New South Wales Waratahs consolidated their place in the Super 14 top four with four second-half tries to claim a bonus point in their 26-3 win over South Africa’s Golden Lions yesterday.
The Waratahs rebounded from a dire scoreless first half in the rain to put the Johannesburg Lions away with live wire scrum-half Luke Burgess sparking the home team to their fourth straight win.
The Sydney team moved to joint second place and boosted their confidence for a crucial home game against the Coastal Sharks next Saturday.
But it was turgid going in an opening half stalemate, with both teams unable to post a point in gloomy conditions.
Skipper Phil Waugh finally got the Waratahs on the scoreboard in the 46th minute with a try in the corner after a snappy pass from fly-half Kurtley Beale off a goal-line maul.
Scrum-half Jano Vermaak kicked the Lions’ only points with a penalty goal seven minutes later, but Burgess swiftly changed the complexion of the match with two pieces of quick thinking.
Burgess, a potential Wallaby scrum-half following the retirement of George Gregan, took a quick tap penalty to catch the Lions’ defense off guard.
He passed to lock Dean Mumm who plunged over under the crossbar for a 12-3 lead after 57 minutes.
Burgess struck again a minute later, kicking down field and charging down replacement back Jannie Boshoff’s clearing kick for hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau to score the Waratahs’ third try, converted by Beale.
The Waratahs seized their scoring bonus point when replacement hooker Adam Freier scored off the back of a driving maul nine minutes from time.
The Waratahs have a tough finish to the season with next weekend’s final home match against the Sharks followed by matches in South Africa against the Northern Bulls and Western Stormers before returning home for a derby with the Reds.
The Lions, who remain stranded at the bottom of the standings, stay in Australia for their game against the ACT Brumbies on Friday.
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