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Chastened NSW Waratahs players have rejected concern about coach Michael Cheika’s dual roles and say they’re embarrassed by their Super Rugby opening round loss.
After being unbeaten at home in their 2014 campaign, the Waratahs crashed to a 25-13 loss to the Western Force at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, conceding four tries in an ignominious start to their title defence.
“Coming back home and starting the season like we did yesterday is definitely a very embarrassing performance,” said Kurtley Beale said on Monday.
“We owe a lot to our fans.
“No doubt what we’re all thinking leading into this week’s game is to try and redeem ourselves.”
Cheika took the blame for the defeat afterwards, saying he obviously hadn’t prepared the team well enough, but his players didn’t agree.
“We played well in our trial against the Chiefs, the week before and we had a good nine-day turnaround,” lock Mitchell Chapman said.
“We had a good week at training, so I don’t think preparation was really the issue.”
Beale said the players had to accept responsibility for their insipid effort.
“I don’t think it’s the coach’s fault, it’s definitely up to the playing group to go out there and get the job done,” Beale said.
Cheika dismissed any suggestion that he had been distracted by his dual role as Wallabies coach heading into the World Cup year and Beale backed him to handle both positions.
“I don’t think he deserves any criticism, he’s the man to do both jobs,” Beale said.
“It’s definitely not hindering what we’re doing out there on the football field.”
Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau rated the loss a wake up call rather than a setback and felt criticism of Cheika for taking on both jobs was unjustified.
“If anything our job as players is to relieve that stress off him really, so the performance yesterday did not help him at all,” Polota-Nau said.
“We just have to address that as a group, because we’re the ones that are accountable on the field.”
Beale said the Waratahs suffered lapses of concentration against the Force and included himself among the culprits.
“That’s just going to give me more motivation leading into next week,” Beale said.
“In patches we fell asleep and just didn’t really stay focused for the full 80 minutes.”
The Waratahs don’t play another home game to round six, with a bye and three away fixtures before then, starting with Friday’s clash against the Rebels in Melbourne.
The Rebels will be on a high after toppling 2014 finalists the Crusaders in Christchurch to notch their first-ever win outside Australia.
Beale said Cheika told the players they needed to be hungrier, while Polota-Nau was adamant they could meet the coach’s call for them to be angrier.
“Oh yeah, absolutely, we probably have to get our imagination going,” Polota-Nau said.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.