Waratahs hoping to power into Super Rugby finals

Not content to scrape into the finals, the NSW Waratahs plan to power into the Super Rugby playoffs with the momentum to go all the way and raise the trophy for the very first time.

Coach Chris Hickey on Friday named close to a full-strength team to face the Highlanders on Saturday night and senses that the Waratahs’ fortunes may finally be turning after an injury-ravaged season.

Winger Lachie Turner (hamstring), lock Dean Mumm (calf) and prop Benn Robinson (ankle) all completed Friday’s captain’s run to convince Hickey and, more importantly the Waratahs medicos, they will be fit for the must-win encounter.

The Tahs will also welcome back skipper Phil Waugh and fellow backrower Wycliff Palu from hamstring injuries as they set about returning to the top six ahead of next week’s final home-and-away round.

“It’s a nice time of the year to be picking up players of that quality,” Hickey said.

“We’ve sort of had a few injury concerns over the past month or two so to get back players of that quality is a real confidence booster for the team.

“Some teams are losing players, but we’re getting them back and it’s nice.”

Centre Ryan Cross and prop Sekope Kepu remain sidelined after returning home early from South Africa with knee injuries suffered against the Sharks, while secondrower Kane Douglas is serving a two-week suspension.

All three are expected to be back on deck for the finals if the seventh-placed Waratahs can knock over the eighth-placed Highlanders and then the out-of-contention Brumbies at ANZ Stadium next week.

“We will feel if we can win this game and then the next one that we’ve got a really good chance of finishing in the top six,” Hickey said.

“Once you’re in the top six, it’s a whole new competition. Particularly with some of the players that we’ll get back, we feel we’ll be really well placed to compete for that championship.”

First and foremost, though, is conquering the Highlanders, preferably with a four-try bonus point.

“When you’re moving into the finals series, you want to go in with some strong wins under your belt and you want to take some confidence and some momentum,” Hickey said.

Waugh, who is expected to play half a game in his comeback game, said the Waratahs were treating Saturday night as a final come early.

“If we don’t this week, next week’s irrelevant. We’re fully aware of it,” he said.

“I’m sure the Highlanders are in the same position and they’re aware of it, so it should build for a big clash.”

NSW WARATAHS: Kurtley Beale, Lachie Turner, Tom Carter, Berrick Barnes, Sosene Anesi, Daniel Halangahu, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh, Dave Dennis, Sitaleki Timani, Dean Mumm, Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Reserves: John Ulugia, Jeremy Tilse, Pat O’Connor, Chris Alcock, Hugh Perrett, Josh Holmes, Atieli Pakalani.