Waratahs finals hope still burns faintly as Wallaroos coach calls it quits

Queensland conceded a vital top four spot with their loss to the Hurricanes. Photo: Super Rugby Pacific

NSW kept their Super Rugby Pacific finals hopes alive with an extra-time 22-17 win over the Western Force in Perth on Saturday.

A third try to winger Darby Lancaster in the 91st minute sets up the Waratahs for a do-or-die final-round clash this weekend with the Blues in Auckland.

NSW trailed 17-14 at the break but overcame the second-half sin-binning of Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou at HBF Park.

Replacement flyhalf Jack Bowen slotted a 74th-minute penalty goal to level the scores with the only points of the second half.

Veteran replacement playmaker Kurtley Beale narrowly missed a 55-metre shot at goal after the fulltime siren that would have given the Force victory in regulation time.

Then fellow replacement Henry Robertson shoved Beale aside to take an easier match-winning attempt late in “super point” only to leave the shot short.

The result leaves the Waratahs needing to beat the Blues for the first time at Eden Park since 2009 to make the finals.

REDS BLOWN OUT OF TOP FOUR

Queensland have conceded fourth spot on the points table to the Hurricanes (Wellington) who won 31-27 in Brisbane on Friday.

Hurricanes backrower Du’Plessis Kirifi helped the Reds slide to a 2-4 record from their past six games.

It was the Hurricanes’ 10th consecutive win against the Reds since 2013.

Victory jumped them from fifth as they shunted the Reds out of the top four by one point.

The Reds collected a bonus point in the loss but need to beat Fijian Drua in Brisbane this weekend and have other results go their way to regain a top-four berth.

The ACT Brumbies, Blues and Fijian Drua all had a bye.

In the other games …. The Chiefs thumped Moana Pasifika 85-7 in an all-NZ derby as their winger, Leroy Carter, and scrumhalf Cortez Ratima scored three tries apiece.
Crusader winger Sevu Reece scored a try to become try-scoring record holder in Super Rugby in a 15-12 win over the Highlanders in another NZ derby.