Tryscorer: Adam-Ashley Cooper. Photo: Anthony Johnson
It did take a beating and it might take a few more but the real Waratahs – or is it the new Waratahs – finally stood up.
A second-half try to the Cheetahs was too much for NSW to chase down, going down 27-26 for their third loss of the season at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
But there is every reason to believe the Waratahs might be well on their way to chasing away the ghosts of seasons past after their most complete performance yet under new coach Michael Cheika.
It was the first time this season they ran into the sheds in front, let alone with two tries under their belts. They led 23-20 and dominated territory until well into the second half before Cheetahs wingers Willie le Roux and Raymond Rhule combined to snatch victory with a try in the 70th minute.
The Waratahs fought back to 27-26 but couldn't pull off the miracle finish. But this one will go down, in Cheika-speak, as a positive "performance" if not a win.
It was the first time the rugby matched the rhetoric. There was shape, there was intent and there was much-improved execution, although nothing resembling perfect and plenty to shore up before the season delivers a more clinical opposition.
But something clicked in the heads of the Waratahs this week and the Cheetahs, buoyant from victory over the Highlanders in round four, had a contest on their hands after tries to winger Peter Betham and centre Adam Ashley-Cooper in the first half.
Was it the back line clean-out that saw Betham, Lachie Turner, Berrick Barnes and Rob Horne get their first real runs of the season? Or the individual courage of players such as prop Paddy Ryan, five-eighth Bernard Foley and Betham on the flank? It might have simply been the bitter aftertaste of that 29-point embarrassment in Canberra last weekend.
Either way, the Waratahs knew who they were this week and weren't going to leave without giving another small home crowd a tantalising glimpse.
It didn't start well. The Cheetahs showed again why they are known for counter-attack after turning around a Waratahs kick-off with a classic chip-chase from centre Robert Ebersohn who charged down the right flank before two minutes had ticked over.
McKibbin put the home side on the board with a penalty goal a minute later and a second goal in the 14th minute but the Cheetahs made it 14-6 with a try to Rhule three minutes later.
Spurned Waratahs halfback Sarel Pretorius looked dangerous from the start, executing a few trademark runs to keep the Waratahs on their toes. But his former teammates were on to him, quickly confining him to a niggling role for great stretches of the match.
Betham repaid his coach's faith many times over through the match, getting the Waratahs into the Cheetahs 22 and scoring their first try, while Ashley-Cooper did his bit to score the second, the centre's first try in 16 matches.
There was disappointment for the Waratahs early in the first half, with experienced centre Barnes dislocating his wrist in a tackle and leaving the field before 20 minutes was up. Returning centre Horne slotted in at No. 12 for his first game since the Waratahs preseason trial against the Blues and played with enthusiasm and grit.
The second half was a more constrained affair, taking 10 minutes for anyone to change the scoreboard in the second half. The Cheetahs equalised at 20-20 in the 50th minute before McKibbin edged NSW in front again with a penalty 10 minutes later.
Le Roux and Rhule combined to put the knife in two minutes later, putting the Cheetahs back in front 27-23 with 10 minutes left on the clock. McKibbin got them back within two points of the lead with seven minutes to go but there was no miracle finish.
Cheika will work on finessing the execution but the shape was there and so was the spark. There is much more to come.
CHEETAHS 27 (Raymond Rhule 2, Robert Ebersohn tries Johan Goosen 3 cons 2 pens) bt NSW WARATAHS 26 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Betham tries Brendan McKibbin 2 cons 4 pens) at Allianz Stadium. Referee: Garratt Williamson. Crowd: 12,263.
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