The Waratahs will look to keep their lead at the top of the Australian conference when they start their South African tour against the Lions. Join us for live scores and commentary from 3:00am (AEST).
Last week the Tahs scored a gutsy win against a fresh Crusaders side in the grand final rematch, giving NSW the Australian conference lead.
But this week presents a new challenge against a side hungry to press for their first finals berth.
The Lions were ruthless against the Cheetahs last time out, but were shaky at home the week before against the Brumbies, going down by 10 points.
They will gain some confidence out of the Waratahs not having Tolu Latu and Will Skelton, who have been suspended for their lifting tackle on Sam Whitelock.
How that impacts the structure of the Waratahs attack will be interesting to watch.
Tatafu Polota-Nau is also unavailable, with the Waratahs medical staff choosing to rest him after he suffered his second concussion this season.
Jacques Potgeiter returns from injury and adds some grunt.
Jaco Kriel has been in unbelievable form for the Lions and is one of the players the Waratahs will need to stop if they are going to be successful.
Prediction
The Waratahs will be sore after last week’s game and the Lions might be able to pounce.
Still, I’m tipping the Waratahs but in a tight contest.
Waratahs by 3.
Can the Waratahs secure a crucial win on the road?
Join The Roar from 3:00am (AEST) to find out!
If you are following the action live, be sure to share your thoughts on the match in the comments below.
Clifto
Guest
Brumbies?
Rugby Tragic
Guest
PeterK, you are right of course but what I was more getting but did not articulate it was that the top of the conference in Aussie is up for grabs .. at this moment the Brumbies need an extra point over the Waratahs to gain that position. The Tahs I would have thought are a good chance to score maximum against the Cheetahs, likewise the Brumbies over the Force. If that were to happen, the Aussie Conference will only be decided by the results of the round, Waratahs v Reds and Brumbies v Crusaders. tsuru ... while mathematically possibly I doubt that the Crusaders can make the top 6, as not only do they need to keep winning with BP's they need results to go their way.
Vic
Guest
He who laughs last......I wonder if the NZ Herald reporter is still laughing? :))
cantab
Guest
The rule should just be the highest points differential, So you never have a scenario where a team needs to or can benefit from conceding a bonus point in the final round. EG: 2001-02 VB series
baldy @ Manly
Guest
FOLAU missed a simple one on one for the Lions first try then was not looking when a pass hit him on the chest/chin with a clear run to the line. As usual FOLEY & BEALE are no better then Super Rugby as they missed head on tackles more than once. The first scrum of the game any 4th grade side would be up for it but no we got pushed back. Heavens knows what are our best front three that will not get pushed back in the first scrum at Twickenham. 2 yellow cards plus PHIPPS (who should have a whistle in his mouth) tackling a bloke without the ball - this is rubbish Rugby. No chance at the World Cup unless PHIPPS has his lips sealed & the rest read the book on Laws of the Game.
tsuru
Guest
As a lifelong Waratahs supporter I'm obviously disappointed by this loss. But as a lifelong Wallabies supporter I'm even more disappointed that the Tahs finished off the round like this. The Reds fired. And apparently Genia and Cooper were good.The Brumbies fired. And Speight played well. And looking at the table now I realise that if the Tahs had won it would have not only consolidated them in 2nd place, but it would pretty much have decided the top 6. There would have been a 6 point gap between 6 (Brumbies) and 7 (Crusaders).
PeterK
Roar Guru
I expect the brumbies to beat the force. That means they would need either 1 bonus point against the force or crusaders, or the crusaders to fail to get a bonus point win in the 2 games left. Brumbies are on 42 points crusaders on 36. One win puts brumbies on 46 10 ahead of crusaders.
MJB
Guest
I expect the Crusaders to come out swinging in Canberra. All those close losses are about to come back and bite the Brumbies.
Brett McKay
Expert
Yeah, it's certainly required. Thanks for pointing it out..
Mike
Guest
They didn't play like laughingstocks... :(
Mike
Guest
All power to them, drat them! :)
Old Bugger
Guest
Can I make a suggestion?? Perhaps the Roar could update its Table information to also differentiate teams with the most wins and not just teams with the higher PD's as currently noted. That was the main reason for my initial query. Cheers again.....
Jakes
Guest
Your right Folau had a shocker and KB wasn't much better -- come on guys "click" like AAC and Foley and everybody watch the tackles -- refs seem to be under orders to cut the lifts.
Brett McKay
Expert
They do in that they count toward the total competition points tally first and foremost, but not as a separate tie-breaker any more. The Points differential used to be the first step, but that changed a few years ago when a team either missed the finals, or missed a home final despite having more wins that the team ranked ahead of them. I can't think when the change was made though - perhaps it was the start of the conference format? Either way, it was agreed that winning games should be more important, and thus the swap was made. (Just to confuse you even more, OB, for the NRC last season, the ARU used the older method, whereby the points differential was used above wins - fortunately no teams finished on equal points!)
tinfoil hat
Guest
Cheika is really missing his private half-time chats where he can tell the refs how it is gong to be and get the penalty counts reversed if needed. It is a travesty that the great man is no longer able to influence the game in such a manner.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
At one stage, if two teams had the same number of wins, BPs were taken into account.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
The next two week are going to be defining therefore... I still think the Tahs have the easier run home, one would expect them to prevail over the Cheetahs though the Reds decided to pay rugby last night and might be a stauncher test. Brumbies need to travel to WA and I would think they would need a bonus point win going into the last match against the Crusaders who, like the Reds have decided to play now. It will be an interesting couple of weeks watching all this unfold.
Old Bugger
Guest
Cheers Brett and thanks for the tie-breaking sequence update. I seem to recall at one time during this SR comp history, that the amount of BP's won by sides also, played a role in tie breaking sequences. If so, do they play a role anymore??
Brett McKay
Expert
OB, the first tie breaker leg is the number of wins, then points differential, hence the Tahs are ahead with one more win. (Then number of tries scored, then the differential of tries scored/conceded, then, if it's still all locked up, a coin toss!)
Old Bugger
Guest
Roar Editor Here's a question?? If 2 sides have the same amount of points, then according to the Roar's SR table, the side with the greater points difference, is allotted the higher position. Look at the Tahs and Brumbies both on 42pts. The Tahs (45pts difference) are placed 3rd and the Brumbies (108pts difference) are placed 6th. Why is that and should it not be reversed according to the Roar's rules??