Top Performers: Waratahs v Stormers
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A thrilling in encounter in Sydney as saw the Waratahs score a late try to secure an important 34-27 victory over the Stormers.
Israel Folau
Folau made a try-scoring return from his four-month sabbatical. The mercurial fullback beat 2 defenders from 9 carries, collecting 91 metres and 2 clean breaks.
Brilliant first 40 following his 4-month sabbatical 🔥🔥
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) February 24, 2018
Become the @NSWWaratahs all-time leading try scorer ✔️
Beat two defenders ✔️
Gain 78 metres ✔️
Make two clean breaks ✔️
Follow 2nd half LIVE 📲 https://t.co/AnmZ1k6ZYg pic.twitter.com/aQRyoglT8f
Steven Kitshoff
Kitshoff dominated Paddy Ryan at scrum time and scored his first Super Rugby try. The red-head Springbok loosehead carried the ball regularly for the Stormers and put in some trademark hefty tackles.
Kurtley Beale
Beale was instrumental in anything and everything the Waratahs did well in the match. The Wallaby utility back came close to scoring in the 60th minute only to be denied by the TMO.
The former Wasps man set a well-weighted cross kick to Curtis Rona for Damien Fitzpatrick's try and continued to cause problems for the Stormers throughout the match.
Tom Staniforth
With the non-stop engine of Michael Hooper in the Waratahs pack it's very seldom that anyone makes more tackles (15) than the Wallaby captain but that's exactly what 23-year-old second rower Tom Staniforth did.
The former Brumbies man also carried the ball 7 times - 2 less than Hooper- in what was a fantastic shift than from the second rower.
Raymond Rhule
The Stormers flyer made another stellar contribution to his new side, much like he did last week. The Springbok winger beat 3 defenders, assisted a try and made a telling tackle in the build-up to Steven Kitshoff's first-half try.
Rhule made 39 metres, 3 defenders (highest total in the match) and carried the ball 7 times.
He also made 6 of his 8 attempted tackles.
