressure on Burke to win or lose the game for them. A sombre Burke said: ``Obviously I'm disappointed to miss the kick. But the real disappointment is that the game ended up in such a situation."
NSW skipper Chris Whitaker added that the Waratahs should ``never have been in a position of relying on a last kick to win the game".
HIGHLANDERS 29 (M Saunders 2, S Harding, A Oliver tries; T Brown 3 goals, pen) beat WARATAHS 28 (S Kasprowicz, M Turinui, S Staniforth tries; M Burke 2 goals, pen; S Berne 2 pens). Referee: S Veldsman. Crowd: 35,959.
© 2004 Sun Herald
Share This