NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said he was “very, very proud” after his team pulled off a stirring 21-14 Super Rugby win over the table-topping Waikato Chiefs, with a rock-solid defence key to the victory.
The rousing triumph in Sydney on Friday evening, with tries from Joseph Suaalii, Triston Reilly, Teddy Wilson, kept the ‘Tahs unbeaten at home this season and thrust them to fourth on the ladder.
It was only the Chiefs second loss this campaign from eight games.
The win was even sweeter given the ‘Tahs were coming off two heavy defeats, against Moana Pasifika and the Wellington Hurricanes where they leaked 16 ties and 102 points.
“You can’t beat the Chiefs and be relieved — just really, really proud,” said McKellar, who this week ruled himself out of the running to take over from Joe Schmidt as Wallabies coach.
“We challenged each other this week, and the boys bounced back incredibly well. They turned up with a whole lot of belief.”
The home side held a deserved 14-7 lead at half-time, highlighted by fullback Suaalii’s blistering run that finished off a well-timed pass from flyhalf Lawson Creighton for the opening try.
The Chiefs pressed hard in the second half for the win but the Waratahs’ defense admirably stood up under scrutiny.
“Defense is the most important thing in the building,” McKellar said.
“If we want to be a team that’s prepared to fight and work hard for each other time after time after time, you’ll get reward off the back of it — and we got that.
“At half-time, I just said, ‘What does it mean to you?’ If it means something, then you genuinely go that extra yard and show that bit more care, and we did that.”
