Cheika praises Tahs after brutal win

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TATAFU Polota-Nau will have to make an emergency trip to the dentist after having his front teeth knocked out, Dave Dennis sustained a cut so bad that his leg tissue was exposed, and numerous Waratahs players required stitches after their brutal victory over the Chiefs.

The remarkable efforts of the Waratahs in New Plymouth was summed up by key players battling through immense pain and injury, none more so than captain Dennis who scored the decisive try with seven minutes remaining despite team staff wanting him to come off the field after a stray boot sliced open his thigh.

"He's got the worst cut I've ever seen, you can see the muscles and things, it is just horrific," said NSW coach Michael Cheika, who recoiled on the sideline when Dennis showed him the gash after the match.

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"He didn't want to come off, and then he raced away to score a try.

"He is developing into a very good captain, leads by example, he's starting to understand what it is to be a leader, and he showed that tonight.

"I'd say Dave is going to need to go to hospital.

"Tatafu had two front teeth knocked out completely, from the first 10 minutes.

"One is half broken, the other one is out completely, in his mouthguard.

"He was in pain because that nerve is there, and he played the whole game. That's what it's about."

VIDEO: Watch all the highlights from a see-sawing encounter

Israel Folau on the charge for the Waratahs against the Chiefs at Yarrow Stadium. Source: Getty Images

Fighting beyond the pain threshold, NSW finally broke a three-year hoodoo with their first win in New Zealand since 2010, and it could not have been more monumental, against the back-to-back defending champions the Chiefs.

Two tries in the final seven minutes sealed the deal for the Tahs, who remain in the top two of the Super Rugby competition and will be challenging the Sharks for first place on the ladder when play resumes after the June Test break.

"We've tried to become a team that is getting known for hard work, probably the antithesis of maybe what we were known for before," Cheika said.

"To come up against a team like them, for us it was almost like a final around hard work, not as much football.

"There is a lot of satisfaction there, I am very proud, that's for sure, because it was a really hard-working performance, and there are guys in a lot of pain.

"They were comfortable playing in a discomfort-zone, which is a good sign for us.

"But there's still so much for us to do yet.

"The top two is decided in the last round, you can slip from anywhere, it's just so tight.

"I suppose the more rounds where you put other teams behind you, you're still a chance.

"We're in there, we've got a chance for it, we've got three big games coming, two against competitors for the top six, and one against our old enemy away from home.

"So it's going to be a great three weeks when we get back."

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Israel Folau scored his customary opening try of the game, making him the new Waratahs' record-holder for most individual tries in one season, passing Peter Hewat's mark of 10 set in 2005.

It took only 15 minutes for Folau to score his 11th try in 10 games this season.

Folau had declared earlier in the week that breaking the record against the defending champions in their backyard would be the "perfect scenario" and as he has for most of his football career, the fullback delivered.

And his teammates delivered their biggest win of 2014 at the picturesque Yarrow Stadium, flanked by a snowy-topped Mount Taranaki.

The Chiefs had clawed back from 13-3 down at half-time to lead 17-16 with less than a quarter of the match remaining.

But a late try from Dennis, who shoved off a defender and raced 20 metres to score, gave NSW a 26-17 buffer.

Bernard Foley capped off a fine, composed display with a final-minute try and sideline conversion to finish with six goals from six attempts and a personal haul of 20 points.

NSW staved off near disaster when, having dominated the game, they allowed the Chiefs to take the lead in the 63rd minute.

Super-sub Bundee Aki scored two tries in seven minutes, moments after entering the field in the second half, with Aaron Cruden's second sideline conversion giving the Chiefs the lead for the first time in the game, with just 16 minutes remaining.

Chiefs prop Ben Tameifuna runs at Waratahs' Paddy Ryan. Source: Getty Images

It took the Chiefs 55 minutes to score their first try, and it was not without controversy.

Seconds after taking the field off the bench, centre Aki swooped on an Cruden grubber into the in-goal.

While Aki appeared to have been off-side and dived on the ball, it did not look as though he had any control. Television match official Ben Skeen ruled that Aki had forced downward pressure on the ball before it popped out from under his torso, pulling the Chiefs back into the contest.

Kurtley Beale nailed a 45-metre penalty goal soon after to push the Tahs ahead 16-10, but following a Chiefs break upfield Aki was in position to pounce on another grubber into the corner in the 63rd minute.

The Tahs regained their lead in the 69th when a Chiefs ruck infringement allowed Foley to kick another penalty goal, making it 19-17.

NSW had not won a game in New Zealand since May 2010 — coincidentally against the Chiefs — and will take enormous confidence into the three-week break.

A sublime performance from Nick Phipps and Adam Ashley-Cooper, and a robust display from prop Benn Robinson highlighted the Tahs' efforts.

Waratahs skipper Dave Dennis is congratulated on his try by teammates Stephen Hoiles and Nick Phipps. Source: Getty Images

The 10-point lead at half-time came via plenty of starch in defence which forced numerous handling errors and turnovers from the Chiefs.

The reigning premiers looked a mere shell of the fine-tuned attacking machine that has torn most defences to shreds over the past two seasons, with NSW's rushing defence and thumping tackles rattling the home side.

It was as physical as expected, with flanker Michael Hooper on the receiving end of the biggest of the season from Chiefs giant Ben Tameifuna, and was lucky to escape without a serious rib injury, while Polota-Nau produced a number of bellringers.

Alofa Alofa was denied the first try of the game after crossing in the corner, when replays showed Folau had held the leg of Chiefs centre Andrew Horrell, allowing Nick Phipps to break clear and feed his winger.

But Folau soon made up for his foul by crossing in the opposite corner in the 15th minute, benefiting from a break by Ashley-Cooper.

NSW WARATAHS 33 (Dave Dennis, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley tries Foley 3 cons Foley 3, Kurtley Beale pens) bt CHIEFS 17 (Bundee Aki 2 tries Aaron Cruden 2 cons pen) at Yarrow Stadium. Referee: Chris Pollock. Crowd: 10,740.

Relive all the Chiefs v Waratahs action in our match blog below.

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