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Excellent conditions will greet the teams tonight, although there is some due around.
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Our referee tonight is Rohan Hoffmann.
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In Sydney, the Waratahs have won 89% of their fixtures against the Sharks. They have met on 9 occasions, with the Sharks only winning once, way back in 2000. The remaining 8 fixtures have all been won by the home side.
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In the last 5 matches between these two sides, the Waratahs have won 3 and lost 2. In fact, they have a very good record against the Sharks, winning 11 of the 17 fixtures between the two sides. This amounts to a 65% winning ratio. They have only lost on 5 occasions with one match ending in a draw. The average score in this fixture is Waratahs 28 Sharks 21.
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Gary Gold has named an unchanged Sharks team this week.
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The Waratahs make an enforced change this week with Stephen Hoiles starting at flank in place of Jacques Potgieter, who is injured.
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Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this Super Rugby clash from Sydney where the Waratahs take on the Sharks.
1'
TRY. WARATAHS. ASHLEY-COOPER! 5-0. What a start from the home side. An inside ball finds Hooper in space, he draws Mvovo and off-loads to Ashley-Cooper on his inside who coasts over.
1'
Foley gets us underway in Sydney as the Waratahs kick off. The Sharks secure and clear to half-way.
2'
CONVERSION. WARATAHS. FOLEY! 7-0. Foley makes no mistake from right in front.
5'
The Sharks haven't seen much of the ball yet, they have a chance now as the Waratahs knock-on. The Sharks will feed a scrum just inside their half. They choose to kick into Waratahs territory, the ball running out on the 22m line.
6'
Dennis bursts upfield after Mvovo can't hold onto the ball while challenging for an aerial ball. If he held that, he would have scored.
9'
An excellent Sharks scrum results in a penalty as the Waratahs take the set piece to ground. They setup a lineout just outside the Waratahs 22m area.
10'
The Sharks look to maul, but Skelton does brilliantly, firstly to stop the maul and then to prevent the ball from coming out. He wins a turnover for the Waratahs.
12'
Skelton secures another turnover, excellent play by the big lock.
14'
Foley clears from the resultant scrum. The Sharks will try again. They have a lineout around 30m out from the Waratahs line.
15'
Coetzee breaks down the blindside, finds Ungerer who after numerous juggles cannot control the ball.
16'
Hooper makes another clean break and is away from the Sharks defence. Someone the ball works itself free of his grip and he loses control. He is livid with himself.
17'
PENALTY. SHARKS. STEYN! 7-3. Steyn makes no mistake with his first attempt at goal. The Sharks narrow the gap to four points.
17'
Another scrum penalty to the Sharks, this time Robinson is pinged for collapsing. Steyn will have a shot at goal from 35m out and slightly to the right of the uprights.
19'
The Waratahs asking big questions of the Sharks defence with Foley and Hooper very prominent. The Waratahs lose possession but the Sharks are penalised for holding on. Foley will kick at goal from right out in front.
20'
PENALTY. WARATAHS. FOLEY! 10-3. Foley extends the Waratahs lead as he sends the ball sailing between the posts.
22'
A promising Sharks attack is thwarted as they are blown up for a penalty. Coetzee who initially broke away from a maul is the guilty party. Palu the man doing all the hard for the Waratahs. Foley clears to just before half-way.
25'
Excellent work by du Plessis, who wins the ball on the ground. The Sharks throw a forward pass as they look to spread the ball quickly. Harsh call, that wasn't forward at all.
27'
A strong scrum from the Waratahs wins them a penalty in a very kickable position. Foley will kick at goal from about 38m and slightly to the right of the uprights.
28'
PENALTY. WARATAHS. FOLEY! 13-3. The Waratahs fly-half further extends their lead as he makes no mistake with his penalty attempt.
31'
The Waratahs concede another scrum penalty, again Robinson going to ground. The Sharks setup a lineout on the 22m line of the Waratahs.
33'
Excellent defence by Beale sees Mvovo get ball and man at the same time. The ball goes into touch but off a Waratahs player. The Sharks will try again.
34'
The Sharks attack is very static and predictable so far today. They take the ball through a number of phases, but have not really gained any ground.
35'
The Sharks have won a penalty after Beale is pinged for hands in the ruck. Steyn will kick at goal. He is around 38m out and 10m in from the left-hand touchline.
36'
PENALTY. SHARKS. STEYN! 13-6. No mistake from the centre as he sends the ball sailing straight through the middle of the uprights. The Sharks close the gap to 7 points.
38'
The Waratahs have a chance to launch one final attack before half-time. Folau breaks, he is brought down 2m short of the line!
39'
Latu might be in some trouble here. He ran in from a long way away and pushed a Sharks player. He receives a warning.
39'
The TMO is going to be called into action after both packs come together for some "handbags at five paces". Something set that off.
39'
The Sharks turn the ball over, Robinson concedes a penalty for side entry.
