The Waratahs capped their best finish to date to a regular Super 12 season with a 25-20 win over the Blues, but looked to have squandered the chance of a home grand final after failing to score a bonus point on Friday. The Waratahs lacked their usual composure for much of the opening half.

It was ugly, but after nine lean years, New South Wales will take it. The Waratahs registered their first-ever Super 12 rugby win over Queensland on Friday, downing the Reds 27-8 at Aussie Stadium. The victory assures the Waratahs of a home semifinal, a week before the competition proper comes to its conclusion.

Remorseful Waratahs lock Justin Harrison has said he will comply with any suspension or fine meted out after admitting on Wednesday to racially vilifying a black South African rugby player. The towering second-rower owned up to making a racial slur directed towards Cats winger Chumani Booi in last weekend’s Super 12 match in Johannesburg.

Clyde Rathbone has questioned the viability of a fifth South African franchise in the expanded Super 14 competition, saying there are not enough quality players in the country to support it. A South African franchise will be selected in the coming months to join Perth as the two new teams in the 2006 Super 14 competition.