The Waratahs overturned a 14-point deficit to register a 40-21 victory over the Highlanders in their Vodacom Super Rugby warm-up in Sydney on Friday.
The Highlanders started brightly but faded away. By contrast, the Australians were shaky in the opening exchanges but they settled into a rhythm as the match progressed.
Centre Sio Tompkinson scored an intercept try in the second minute. The Highlanders’ then pounced on the Waratahs’ inability to exit their own half by poaching the ball at a lineup to set up Nathan Vella for their second converted try.
The hosts pulled one back when prop Harry Johnson-Holmes barged over as they went into the break trailing 14-7.
Instant replay: pic.twitter.com/eZBaQ6zTnj
— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) January 17, 2020
The Waratahs struck twice after the break to head into the lead, but Highlanders wrestled back the ascendancy with a third try to hit the front by two points.
Their joy was short lived as the Watahahs seized full control of proceedings in front of their home crowd. They cut the Highlanders defence to shreds to score three more tries for what was ultimately a commanding win.
Instant replay: pic.twitter.com/VEXvEwp9gJ
— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) January 17, 2020
Waratahs – Tries: Harry Johnson-Holmes, Carlo Tizzano (2), Alex Newsome, Michael McDonald, James Ramm. Conversion: Mack Mason (5).
Highlanders – Tries: Sio Tompkinson, Nathan Vella, Daniel Lienert-Brown. Conversions: Mitch Hunt (3).
Waratahs – 15 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 14 Cam Clark, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Alex Newsome, 10 Mack Mason, 9 Jake Gordon; 8 Jed Holloway, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Tom Staniforth, 4 Ryan McCauley, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Robbie Abel, 1 Tom Robertson.
Subs: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Tetra Faulkner, 18 Pat Tafa, 19 Will Harris, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Rory O’Connor, 22 Nick Champion De Crespigny, 23 Angus Bell, 24 Andrew Tuala, 25 Chris Talakai, 26 James Ramm, 27 Joey Walton, 28 Mitch Short, 29 Will Harrison, 30 Ben Donaldson, 31 Triston Reilly, 32 Michael McDonald.
Highlanders – Forwards: Ayden Johnstone, Nathan Vella, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Jesse Parete, Pari Pari Parkinson, Sione Misiloi, James Lentjes (c), Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Sabastion Siataga, Isaac Salmon, Josh Dickson, Zane Kapeli, Dillon Hunt, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u.
Backs: Kayne Hammington, Mitch Hunt, Scott Gregory, Josh Ioane, Sio Tomkinson, Tima Fainga’anuku, Josh McKay, Folau Fakatava, Bryn Gatland, Jona Nareki, Aleki Morris, Chris Kuridrani, Michael Collins.
Photo: www.rugby.com.au/Getty Images
