The prospect of inclement weather is threatening to thwart the Waratahs’ intention to play an up-tempo game against the Highlanders in their Super 14 rugby tussle in Invercargill on Friday.
Rainy conditions limited the Waratahs’ opportunity to attack in last week’s win over the Brumbies, when NSW were criticised for their conservative play.
Coach Chris Hickey has signalled his intent to play a more expansive style against the struggling Highlanders, who have won just two of their ten games.
However, NSW may be forced to go back into grinding mode against a big Highlanders pack if forecast of showers in Invercargill on Friday prove accurate.
“Against the Highlanders, we hope that we can play up-tempo a little bit, but again, we’re aware that the conditions we play under in Invercargill may dictate the game,” Hickey told AAP at Sydney Airport on Wednesday before the Waratahs’ departure.
“We need to be able to play a couple of different styles of football depending on the conditions that we end up under.”
Waratahs fullback Kurtley Beale said his team definitely had the desire to try and stretch the Highlanders’ defence.
He revealed NSW were likely to try and target the Highlanders’ inside backs.
“Certainly, the 10 and 12 channel, so we’re going to go at that and then when we see fit, we’re going to go wide,” Beale told AAP.
“Hopefully, the weather doesn’t really take us off our game plan.
“We do have a strong mindset on attacking wide.”
Beale and Hickey were aware the Highlanders possessed backline threats of their own in fullback Israel Dagg and winger Fetu’u Vainkolo.
The Highlanders have bracketed Robbie Robinson and Matt Berquist at five-eighth.
Shifted from inside centre to fullback in mid season, Beale was happy with the way his combination with wingers Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner was developing.
He said he had needed to make a few adjustments to his game and was doing more running than in his previous playmaking role.
“What I found out in the first couple of games is the conditioning. At fullback, you run a lot of kilometres, whereas, in the inside backs, you don’t really run a lot,” he said.
“I’ve worked on that to condition my body to be able to run everywhere, to re-gather the ball or to run in support lines.”
Not surprisingly, Beale regards giving in-form Mitchell the ball as a strong first option and still isn’t adverse to the occasional bit of playmaking.
“We (the back three) are starting to gel and to know each other’s game.
“Now when I see Drew, I’m just going to give it to him and he’s always going to beat the first tackle.”
Jameswm
Guest
You know - the Wallabies used to be criticised for their inability tp win in the wet. We couldn't kick, our forward work was crap and we couldn't adapt our game plan to suit the conditions. The NH types must be laughing at us for criticising the Tahs for playing winning wet-weather rugby.
Benny
Guest
If it buckets down, what is the point of having the best defender in our team (Burgess) on the bench?
Even looser
Guest
Fair point Bay. I enjoyed that game and thought at the time that 'if these guys can believe in themselves we're a chance here'. Our intensity dropped off as the Bulls applied pressure (something champion teams will always do) and as they say 'the rest is history'. Good but not good enough. Compare that to the Bulls v Reds. The Reds did not cave in. They not only stuck to their game plan against a very determined Bulls outfit but stuck to their guns, worked for each other and got the result. If the Tahs can do this we're a real chance in this comp.
JF
Guest
How convenient, Hickey and Waugh will again blame the weather for their perennial "bore the other team to death" tactics.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
I believe the term is flat track bullies .. :) Having said that we played that style against the Bulls and almost pulled it off, but probably because they knew grinding rugby wouldn't beat them.
Even looser
Guest
"Coach Chris Hickey has signalled his intent to play a more expansive style against the struggling Highlanders, who have won just two of their ten games." That'd be right. We only seem to be interested in playing like this against weaker opposition. My concern now is that we will struggle to play expansive footy because we just don't do it day in and day out, against the stronger teams. It needs to become part of our DNA. Presently at the first sign of determined opposition our genes scream " KICK IT !!!!!!! ".
Mike
Guest
I also wrote an email to the NSWRU saying how poor the gameplan was and how disappointed I was as a Tahs supporter. Atmosphere at the game was poor - it would pick up if they started runnung with the ball. I understand you dont have to throw double cutout passes and fancy ball skills in wet weather, but you should still be able to run with the ball and use simple passing that not only is good to watch, but gets you field position, ball retention and tries.
Jason
Guest
They talk the talk but never walk the walk. Waratahs are the most boring team in Australia. I wrote a letter of outrage to both the ARU and NSWRU for Saturday's disgrace. These morons need to realise they are not in the winning business, they are in the enteraining business. I can watch and AFL game, and NRL game, go camping, go to the movies or a Rugby game. I and almost all Australians want running rugby. I don't really care if my team wins. If they don't run I will not watch. Go the Reds. I refuse to eatch another Fil War led borathon from the pitiful Waratahs who suck all the life and fund out of the game of rugby.
eric
Guest
We've heard all the talk before. I don't believe it for one second. While Phil Waugh is there, they'll play rubbish rugby.