Waratahs to go on the attack for Waugh’s record

 

By , 12 Mar 2010 Adrian Warren is a Roar Pro

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NSW rugby coach Chris Hickey says the Waratahs will take a strong attacking approach against the Lions on Friday in an attempt to mark inspirational captain Phil Waugh’s franchise record appearance with a win.

Some uninspiring Waratahs play prompted boos from part of the Sydney Football Stadium crowd during their Super 14 home opener against the Sharks last Saturday, but Hickey said it was good they showed “a bit of passion”.

The second season NSW coach said NSW went out with intent to play attacking rugby, but lost there way a little bit in the middle of the second half.

“If that’s how people feel at the time, then I guess that (booing) is how they express it,” Hickey told reporters.

“In someways it’s good to see some passion amongst the crowd, particularly when you come from South Africa and you see the amount of involvement the crowd has in the game and the passion for the game over there.

“Sometimes Sydney can seem a little bit quiet and subdued.”

Hickey said NSW had addressed their failings at kick-offs, which had thwarted their intention to keep the Sharks under pressure.

“We’ve addressed some of those issues during the week and will have a strong attacking approach on Friday night.”

Hickey said their was an unspoken determination among the Waratahs to put in a strong performance to honour Waugh’s record 119th appearance for NSW.

“You know that every time he takes the part your going to get 100 per cent commitment from him and as a leader he leads by example by what he does,” Hickey said.

“He’s got the respect of the whole team.”

Waugh 30, eclipse’s the state record of 118 caps set by previous captain and former team mate Chris Whitaker, who gave in a congratulatory phone call from Ireland, where he is manager of European Cup Champion Leinster

Waugh, who is contracted to NSW until the end of next year, said he hadn’t thought about whether he would follow Whitaker’s example and finish his career overseas.

“I hadn’t thought that fare ahead, I’am still a young pup,” Waugh joked.

“I still really enjoy the place, I get a real buzz out of running around with these guys.”

The Waratahs announced a third backline re-signing this week after five-eighth Daniel Halangahu inked a two-year deal on Thursday.

Other Super 14 teams, particularly new franchise Melbourne, were believed interested in Halangahu, who has joined fellow backs Berrick Barnes and Tom Carter in resigning with NSW.

He welcomed the chance to renew an old rivalry with former All Blacks five-eighth Carlos Spencer, who returns to the Lions side after recovering from a pectoral muscle injury.

He seemed sympathetic to referee Paul Marks, who was dropped from the Super panel after a game, in which he didn’t award a late potential match winning try to the Sharks after ruling NSW replacement Kurtley Beale had deliberately knocked on.

“Those guys that made the decision (to drop Marks) obviously don’t know Kurtley very well, because his motion was going up, because he’s always going to go for the intercept,” Waugh said.

© AAP 2012
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