The Western Force have suffered Grand Final heartbreak after Austin Durbidge scored a last-play try to snatch the NSW Waratahs the Super Rugby AUS title with a 33-26 win.
The Force, chasing the Club’s first silverware since the 2019 NRC title, had led 26-19 entering the final 10 minutes in a game full of momentum swings in cool conditions at Wanneroo Rugby Union Club on Sunday.
But it was the Tahs who came up with the final two tries to win the trophy, first through excellent back-rower Clem Halaholo to square it up with five minutes to play.
Then the Force heroically defended as the Tahs had an extended period of pressure with attacking territory in the final two minutes, only for Durbidge to find a way to ground the ball for the game-winning try.
It ended a tight contest, where the Tahs scored five tries to the Force’s four. The home side had jumped NSW to a 14-0 lead after early tries from Geoge Poolman and Kurtley Beale.
But the Tahs scored the next three to lead 19-14 at the break. The Force rallied again with the next two tries from Mitch Watts and Vaiolini Ekuasi, only for the Tahs to have the final say.
After a tight opening 15 minutes where the Force defended hard before Jackson Ropata was binned for a dip tackle, the home side went ahead with two tries in five minutes.
First Poolman dotted after Max Burey retrieved a relieving Tahs’ exit, finding Justin Landman in a three-on-two situation. The Associates winger released Poolman down the right to cross. Ben Donaldson converted.
Minutes later, the Force nailed a scrum set play, with Henry Robertson’s inside ball for Beale setting clear the 95-cap Wallaby to score. Donaldson converted.
The ‘Tahs hit back almost immediately after Poolman shot off his line, with James Hendren’s line break and pass setting up Leo Jacques to score in the left corner.
The visitors almost had another when back-rower Leafi Talataina barged through, but scrum-half Robertson held him up.
NSW would score when Michael McDonald’s floating pass slipped through Landman’s clutches and found Sid Harvey to score in the left corner.
The Tahs hit the lead when the elusive Hendren got free down the right edge, combining with Jacques before finding McDonald to score.
The Force got the all-important first points of the second half, snapping the NSW’s 19-point run, with Mitch Watts getting over from a pick and go after Robertson’s break.
In the 50th minute the Force took the lead when the physical Ekuasi burrowed over after Poolman’s drive to the line.
The Force pushed for more points over the next 20 minutes without success, coming close after Burey’s kick and chase on Joey Fowler earned a Force scrum within 5m but the Tahs won it back.
The ‘Tahs would square it up, with Clem Halaholo squeezing it down on the chalk after Walton’s run. Harvey converted for 26-26.
NSW pressed and pressed in the final five minutes, before Durbidge made the decisive impact off the bench in the final play.
Western Force 26
Tries: Poolman (16’), Beale (20’), Watts (44’), Ekuasi (50’)
Conversions: Donaldson 3/4
Penalties: Nil
NSW Waratahs 33
Tries: Jacques (22’), Harvey (29’), McDonald (33’), Halaholo (74’), Durbridge (80’)
Conversions: Harvey 4/5
Penalties: Nil
