Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii lived up to the hype and his multi-million dollar price tag by setting up three tries on Saturday afternoon in Auckland but a couple of concerning brain-fades from another marquee Waratahs signing in Taniela Tupou - including an allegation of swearing at the referee - marred a dismal NSW defeat across the ditch.
The Waratahs led 21-7 at half-time but were belted and outclassed in almost every facet of the game as Moana Pasifika piled on six second-half tries to secure a resounding 45-28 win.
Triston Reilly’s first-half double had the Waratahs in prime position to atone for last week’s 57-12 thumping by the Hurricanes before the men in sky blue unravelled in remarkable fashion to crash to their third defeat of the season and seventh consecutive loss away from home. Moana, who’d never won back-to-back matches in Super Rugby, took out the second half 38-7.
With just under five minutes remaining and the game still in the balance, the Waratahs trailed 38-28 and were working their way out of their own half when Moana captain Ardie Savea forced a turnover.
Frustrations boiled over as Tupou, the million-dollar Wallaby dropped to the bench for this match, missed his cleanout and allegedly swore at referee James Doleman, who made it clear he’d heard an audible obscenity from the usually mild-mannered blue No.18.
Moana were awarded a penalty, kicked for the corner, and about a minute later had scored their seventh and final try of the match courtesy of Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa.
“Frustration got the better of Taniela Tupou there,” former All Black Jeff Wilson said in commentary. “His anguish towards the referee resulted in the penalty.”
Then, in a moment likely to infuriate Waratahs coach Dan McKellar, Tupou barely attempted to tackle Ta’eiloa as he ran in for his try — to the confusion of NSW teammates. Tupou appeared in no mood to make the tackle as NSW fought desperately on their own line, with last man Rob Leota unable to stop Ta’eiloa.
Tupou is one of Australian rugby’s highest-paid players and had been put on notice by McKellar before the game, with the coach telling media “we need to get more out of him”.
McKellar told reporters in Auckland his side just couldn’t replicate their polished first half effort.
“We didn’t execute what we did in the first half,” McKellar said. “There’s still plenty of time [to get our season back on track].”
Suaalii was outstanding, producing his best performance for the Waratahs, as he set up Reilly’s double and another try for Teddy Wilson in the 58th minute. One of Reilly’s tries began inside the Waratahs’ 22-metre area thanks to some clever eyes up rugby from Suaalii.
“It was really encouraging,” McKellar said of Suaalii’s game. “I think if Joseph gets good quality ball on the front foot, he showed today what he can do. He’ll take a lot of confidence out of that. We just didn’t get enough of it in the second half.”
Defence and discipline cost the Waratahs dearly as they missed 30 tackles on an afternoon where Moana prop Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou racked up a hat-trick in the 52nd minute. Once Moana got on a roll in the second half they grew in confidence with a flurry of entertaining tries.
“Either they had the special juice at half-time or we stayed in the change rooms at half-time,” Waratahs skipper Hugh Sinclair said on the broadcast. “We literally said at half-time they can put 40 on in a half - and look what they did. When they’re on a roll like that, they’re very hard to stop.
“Ardie leads from the front. He’s a phenomenal player. In the first half I thought we were in control. The rest is history, I guess.
“Discipline let us down a bit and handling. It’s going to sting that one.”
