The forwards were fantastic as they have been all year, and only got better as the game wore on. Even when the bench was emptied the quality didn't seem to slip. They did push us around a little and their line out was superior at times (they were quite a bit taller) but the in-and-under scrumaging work we kicked their butts, which led to excellent ball retention.
The two tries in the first half were both a little comical. Mat Rogers kicking for clearence from our in goal, kicked it straight into an approaching Bull's chest. He promptly fell on the ball and got the try. Not a lot of skill involved there, just being in the right place at the right time and exerting the right amount of pressure on the kicker.
The first Waratah try to Morgan Turinui, was just as ridiculous. After the Waratahs flubbed a line break, the Bulls kicked for touch, didn't get it and Turinui put up a mid-field bomb, which the Bulls players watched bounce right in front of them, none of them even looked like making a play for the ball. Instead the ball bounced straight into the on coming hands of Morgan Turinui who sprinted 30m to the try line and put the ball down under the posts.
Nathan Greys' try after half time, was a little more traditional, he just put his head down and shoved the defence back over the try line, taking three Bulls' players with him. He has made his career by using his head a battering ram and this was no exception. It wasn't spectacular but it was five points nonetheless and we never gave up the lead from half time onwards.
It was a bit like trench warfare at times with the Bulls pack trying to suffocate the Waratah attack and doing a pretty good job at it for large portions of the match. Although watching numerous line breaks from a No. 8 is always entertaining and David Lyons was fantastic in both defence (which held really well under some intense pressure) and attack, getting the ball away to his outside runners like Tuquri and Turinui.
All in all it was a great match to be at, the atmosphere was awsome and the victory was very sweet. Now NSW have the unenviable task of trying to beat the Crusaders on their home turf (although home finals are historically no advantage to victory), with a very hostile crowd. But it is our first Final appearance in 10 years so maybe anything can happen.
GO WARATAHS :clap :clap !!!
!!!
