Super Rugby: Israel Folau try helps Waratahs beat Stormers 21-15
Israel Folau's late try helped the New South Wales Waratahs to a narrow 21-15 win over the Stormers on Saturday.
Last Updated: 11/05/13 1:44pm
Folau notched the seventh try in his debut season of Super Rugby with three minutes remaining to ensure a fourth consecutive home win for the Waratahs
The hosts scored a first half try via Cam Crawford but were plagued by turnovers against a tough Stormers defence throughout most of the second half.
Trailing 15-11 with five minutes remaining, they finally broke through after sustained pressure to allow Folau, a former rugby league star and Australian Rules footballer, to cross to the right of the goal posts and further press his claims for a place in the Wallabies squad for the British and Irish Lions tour.
Replacement fly-half Berrick Barnes, playing only his second match of an injury-ravaged season, provided the pass that allowed Folau to score. He then converted the try and kicked a penalty from halfway as the clock ran out for the final six-point margin.
The Waratahs ran in 11 tries in a record win over the Southern Kings last week but their skipper Dave Dennis was happier with this narrow victory.
"I'm more pleased than last week to be honest," said Dennis, whose side still have a chance of making the play-offs and host Australian front-runners the ACT Brumbies next week.
"We just want to keep this winning feeling going next week hopefully."
The Stormers' scoring came from five penalty goals from five attempts by Joe Pietersen.
The defeat was their sixth in 10 matches to sit in third place in the South Africa conference and they next take on the Rebels in Melbourne.