Brumbies’ Woes Come to an End: Ref’s Controversial Call Sees NSW Break Dreadful Streak

The NSW Waratahs have finally put an end to their extraordinary 13-match losing streak against the ACT Brumbies, clinching a thrilling 28-23 victory in Sydney on Saturday night.

Waratahs coach Dan McKellar celebrated a significant triumph over his former team as Max Jorgensen showcased his football finesse, setting up Joey Walton for the crucial try in front of a crowd of 20,572 at Allianz Stadium.

This victory propels NSW ahead of the Brumbies into fourth place on the Super Rugby Pacific standings, bolstering their chances for the finals following a disappointing defeat against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.

“An upset for the ages. The decade-long struggle is behind us,” commented ex-Waratahs star Morgan Turinui on Stan Sport.

However, the Brumbies will feel aggrieved as they were on the receiving end of several contentious decisions in a match that was both exhilarating and at times perplexing.

The most contentious moment came when Tom Wright’s try was disallowed early in the second half, as officials reversed the play to highlight a knock-on by Noah Lolesio in the build-up.

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New Zealand referee Ben O’Keeffe had allowed play to continue in real time after observing the ball closely.

The decision was a narrow one and sparked debate among analysts.

“That was definitely a knock-on. You can’t overlook that,” said Matt Burke, president of NSW Rugby, on Stan Sport, adding he would have made the same call had it been against the Waratahs.

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“That was a blunder from Ben O’Keeffe,” countered Justin Harrison, who has played for both the Brumbies and Waratahs.

“One of the standout features of Super Rugby Pacific this season has been the refereeing,” Turinui noted. “The referees have excelled in keeping the game flowing and managing fatigue while being largely accurate. However, they weren’t at their best tonight.”

The Waratahs faced harsh criticism following their dismal performance against the Reds, with McKellar labelling some of their game as “soft” and their maul defence “borderline embarrassing” in response to Richie Asiata’s try.

“Our integrity was questioned all week, and that’s a challenging position for any player or club,” NSW captain Hugh Sinclair stated. “Many had their opinions about us, but we stepped up and I’m incredibly proud of the way we battled through.”

The Waratahs will now head to Wellington to face the Hurricanes on Friday, while the Brumbies will host the Highlanders in Canberra later that evening.

One game remains in round six, with the Western Force set to take on the Fijian Drua on Sunday afternoon in Perth.

Waratahs 28 (Wilson, Reilly, Leota, Walton tries; Creighton 3 con, Edmed con) Brumbies 23 (Alaalatoa, Reimer, Muirhead tries; Lolesio 2 pen, Debreczeni con)