SYDNEY - A virtuoso performance from Mat Rogers propelled the New South Wales Waratahs to a 25-7 victory over 2004 Super 12 rugby surprise package the Chiefs at a humid Aussie Stadium here tonight.
Rogers started the 2004 competition in identical fashion as the Waratahs shredded the Crusaders in round
one at Jade Stadium.
Unfortunately, for the then incumbent Wallabies fullback he injured an ankle two weeks later and -- despite making a comeback a fortnight later -- he was sidelined for the rest of the competition.
Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie will be praying 2005 does not follow a similar script after Rogers scored one and played a crucial hand in two others as the Waratahs built a match-winning 17-point buffer at halftime.
Rogers absence was cited as a prime reason the Waratahs fell apart as the season progressed and the excuse seemed justified on the strength of his performance against last year's beaten semifinalists.
The Chiefs made the early running but a slice of Rogers' brilliance put the Waratahs on the board in the ninth minute -- against the run of play.
The Waratahs were given advantage from a Chiefs offside and Rogers produced a perfectly weighted chip kick over the defensive line for Morgan Turinui to chase down and force between the posts.
Rogers, who lost his fullback spot to Chris Latham last year, then scored his own freakish try in the 22nd minute when he ran down his own grubber kick after some quick hands from Waratahs forwards Justin Harrison, Matt Dunning and debutant Wycliff Palu.
Turinui produced the final flick pass to Rogers' bootlaces but he picked it up with ease before kicking to the in-goal.
Off-balance, he outpaced the defence and touched down after Byron Kelleher failed to connect when the All Blacks halfback attempted to slide kick the ball into touch.
Wallabies wing Lote Tuqiri hammered home the Waratahs' dominance -- again thanks to Rogers -- after he grabbed an improbable inside ball from his fullback to accelerate 20m to the corner on the stroke of halftime.
The Chiefs never threatened to score in the first spell as the Waratahs defensive screen muscled up across the park.
A 20-metre barging run by hooker Aleki Lutui was the Chiefs' best opportunity but a penalty was conceded at the breakdown -- encapsulating a frustrating night for the visitors.
The Chiefs were powerless to change the momentum of the game in the second spell as the competition's perennial under achievers were again denied territory and quality possession.
"It's a credit to the defence they put on us," captain Jono Gibbes reflected.
"It's a disappointing start."
Turinui snared the bonus point for Waratahs when he rounded off a breakout move -- naturally initiated by Rogers -- with 15 minutes remaining.
Rogers' only flaw was his goalkicking -- the Chiefs could have copped a bigger margin had he landed more than one of seven attempts.
The Chiefs, who have a trip to Christchurch next week to look forward to, were on track to join the Hurricanes, Bulls and Cats as the only sides to be held scoreless in the decade-long history of the competition.
They were spared that indignity when debutant wing Sosene Anesi kicked ahead, grabbed a favourable bounce to skirt around the posts in the 76th minute.
New South Wales Waratahs 25 (Morgan Turinui 2, Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri tries; Mat Rogers con; Peter Hewat pen) Chiefs 7 (Sosene Anesi try; David Hill con) Halftime: 17-0.
- NZPA
SYDNEY - A virtuoso performance from Mat Rogers propelled the New South Wales Waratahs to a 25-7 victory over 2004 Super 12 rugby surprise package the Chiefs at a humid Aussie Stadium here tonight.
Rogers started the 2004 competition in identical fashion as the Waratahs shredded the Crusaders in round
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