Former Brumbies back Adam Ashley-Cooper says his Waratahs side must treat Saturday’s Super Rugby clash with his old side in Canberra like it is the most important game they will ever play.
The Brumbies lead the overall table and Australian Conference with two wins and a bye and are five points ahead of NSW.
The Waratahs have traditionally found wins in the national capital hard to come by and barely raised a whimper in a tepid performance in their loss in Canberra last season.
“We have to really turn up on the night,” Ashley-Cooper told AAP.
“We didn’t do it last year when we were down there. We were very quiet and they shut us out.
“We can’t give them any chances, we can’t allow them into the game.
“We have to go down there with a real focus that this is the most important game that we’re ever going to play.”
Ashley-Cooper backed the style of play favoured by new coach Michael Cheika and said it suited the skill and ability of the squad.
“It’s something that I think is certainly needed to compete at the top level,” Ashley-Cooper said.
“It’s an upbeat approach and it’s also a tough physical approach. Cheik has certainly changed the mindset in a few areas, but at the end of the day, there’s only so much he can do.
“It’s up to the players.”
Wallabies utility Ashley-Cooper has started the season at outside centre, a position many pundits believe is his best.
While he would love to stay in one position, Ashley-Cooper was cheerfully resigned to circumstances dictating otherwise.
“In a perfect world I’d love to stay in the one position, because that gives you a chance to build your performance week to week and really focus on that one position,” Ashley-Cooper said.
“But in reality it’s a 16-game competition and it’s a tough competition.
“It’s physically demanding. There’s injuries and I would assume there would be rotation to preserve the recovery and freshness of players.
“So with that I could expect to be moved. But it hasn’t troubled me in the past and I wouldn’t have a problem with that.”
Crockycrocky
Guest
Just hope he likes driving a Toyota as much as he enjoyed driving his audi :-)
Ra
Guest
Yeah They've had their two warm up games, now its time for the pack to pull together as a tight five to provide their backs with space, and not as the loose eight we've been seeing so far
Peter Breckenridge
Roar Guru
I do know he was disappointed with the way he left the Brumbies and feeling he had too. Just remember his Uncle graham Bond was a Brumby and influential in his signing down here. I hope he is, it is time to earn himself some money.
Crockycrocky
Guest
Twang of angst .... Doubt it .... AAC has always been all about AAC ..... Heard he's off to Japan at end of season too
Malo
Guest
Huge game to show if the tahs have indeed restored their backbone. This will show if the tahs are ready to walk the walk rather than just talk big. They can win it but will they, (probably not) ?
jeznez
Roar Guru
Would be good if they front Ra. I can forgive week one blowing out the cobwebs against a team that already had a tough game under their belt. For week two I was lucky enough to miss the first half and only watch the second. This will be the Tahs third game and is a significant step up in class - here is where we need to see some of the positive aspects of the play this year turned into a strong 80 minute effort..
Ra
Guest
I'm finding it hard to believe that this Tah's pack is the nucleus of the Wallabies pack that I got quite passionate about at the end of last year I.e. The pack that tamed the much vaunted English pack on their own hallowed turf. I'm looking forward to seeing that pack this weekend.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Very possible B-Mac. I had to smile, in the same article Cheika praised how powerful Timani is - I couldn't help giving an imaginary doff of the cap to KPM.
Peter Breckenridge
Roar Guru
I wonder if AAC will actual feel a twang of angst having left the Brumbies? I gurantee the crowd, and it sounds like it will be a big one will be on his back, so to Hooper's. it will be interesting to see how or if this impacts their games. Irrespective they will be under pressure, as will all the Tahs come Saturday. Can't wait.
Red Kev
Guest
It is one facet of the game that sees Digby nearly always first named on the wing - his work off the ball is tireless and very valuable but rarely seen by the public (after all - we watch the ball).
The Battered Slav
Guest
Can't disagree with that Jutsie, Tahs have definitely shown more promise than most of the other Aus provinces. The style/game plan they are trying to play is the right one, it's just down to whether or not that can execute it properly and over the full 80 minutes, as you say, that will be the important part. And yes, it should definitely be a cracker.
Brett McKay
Expert
That'd be the lead-up to Eddie Quirk's break, I'm guessing Jez...
Jutsie
Guest
I dont know, brumbies have been easily the most impressive aus team but I have to say the tahs have impressed me a lot more than the rebs (my team) the reds or the force, mainly for their endeavour and new found fitness/tenacity, although their basic skills and decision making still need some work. If they can put in an 80 min performance similar to the 20/30min of good rugby they put in against both the reds and rebs I think it could be a cracker of a match. (will still tip the brumbies though haha)
jeznez
Roar Guru
Love this quote from Michael Cheika on rugbyheaven this morning. The quote is about Lopeti Timani's improvement from the Reds game to the Rebels but it the last comment about team selection I'm really enthused by. ''[Against the Rebels] he worked harder off the ball, he worked harder to be in position. In the first game I think he did a bit of walking, like a few other guys, when we needed to be running, when you don't have the ball. It's a key element to what we're about, working hard off the ball. Every player has to do that, that's one of the key criteria for selection.''
The Battered Slav
Guest
Coops will haev a bit of traffic coming down his channel on Saturday, let's see how he deals with Mogg's slicing runs and Mowen's new found ability to bend the line. Tahs will have to have their sh*t together on Saturday if they're entertaining any thoughts of a win at Bruce. Can't see it happening on current form though. Brumbies by 1-12 is my tip, although that might change later in the week...
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Here's hoping that, as a senior player, AAC will walk the walk in Canberra by lifting his own personal performance and in so doing motivate those around him to play to the next level. Nothing else will beat the nags.