The Waratahs still have a pulse in Super Rugby 2017, after a 50-23 win over the Rebels.<\/p>\n
Three tries in 10 minutes leading into half-time and another three in the final 13 gave the Waratahs their most emphatic win of the season.<\/p>\n
It took less than two minutes for the Rebels’ already mounting injury worries to jolt to their lowest ebb of the season, with captain Reece Hodge stretchered off after a head knock.<\/p>\n
Hodge was knocked out after a tackle on Wallabies teammate Israel Folau in the second minute though he was back on the sideline with teammates by the break.<\/p>\n
Fullback Ben Volavola slotted the first points for the Rebels not long after to put the visitors in front, but the Waratahs answered immediately.<\/p>\n
Flyhalf Bernard Foley capitalised on a half-chance, slipping through the Rebels defence, with Nick Phipps collecting the final pass to score seven minutes in.<\/p>\n
Despite that handy try, the Waratahs had their own early woes, giving away six consecutive penalties for Tolu Latu to be yellow-carded just 17 minutes into the match, their first of two binnings for NSW.<\/p>\n
NSW’s frustration was seeping into the public arena, with an exchange between an exasperated Michael Hooper and referee Angus Gardner.<\/p>\n
“I’m trying by best,” Hooper said, in regards to relaying the message of discipline to his team.<\/p>\n
Melbourne finally made the Waratahs pay for their ill-discipline with no. 8 Amanaki Mafi scoring his first Super Rugby try in a standout debut season, though Volavola’s patchy goalkicking and a Jackson Garden-Bachop pass that went straight into the hands of Waratahs winger Taqele Naiyaravoro kept the home side well in touch.<\/p>\n
The Waratahs finally won a penalty in the 29th minute, through Hooper, and it was their skipper who made the break to put the Waratahs deep in attack, before a potential missed forward pass to Phipps kept them there.<\/p>\n
A handful of phases later, lock Dean Mumm scored on the opposite edge before blindside flanker Ned Hanigan had the Waratahs’ third, opening up an eight-point buffer three minutes later.<\/p>\n
Another Waratahs turnover gave Folau the chance to have the final say on the half, giving the Waratahs their biggest first-half tally since a round two loss to the Lions in South Africa.<\/p>\n
Rebels replacement Jonah Placid had a double, with Israel Folau’s second sandwiched in between Placid’s, leaving the gap at six points.<\/p>\n
It was Hooper who found his way to the line for the match-sealing try, to keep their conference hopes alive, before Damien Fitzpatrick had their seventh to put the result beyond any doubt.<\/p>\n
Rebels winger Jack Maddocks was another with an early exit on Sunday, with an arm concern, that could deal a fatal blow to his U20s World Cup hopes as well, with the teen to fly out to Georgia after the game.<\/p>\n
The Waratahs take on the Highlanders next weekend, while the Rebels host the Crusaders.<\/p>\n
Waratahs 50<\/strong><\/p>\n Tries:<\/strong> Folau 2, Phipps, Mumm, Hanigan, Hooper, Fitzpatrick, Hegarty<\/p>\n Cons:<\/strong> Foley 5<\/p>\n