Remarkably, the Hurricanes led by just nine with 10 minutes left when Waratahs flanker Lachlan Swinton scored from a lineout, before quick tries from super subs Pepesana Patafilo and Asafo Aumua clinched it.
To complete the madness, Tahs fullback Jack Maddocks ran nearly the length of the field on the siren, not enough to avert the hosts’ ninth straight loss in 2021. Unsurprisingly, it was a record score between the sides, the 112-pointer easily topping the 80 they combined for in 2004 when the Waratahs won 49-31 next door at the Sydney Football Stadium, currently under reconstruction.
The Hurricanes will breathe a sigh of relief after some narrow defeats at home but kick themselves for some sluggish defence which ushered in soft tries and kept the contest alive against a team already down on confidence. They return home to host the Rebels next Friday.