The NSW Waratahs were far from their best but delivered when it mattered for a 29-14 win over Moana Pasifika in Sydney.
With a metaphoric and literal black cloud over their season, Dan McKellar's side rallied from a half-time deficit to not only secure the win, but full points after a significant lightning delay.
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So what did we learn?
That’s the best way to describe it for the Waratahs, as they were well off their best but got the job done
They dominated possession and territory with little success as they were pushed all the way by a Moana Pasifika side that’s been anchored to the bottom of the ladder.
They overcame the delay and steadied themselves to secure the victory, even coming away with a bonus point.
Sometimes, all you need is to find a way to victory, keeping their finals dream alive.
You have to feel for Moana Pasifika, who were up for the fight but didn’t have enough to get home.
The Mana Moana Ala Mai war cry before the game was symbolic of their plight to keep fighting no matter what, in a tough week for the club.
They disrupted the contest and forced the Waratahs to play their brand of Rugby. However, the class of the hosts was too much as they went down swinging.
They remain a dangerous team for anyone to face, especially with players fighting for their careers.
Mother Nature has not been a Rugby fan lately, as it keeps wreaking havoc on Australian games.
No matter the location, it seems it’s unavoidable as this game was halted with 11 minutes remaining due to lightning.
It’s not a case of Rugby being overprotective, with the Swans-Giants AFL match also pulled from the field at half-time under the same protocols.
It’s also maybe the first time the game has restarted with a conversion
This could be the theme of the weekend, with the Wallaroos potentially facing another delay against the USA in Kansas City. One thing is for sure - Rugby fans are becoming very familiar with the policies.
Sid Harvey is more than just a sharpshooter, lighting up Allianz Stadium with a freakish finish in the corner.
It’s become second-nature for outside backs these days but the control he had to stay in the field of play and touch down was special.
It was one of several standout plays from the fullback, always looking to take the game on, whilst stopping a try late in the game.
He was joined by Wallabies scrum half Jake Gordon, looking damaging with every snip.
Melani Matavao made good use of the relaxed tap rule as he burned the Waratahs twice for classy tries.
The scrum half used his smarts and picked his moments when to use the advantage and make his moment count.
It offers a blueprint for teams heading forward, keeping the pace of the game flowing while forcing teams to make a call and potentially give up a yellow card.
