Wallabies prospect sets up stunning try in Waratahs’ shock Super Rugby Pacific win over Crusaders

Harry-Wilson-try-Waratahs-v-Crusaders-image-SRP-2024

Young Waratahs fly-half Tane Edmed caught the eye with an outstanding all-round performance as his side clinched a shock 37-24 bonus-point victory against the Crusaders at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Saturday.

The 23-year-old made his mark with excellent game management as the Sydneysiders took the fight to their more fancied opponents and also impressed with his attacking play and goal-kicking, which saw him finishing with a 17-point haul courtesy of four conversions and three penalties.

Left his stamp on the match

However, he left his stamp on this match just before half-time when he set up a try for Waratahs outside centre Harry Wilson after a moment of magic which left the Crusaders defenders floundering.

With the Waratahs holding a 16-10 lead, they launched an attack from a lineout on the Crusaders’ 10-metre line and then Jake Gordon got a pass out to Edmed, who attacked the line at pace.

He then glided through a gap in the Crusaders’ defence after selling Macca Springer and George Bell an outrageous dummy before offloading to Wilson, who had an easy run-in under the posts.

Edmed added the extras which meant the Waratahs had their tails up at the interval as they held a 23-10 lead.

Earlier, the Super Rugby Pacific champions took an early lead when Springer crossed for a try in the opening minute before Edmed struck back with a couple of penalties. However, a Sevu Reece try meant the Crusaders were back in front by the 16th minute but the Waratahs struck back when Hugh Sinclair crossed the whitewash soon after.

They finished the half stronger when Edmed set up Wilson for his five-pointer although the Crusaders were fastest out the blocks again when Reece dotted down again in the 48th minute with Taha Kemara adding the extras.

The Waratahs took control of proceedings during the next 20 minutes as Triston Reilly and Jake Gordon also went over for tries and although Christian Lio-Willie scored a late try for champions, it was not enough to deny the Waratahs a deserved win.

Praise from Wallabies coach

New Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt was in attendance at AAMI Park and was impressed with Edmed’s performance when speaking to Stan Sport at half-time of the Waratahs v Crusaders game.

“I thought he was a really good balance of efficiency and enterprise,” said Schmidt. “I thought his clearing kicks were nice and long and accurate.

“Yeah, he got that nice offload to Max (Jorgensen) and they had space just in behind that they didn’t quite finish. Yeah, he had been a really good influence around the game.”

The young playmaker continued to impress in the second half of that game and his performance will do his chances no harm when Schmidt selects his Wallabies squad later this year.