Ashley-Cooper’s pressure on old rugby team

Former Brumby Adam Ashley-Cooper has cranked up the heat on his old team going into Saturday’s Super Rugby clash with his Waratahs, by declaring they are feeling the pressure while NSW have nothing to lose.

With two rounds to go, the Brumbies lead the Australian conference by five points from defending champions the Queensland Reds, with 11th-placed NSW out of finals contention.

“There’s certainly not that pressure, that finals pressure for us – we’ve got nothing to lose,” Ashley-Cooper said.

“That’s a great mentality to have especially in your last two weeks of football.

“There’s going to be a lot of heat against these guys (the Brumbies).

“These guys, I would say, are feeling the pressure because they are in finals contention.

“They don’t want to ruin their chances of making the finals.”

Wallabies utility back Ashley-Cooper moved to the Waratahs after eight years at the Brumbies and was part of the team soundly beaten by his old side in Canberra earlier this season.

“Personally for me, that was probably one of the most disappointing losses of the year, that one down there, given my history,” Ashley-Cooper said.

He was positive about the potential of the new dual playmaker combination of Bernard Foley and Berrick Barnes, though hopefully the latter appreciates his sense of humour.

“Bernard has done a really good job at 10 this week. He’s going to release Barnesy,” Ashley-Cooper said.

“It will just ease the stress of Barnesy. Barnesy can run around a little bit headless at times.”

The Waratahs finish off a disappointing campaign with matches against the Brumbies and away to Queensland the following week.

“It’s about finishing the year on two good wins against two Australian teams that beat us earlier in the year – there’s no lack of motivation,” Ashley-Cooper said.

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