40'
Cronje gets the second half underway. The Sharks win possession on the 22m area of the Waratahs.
41'
The ball comes out left, Mvovo makes metres, offloads to Sithole but he is tackled into touch.
42'
The Waratahs have a chance to clear their lines as the Sharks are pinged for an early engagement at scrum time. Foley misses touch, the Sharks kick back down into space.
45'
The Waratahs collect and Foley clears to touch. The referee initially rules the ball was taken back into the 22m area but the TMO helps him out and sets the record straight as the ball was not carried back.
46'
The Waratahs receive a penalty as Pietersen is pinged for not rolling away. Foley kicks to touch, setting up a line-out on the Sharks 22m area. The Waratahs make a hash of the line-out, gifting possession to the Sharks who clear upfield.
48'
TRY. SHARKS. NDUNGANE! 13-11. Excellent inventiveness by the Sharks. Ndungane was hanging out on the right wing and instead of kicking for touch, Cronje found him with an excellent low, diagonal kick which the winger ran onto. That caught the Waratahs napping!
48'
A sustained period of Waratahs comes to an end after excellent defence by the Sharks. They win a penalty.
49'
Steyn misses with his conversion attempt, but the Sharks have narrowed the gap to 2 points.
52'
TRY. WARATAHS. NAIYARAVORO. 18-11. The try stands. Naiyaravoro has managed to ground the ball. That came after another extended period of attack by the Waratahs, eventually working the ball out to the right to Naiyaravoro in plenty of space. He is very difficult to stop in those situations.
52'
Mvovo did will to bring the big man down, but his momentum got him over the line.
52'
Naiyaravoro is over the line in the right-hand corner. Has he grounded it? The TMO will have a look.
53'
CONVERSION. WARATAHS. FOLEY! 20-11. An excellent conversion by Foley from the right-hand touchline further extends the lead.
57'
TRY. SHARKS. STEYN! 20-16. The Sharks hit back! Ndungane made inroads after taking an inside pass. The ball was worked left with Ungerer finding Cronje. Beale came up in defence too fast, possibly looking for an intercept and Cronje delayed his pass to Steyn who cantered over.
58'
CONVERSION. SHARKS. STEYN! 20-18. Steyn makes no mistake from right in front of the uprights as he converts his own try.
60'
The Waratahs turn down a very kickalble penalty as Chadwick is pinged for not rolling away. Foley sets up a lineout in the Sharks 22m area.
61'
The Waratahs will now kick at goal after Cronje is penalised for a high tackle. This is straight out in front and should not be a problem for Foley.
62'
PENALTY. WARATAHS. FOLEY! 23-18. Foley eases the ball between the uprights, extending the Waratahs lead.
64'
The Sharks have a lineout in the Waratahs 22m area which they can't secure.
65'
A kick ahead by Steyn places Ashley-Cooper under some pressure, but the veteran does well to secure the ball and then breakaway upfield.
67'
Pietersen is penalised for knocking the ball down intentionally. Foley will kick at goal from roughly straight in front.
69'
PENALTY. WARATAHS. FOLEY! 26-18. Again, no mistake from the Waratahs fly-half. The Sharks will have to score twice to win.
70'
The TMO and referee seem to be happy with the tackle by Beale. They have ruled Sithole to be in touch. The Waratahs have a defensive 5m lineout.
70'
The Sharks may have scored! Sithole is over in the left-hand corner. The TMO will check the grounding and the tackle by Beale. That looks like a shoulder charge.
73'
A hack ahead by the Sharks sees the Waratahs under immense pressure. The ball is buried under a mass of players. The Waratahs will have a scrum, 5m from their own line.
75'
The Sharks have worked the ball into the Waratahs 22m area thanks to an excellent maul.
76'
The Sharks are penalised for holding on after the Waratahs managed to get players over the ball. Foley sets up a lineout just inside the Sharks half.
78'
TRY. WARATAHS. FOLEY! Cronje cannot control a low pass from Ungerer allowing Foley to kick the ball ahead, collect and go over under the posts.
78'
One more chance for the Sharks get a losing bonus point after Beale knocks-on. They have a scrum on half-way.
79'
CONVERSION. WARATAHS. FOLEY! 33-18. Foley makes no mistake with the conversion.
80'
Waratahs 33 Sharks 18
80'
All over in Sydney. The Waratahs have run out victors in a very start/stop affair. The Waratahs scored from the first major play of the game with Ashley-Cooper getting over in the 1st minute. Steyn and Foley exchanged two penalties each to leave the score at 13 - 6 to the home side at half-time. In the second half, the Sharks briefly took the lead through a well-worked try for Ndungane in the 48th minute. The Waratahs hit back through a Naiyaravoro try in the 52nd minute. The Sharks would not lie down however, and scored through Steyn in the 57th minute closing the gap to two points. Foley again extended the lead with two further penalties and finally killed off the game when he scored and converted his own try after a mistake by Cronje.
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