Super Rugby: Western Force beat Waratahs 28-16
PERTH, Australia (AP) — The Western Force moved into second place in Super Rugby's Australia conference with a club-record fifth consecutive win, beating New South Wales Waratahs 28-16 Saturday.
Winger Nick Cummins scored three tries for the Force as the Western Australia side moved to within three points of first-placed ACT Brumbies. The Force have played just seven games to the Brumbies' eight.
Wallabies fullback Israel Folau was controversially removed from the Waratahs' lineup by the Australian Rugby Union on Friday less than 36 hours after New South Wales deemed Folau fit to play.
The ARU said it received its own medical advice that Folau, who sustained a throat injury against Melbourne on March 21, was not ready to play.
Folau missed the Waratahs' two games in South Africa but was named in the New South Wales team to play the Force. He expected to play after saying he got the go ahead from a specialist in Perth earlier this week and from New South Wales team doctor Sharron Flahive.
"Obviously I'm very disappointed and frustrated at this stage, but the ARU have made a decision and I'm not happy with it," Folau said Saturday during the match.
"I'm very confused. I've spoken to Sharron and the specialist that I've seen here in Perth this week. They said that I was good to go, with the risk that I was well aware of, but obviously the ARU have stepped in and I'm very disappointed. I haven't had any contact with the ARU medical staff this whole week."
Waratahs coach Michael Cheika said earlier Saturday that the ARU had twice broken its medical protocol by seeking advice on Folau's condition without first going through the Waratahs' team doctor.
"The whole system is predicated on trust, there's certain jeopardy around that now," Cheika said.
The Waratahs scored first Saturday through a penalty just inside halfway from Kurtley Beale in the ninth minute, then Beale kicked another to make it 6-0 just two minutes later.
The Force replied with a penalty before Cummins intercepted a pass from Nick Phipps and ran almost the length of the field to score his first try, and the Force did not trail again in the match.
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Scores:
Western Force 28 (Nick Cummins 3 tries; Sias Ebersohn 2 conversions, 3 penalties), New South Wales 16 (Kurtley Beale try; Bernard Foley conversion, Beale 2, Foley penalties). HT: 13-9.
