The Waratahs ground out a 19-13 win over a spirited Force side in Sydney on Saturday.
The hosts suffered a setback in the build-up to their campaign opener after talisman Bernard Foley failed a late head injury assessment. His battle with ongoing concussion symptoms continues.
Bryce Hegarty stepped into the flyhalf role, but Foley’s absence was felt as the Waratahs struggled to get any sort of attack going. Yet they did enough to overcome the Force, who played well in their first outing of the season.
Right wing Reece Robinson nailed two early penalties for the Waratahs, and then a self-converted try by flyhalf Jono Lance off the back of a dominant scrum put the Force 7-6 up.
While the lead exchanged hands again with Robinson’s third penalty, Lance ensured that the visitors were 13-9 up at the break, with two penalty goals in the last five minutes of the first half.
The general play from both sides was even scrappier after the interval. Giant lock Will Skelton, fresh from his off-season spell with European and English champions Saracens, went over from close quarters as the hosts regained the lead. But the action fizzled out until Robinson settled the arm-wrestling in the Waratahs' favour with his fourth penalty in the 74th minute.
Waratahs – Try: Will Skelton. Conversion: Reece Robinson. Penalties: Robinson (4).
Force – Try: Jonno Lance. Conversion: Lance. Penalties: Lance (2).
Waratahs – 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Reece Robinson, 13 Israel Folau, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bryce Hegarty, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Jack Dempsey, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Tom Robertson.
Subs: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 David Lolohea, 19 David McDuling, 20 Brad Wilkin, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 David Horwitz, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro.
Force – 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Bill Meakes, 11 Chance Peni, 10 Jono Lance, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Richard Hardwick, 7 Kane Koteka, 6 Brynard Stander, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Ross Haylett-Petty, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Heath Tessmann (c), 1 Pek Cowan.
Subs: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau 17 Ben Daley 18 Tetera Faulkner 19 Matt Philip 20 Isireli Naisarani 21 Michael Ruru 22 Ian Prior 23 Alex Newsome.
Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
