Wallaby back Mat Rogers made a sparkling return to rugby as the New South Wales Waratahs climbed to fourth in the Super 14 with a 31-16 victory over South Africa’s Coastal Sharks in Sydney on Saturday.
The Sydney franchise scored three tries to one and just missed out on a four-try bonus point in a free-flowing victory.
Rogers, who missed the opening three rounds as he grieved the sudden death of his father and former rugby league great Steve Rogers in January, came off the reserves bench after 50 minutes and made an immediate impact.
Rogers took over at fly-half and was at the heart of numerous attacks from the talented Waratahs’ backline.
Backs Shaun Berne, Lote Tuqiri and replacement flanker Stephen Hoiles scored tries for the Waratahs, who led 19-3 at half-time.
Winger Peter Hewat contributed 16 points from four penalties and two conversions.
The Sharks, who tackled determinedly only to go down 22-20 to the champions Canterbury Crusaders in New Zealand last week, found it hard to break down the Waratahs’ defence.
Their only try of the match came from fullback Percy Montgomery, who intercepted a Rogers’ pass and sprinted 50m to score unopposed with 16 minutes left to put the Sharks within 10 points at 26-16.
But Hoiles’ try four minutes, off a worked move from a scrum win, sealed their fate.
The Sharks did well in the forwards and dominated the rucks and mauls and lineouts, with Springbok warrior AJ Venter to the fore.
The Waratahs have now won 17 of their 21 home matches against South African opposition in the last decade of Super rugby.
The Sharks, in the midst of a gruelling five-match tour of New Zealand and Australia, have to back up with another testing match against the third-placed ACT Brumbies in Canberra next Saturday.
Exciting young scrum-half Ruan Pienaar, who showed some glimpses of the form pundits believe will lead to a Springbok Test jumper, was replaced with an injured leg late in the game and may be in doubt to face the Brumbies.
NSW, who were without suspended trio Wendell Sailor, Rocky Elsom and Matt Dunning for Saturday’s match, will have another home game next weekend against South Africa’s Golden Cats. – Sapa-AFP