Waratahs chasing redemption against Cheetahs
By James Dampney, 19 Mar 2011 James Dampney is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- cheetahs, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Waratahs
After a fortnight of stewing, the NSW Waratahs are stinging for the chance to get their Super Rugby campaign back on track against the lowly Cheetahs on Saturday night.
The Waratahs’ scintillating start to the season, when they racked up 11 tries in their opening two games, was banished to the archives after the Crusaders spanked them in Nelson last outing.
Tails between their legs, the Waratahs returned home looking for redemption but have had to bide their time while enduring a fourth-round bye.
“It’s never nice having a break after a loss,” stand-in captain Dean Mumm said on Friday.
“But it’s been perfect for us to really get in there and work on what we needed to work on.
“We’ve worked very hard, particularly as a forward pack, quite physically as well.
“So it hasn’t been so much of a break as much as a time to re-focus and consider what we need to bring into this game against the Cheetahs.”
NSW coach Chris Hickey said the Waratahs were desperate to atone.
“Off the back of the Crusaders game, the players were disappointed in a number of areas of our game,” he said.
“We had a bye – we couldn’t do anything about that – so this is our first opportunity to rectify some of those problems. That serves to motivate the players highly.”
The last-placed Cheetahs are winless this season and still chasing their breakthrough Super victory in Australasia, but Hickey hoped the Waratahs’ capitulation against the Crusaders would have eliminated any sense of complacency.
“We don’t underestimate the Cheetahs at all,” he said.
“People underestimate them because they’re sitting at the bottom of their conference.
“But they led the Bulls (in round two) for probably 70 minutes, they were probably unfortunate to lose to the Lions last week.
“They’re a team that if they get forward momentum, they’re not just a forward team; they’ve got a good backline, they’ve got plenty of speed and on the back of that forward momentum they’ll be prepared to play.”
While the Waratahs will be without skipper Phil Waugh (bicep) and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau (knee), they welcome back midfield general Berrick Barnes (concussion) and destructive No.8 Wycliff Palu, while Wallabies prop Benn Robinson (bench) will start for the first time in 2011.
With the NSW scrum found wanting against the Crusaders and the Cheetahs particularly strong at the set piece, Mumm said Robinson’s return was a “bonus” for the Tahs.
“Our scrum wasn’t fantastic last game and certainly not where we want it to be,” he said.
“This is a perfect opportunity to test where we’re at again.
“(Being up against) a big, physical forward pack means we have to do a lot of work up front and I’m confident we can get that done.
“But if we’re not up to the mark, we’re going to be in a bit of trouble.”
Barnes replaces Daniel Halangahu at five-eighth for the Waratahs.
“Berrick’s first two games were excellent,” Mumm said.
“He controlled the game and the tempo of the game very well. That’s something we want again tomorrow night, playing on our terms and kicking on our terms as well.”
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
- Explore:
- cheetahs, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Waratahs
March 19th 2011 @ 9:24pm
HideTah said | March 19th 2011 @ 9:24pm | Report comment
… and what happened?? One of the WORST game ever. I cannot understand why;
1) put a hooker with NO Super Rugby cap
2) put someone who only had less than one game esperience (Pakalani). Sure he score a nice try against Crusaders but it was well after the game was decided.
3) put Turner on 13. He has very limited experience. I don’t really rate Cross but at least he is experienced in this position.
4) put Robinson and Palu who didn’t last first 40
5) Mumm as a captain?? I think he is too quiet for a skipper.
6) so few crowds?? And after tonight woeful game, it will be less people going to the game.
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!!
March 19th 2011 @ 9:26pm
Stellenbosched said | March 19th 2011 @ 9:26pm | Report comment
Heh heh, so the Cheetahs are lowly are they? Heh heh
March 19th 2011 @ 11:48pm
Ben S said | March 19th 2011 @ 11:48pm | Report comment
Yes. They are the 12th ranked side. That is lowly.
March 19th 2011 @ 9:37pm
Justin said | March 19th 2011 @ 9:37pm | Report comment
Not sure who was more arrogant tonight – the three wise men in the commentary box (Clarke, Marto & Kearns) or the Tahs who were simply outplayed. Forward pack was woeful and Barnes just kicks when they get more than 2 phases.
