The NSW Waratahs have booked flights to five potential finals destinations across the southern hemisphere, convinced the Brumbies won’t end their Super Rugby season on Saturday night.
Depending on a series of results in a huge last round of home-and-away fixtures this weekend, the Waratahs could end up having to travel to Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban, Auckland or Nelson for their sudden-death “qualifier”.
There is even a small chance the seventh-placed Waratahs could yet host a playoff in Sydney next week if they score a big bonus-point win over the Brumbies.
All coach Chris Hickey cares about, though, is actually reaching the business end of the competition.
The usually mild-mannered mentor on Friday bristled when asked if the Waratahs were ready to deliver Melbourne-bound Wallabies star Kurtley Beale and retiring stalwart Al Baxter fitting farewells in the Waratahs’ apparent final home game for the season at ANZ Stadium.
“Look, we’ve still got three or four games to play yet, so these blokes aren’t leaving,” Hickey snapped.
“This will just be perhaps their last game they’ll play in Sydney. I’m sure those guys will want to go out on a high note.
“But, from our point of view, we’re really preparing for the next three or four games. It’s not a send-off for anybody.
“In many ways, I guess our finals campaign starts on Saturday night.”
Indeed, the only certainty is that the Waratahs can’t possibly clash with Queensland in round one of the playoffs because the front-running Reds are guaranteed a top-two finish and, with that, next weekend off and then a home semi-final.
It’s hush hush, but NSW could even squeeze into the finals if they lose to the Brumbies by less than eight points and there is a one-sided result in the pivotal match in Pretoria on Sunday morning between the fifth-placed Bulls and sixth-placed Sharks.
History has proven it is virtually impossible to win the Super Rugby title after travelling to South Africa and avoiding the Republic during the finals remains the Waratahs’ best-case scenario.
As unlikely as it might seem, the dream run for the Waratahs would be playing and beating the Blues in Auckland next week, then upsetting the Reds in Brisbane before taking down the Crusaders in the final in Nelson on July 9.
First and foremost, the Waratahs must conquer the fired-up and in-form Brumbies on Saturday night.
“You don’t expect any favours from any of the Australian sides,” Hickey said.
“The local derbies have been a real feature of this Super Rugby competition and the competitiveness between the Brumbies and the Waratahs goes back many years.
“So it’s a game that we’ve got to be good enough to get out there and win.”
After a highly disappointing campaign, the Brumbies stunned the Reds, then beat the Rebels last start and will be desperate themselves to send France-bound captain Matt Giteau and Waratahs-bound utility Adam Ashley-Cooper off in style.
“It’s a huge game,” Waratahs captain Phil Waugh said.
“Similar circumstances to last week. If we win, we go through. If we lose, it will be our last game for the year so (there is) a lot on the line.
“They’ll have a lot of motivation too. It’s their last game of the season as well and they’ll be motivated to come to Sydney and upset our plans.
“We’ve just got to make sure we turn up from kick-off.”
p.Tah
Guest
I've criticized Carter previously, but I watched him closely from the stands last night and for the first time I finally saw what Hickey sees in him. He is not a razzle dazzle player but when the hits the line he does so at speed and keeps going. He doesn't often bust the first tackle but he draws several defenders with him, when Burgess distributes quickly the gaps are there for the back three to pick the opposition back line apart. When the team fails to recycle the ball quickly Carters role is limited and he can be criticized for being pedestrian, but when the team is on song, such as last night, his role is integral to that success.
katzilla
Roar Guru
The majority of people who wrote the Tahs off this year were not in NZ or SA, but in the stands at the SFS. When the home crowd is booing their team it doesn't really inspire confidence of a run to the finals does it?
thurl
Guest
..... had been written off by many people in SA & NZ this year....... Don't forget all those in Australia who also wrote them of....
Justin
Guest
Last night showed why Tom Carter should never be near Test football. The try that the Brumbies put on was a joke. Gits just trotted outside Carter and put his wing away. He is as slow as a mule.
Naki
Guest
There is no doubt the Tahs were helped by playing three of the bottom four teams twice this year. Only someone completely ignorant would even dare suggest otherwise. As has already been pointed out already the Tahs have struggled away this year. Should be a good game as the Blues sewed to have a little mojo back on Friday night.
Mr Grumpy
Guest
Peter, The Tahs qualified because they dominated the Australian conference - seven wins, one loss. They lost their four matches abroad this season. For the Tahs to progress through the finals, they will have to break an Australian hoodoo in the business end of the season. No Aussie side has won an overseas finals match. That said, the Tahs did smash a poor Ponies side. Jake White has a huge job ahead of him.
Mals
Guest
Peter - agreed, the Tahs (as the most likely 2nd Aus qualifier) had been written off by many people in SA & NZ this year. It was a very good performance by them tonight & just what they needed with finals football starting next weekend.
PeterK
Roar Guru
So much for the many kiwis / boks who said it would be only 1 aussie team in the finals. They were very wrong. The brumbies totally smashed, the Tahs were all class against a rabble.