Last-gasp triumph for champion Waratahs
Bernard Foley lands penalty against Crusaders in final minute to give New South Wales outfit their first Super Rugby title
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Bernard Foley kicked a long-range penalty goal in the last minute to clinch the New South Wales Waratahs’ first Super Rugby title against the Canterbury Crusaders in Sydney on Saturday.
Fly-half Foley landed the pressure 45-metre penalty to deliver the Waratahs a fighting 33-32 win over the seven-time champions Crusaders and end a 19-year wait for a southern hemisphere provincial title. The Waratahs lost both their previous Super Rugby finals to the Crusaders in 2005 and 2008.
It culminated a sensational finish to the season for the Waratahs, winning their last nine matches and going through the season unbeaten at home.
The kick was right on my borderline. There wasn’t much left in it and I had to give it everything. The rugby Gods were smiling and it just snuck over
The Crusaders looked headed for their eighth Super Rugby crown when fly-half Colin Slade put them in front with a penalty goal in the 76th minute.
But the never-say-die Waratahs fought their way into the Crusaders’ half and earned their winning kick at goal when All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw was penalised in a maul.
Foley’s kick just cleared the crossbar to put the Waratahs back in front, much to the delight of the record crowd for a Super Rugby final of 61,823.
Foley finished with 23 points from a conversion and seven penalties with Wallabies back Adam Ashley-Cooper scoring a try double for the Waratahs.