Very ordinary performance v a side that has been extremely competitive this year…
March 19th 2011 @ 9:40pm
stillmissit said | March 19th 2011 @ 9:40pm | Report comment
Seeking redemption they should be given exemption from the world of rugby football.
The most gutless display I have ever seen from them. Mumm must have his card marked as never to be captain again. He never spoke to anyone and put in one of his gutless ‘I’ll just stand in the D” roles.
The forwards should be told that every breakdown has to have 5 Waratahs to clean out and protect ball until they learn how to treasure the ball and learn to fight. Anyone who drops out of this will not play for 3 weeks.
I have a lot more to say but I am too mad at the moment.
BTW – Brossow was magnificent for you SA supporters.
March 19th 2011 @ 10:34pm
Mick Gold Coast QLD said | March 19th 2011 @ 10:34pm | Report comment
No 14 Pakalani is a fast learner. He’s already twigged that catching and keeping the ball is optional when you play outside five blokes who have Wallaby jerseys and who don’t have to do much to keep them. And who still draw big salaries for not doing much.
I just watched the bestest winger who ever winged and the bestest full back / centre / first five better-than-Ella (with an even better un-tackling record than Mark) wander aimlessly about in front of a visibly smaller crowd than usual. Perhaps they believe a crowd at the match is way less important than lots of eff twit and Facebook friends, when you are good at talking about how special you are.
Which brings me to the excited talk of Palu’s return. That remained just talk, too.
Now we can look forward to more talk about being “gutted” (unlike their pay packet, for non delivery) and filffffy on themselves. The refereee will get a big slice of the blame, together with Ebersohn’s length of orange brickies’ string.
Praise be for Bondi residents – they need to get a crowd from somewhere in two weeks time, against Waikato. The Bondi crew has good reason to turn up.
What a mob of pretenders.
March 19th 2011 @ 9:49pm
nicksa said | March 19th 2011 @ 9:49pm | Report comment
brussow wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 19th 2011 @ 9:53pm
Franky said | March 19th 2011 @ 9:53pm | Report comment
That was the worst game of rugby I have ever seen. I know the conditions were greasy but please they are professional footballers and that was not a professional outcome. Hicky is a very pleasant individual who puts a lot into home grown rugby at club level but as a hard nosed ruthless coach I’m not too sure. Mumm is not a guy to lead so that selection alone was poor, the winger was out of his depth and to hook that hooker after 30min will make him go backwards & our centre pairing was crap. Overall the Waratahs will not come close to making the top 4 if they don’t put lesser opposition to the sword and from that performance they have no hope.
March 19th 2011 @ 10:02pm
Suzy Posion said | March 19th 2011 @ 10:02pm | Report comment
The Tahs will bounce back, and still top the Conference I suspect. There are going to be one or two upsets in every conference, I think.
Earlier in the season when the Sharks and Bulls struggled past the Cheetahs, people said the they were out of form. Most Punters (myself included) completely underestimated the Cheetahs. People forget that this team with only two Boks has won a Currie Cup in recent times, and held the British and Irish Lions to a 26vs 24 close loss. The Cheetahs outscored the British and Irish Lions, by three tries to two. Last year when the Boks struggled, I thought it was because they missed Fourie Du Preez, now I realise that it was because they missed Heinrich Brussouw.
March 19th 2011 @ 10:23pm
quicksilver said | March 19th 2011 @ 10:23pm | Report comment
Weren’t the Waratahs so embarassed by their loss to the Crusaders that they trained the house down when they got back to Sydney. I remember reading breathless reports that those two real hard bastards, Dean Mumm and skinhead Mitchell, had been throwing handbags at each other in training.
What a joke they are. No bloody idea and no bloody ticker.
March 19th 2011 @ 10:44pm
Next year! said | March 19th 2011 @ 10:44pm | Report comment
A disgrace.
Nothing more to say .
March 19th 2011 @ 10:58pm
IronAwe said | March 19th 2011 @ 10:58pm | Report comment
Well done to the Cheetahs and well done to Brusow.
Waratahs are pretenders, but they are only fooling themselves.