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The NSW Waratahs now sit in the Super 14 top-four after a 17-12 win over the Western Force at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night in an enthralling battle.
The win sees the Waratahs leapfrog the Force into the top bracket after a terrific contest between the best two Australian teams.
The Force's chances took a dive when Matt Giteau was knocked out just 20 minutes into the game and the Waratahs also lost Tom Carter in the bruising encounter.
The Waratahs scored the only two tries of the game and their defence was brilliant all night as the Force tried to break through unsuccessfully. The Waratahs were more efficient when attacking and the tries to Rob Horne and Lachie Turner were well orchestrated and deserved.
Horne was making his first start for the Waratahs and was terrific. His try 27-minutes in is something he will treasure. Lote Tuqiri was brilliant all night and was unlucky not to score a try himself but was named man-of-the-match while Wycliff Palu was also a pivotal factor in his side's win.
Richard Brown and Scott Staniforth were terrific for the Force and Lachlan MacKay tried hard to cover for Giteau, but the Wallabies' play-making ability was sorely missed.
Cameron Shepherd, who has just committed to the Force until the end of 2010 with a new contract, kicked three penalties after Giteau went off, but it wasn't enough to get a victory or himself to 300 Super rugby points.
Kurtley Beale put the Waratahs on top after just four minutes when he converted a penalty, but his side hardly saw the ball again for the next 15 minutes.
The NSW defence was brilliant, however, in holding out against the sustained attack from the Force and only conceded a penalty that brought scores level.
That penalty kick was to be the last action Giteau saw in the game. In the next phase, he was knocked out cold when attempting to tackle Sam Norton-Knight.
Giteau ran at his Wallabies teammate to lay a tackle, but ran into his hip and went straight down.
In a tremendous show of sportsmanship, Tuqiri rolled Giteau onto his side while he was out and play was continuing.
Soon after Giteau was carried off, Carter made a good run and offloaded to Horne who crossed for the first try of the game. Beale converted and the Waratahs were up 10-3.
Shepherd took back the kicking duties from Giteau and after missing one penalty attempt, nailed another just minutes later to bring the margin back to four.
Just minutes before half-time, the Waratahs lost Carter after a big hit from Staniforth and Shepherd nailed a penalty to make the margin just one at the break. Matt Carraro came on to replace Carter to make his NSW debut.
It was a tough, tight and tense second half and it took almost 25 minutes for the first points to come. They came in the form of a converted penalty to the Force by Shepherd that put his side into the lead for the first time on the night at 12-10.
However, an incredible turn of events saw Turner cross for the Waratahs' second try, putting the New South Welshmen back on top. Tuqiri attempted to dribble a kick forward that rebounded off Shepherd's foot before landing on the chest of Turner, who had no trouble getting to the line.
When Beale made a superb conversion from out wide, the Waratahs were leading 17-12 with seven minutes to go.
The Force had the ball and the final crack before the siren and had their cause helped when Alfi Mafi was sin-binned. The Force inched their way toward the try line but Turner intercepted what turned out to be the last pass of the game to clinch a crucial win for the Waratahs.
The Waratahs now face the Lions in Sydney next week, with the Force playing the Reds in Brisbane before the bye.
Western Force 12
Penalties: Giteau 1, Shepherd 3
NSW Waratahs 17
Tries: Horne 1, Turner 1
Conversions: Beale 2
Penalties: Beale 1
@Subiaco Oval, Perth; 12/04/08. Crowd: 22,287
12/04/2008 11:27:03 PM
Chris Pike at Subiaco
Sportal
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crunch match
Originally Posted by tragic
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) but knowing that all our boys are healthy is even better. 
