Wallabies winger Rob Horne scored three tries, as defending Super Rugby champions the NSW Waratahs beat the Chiefs 38-36 on Friday in a trial match at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
The Tahs, who started the game with 13 Test players in their run-on side, scored six tries to four against a Chiefs side missing seven All Blacks.
Sonny Bill Williams came on at halftime to give the crowd of 5103 the chance to see him and another dual international, Israel Folau, play on the same field for the first time in more than seven years, but almost all of the fireworks came in a frenetic first half.
The Waratahs scored five tries to three in a breathless half, which ended with them holding a 33-28 lead.
While the Chiefs took two early penalty shots for goal, both teams were keen to exploit the full width of the ground, with all four wingers crossing by the 20-minute mark.
The back three scored four of those tries for the Tahs, with giant winger Taqele Naiyaravoro triggering the glut with his third five-pointer in two trials.
Fellow winger Horne crossed twice before the break, fullback Folau once and impressive back-rower Jacques Potgieter crashed his way over after the halftime siren.
The Chiefs recovered from an early 14-3 deficit to score 18 straight points and lead by seven.
Wingers Hosea Gear and Bryce Heem crossed the Waratahs' stripe, the latter's try set up by lock Michael Fitzgerald, who notched a five-pointer of his own after charging down a kick from Waratahs five-eighth Bernard Foley.
However, Foley quickly atoned by setting up Horne's second try and Potgieter's score meant NSW finished the half with 12 straight points.
Waratahs captain Dave Dennis, who was making his return from a third knee reconstruction, was on earlier than expected after 16 minutes, when Mitchell Chapman was forced off with a facial injury.
The Wallabies' back-rower slotted into the second row and took some clean lineout ball in the 40 minutes he played.
The second half was less frantic than the first, with both teams making multiple changes and Waratahs and Wallabies lock Will Skelton spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin for deliberate offside.
The Chiefs cut the Waratahs' lead to two with a penalty, but Horne's third try gave them a bigger buffer.
Flanker Tevita Kolomatangi scored in the 74th minute, but Damian McKenzie missed the conversion and a subsequent 45-metre penalty attempt in the final 30 seconds.
Both Dennis and Waratahs coach Michael Cheika rated it a perfect final trial for the Waratahs, heading into their Super Rugby opener on Sunday week against the Western Force.
"It was really good for us with the hard work we had to do," Cheika said.
"Most of those guys were having their first run (of the season).
"They got a lot of time and they were really challenged and played some good footy and highlighted the areas we need to get ready for next weekend."
He said he saw some improvements in scrummaging, but wanted more physicality in defence for next week's game.
Cheika thought Dennis would be able to start against the Force.
Dennis said he was a little bit nervous going into the game so early.
"But you get straight into it. As soon as I was on there, I felt fine," Dennis said.
"We got tested. They threw the ball around a lot.
"Happy with the attack but, obviously defence, we can be a bit better."
Share
