The Waratahs must be fast learners and ask more questions of the Chiefs’ defence this Friday than they managed in their loss to the Crusaders last round, according to winger Zac Guildford.
The Tahs top Super Rugby’s Australian conference by one point from the Brumbies, whose remaining four games are all against bottom half of the table teams, while NSW still have to face three New Zealand sides.
NSW have lost both their previous matches against Kiwi opposition this season, at home to the Highlanders and 29-10 to the Crusaders in Christchurch last week.
“It’s very important to win this week, we got a taste of what the Kiwi sides are going to be like on the weekend,” former All Black Guildford told AAP on Monday.
“We’ve got to be fast learners and adapt and hopefully bring our A game to the Chiefs.
“We know what sort of style they are going to play, but I think more the focus is going to be on us and how we want to play in attack.
“They have been the benchmark along with the Crusaders for a number of years now.
“They will throw everything at us, so I just think we need to throw more to get the win.
“We’ve got to out-physical them, we’ve go try different variations on attack, we’ve got to be hungrier.”
Guildford provided some much-needed sparked off the bench for the Tahs in Christchurch, scoring a try and making some telling breaks.
“I think we were waiting back too much for things to happen and against a team like the Crusaders you’ve got to take it to them,” Guildford said.
“I managed to pick out a few of their forwards and run a few metres.
“I don’t like sitting on the wing getting a cold bum.”
Guildford started the Tahs first five games then missed the next five before being named on the bench last week.
“I love playing for the Waratahs. I found myself playing club rugby so I was getting pretty frustrated,” Guildford said.
“But to be back in the mix is good.”
Guildford fears it could be his only year at the Tahs.
“I haven’t had any talks yet so it looks like it could be my last year here, but I’m not entirely sure.”
cuw
Guest
Waratahs: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Matt Carraro, 13 Israel Folau, 12 Rob Horne, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Dave Dennis, 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Paddy Ryan Replacements: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Jack Dempsey, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 David Horwitz, 23 Reece Robinson
cuw
Guest
cant argue with that some names that shud have cropped up maybe Inga "the winga" Tuigamala , Brian " the Chiropractor" Lima , Alesana Tuilagi ....
cuw
Guest
@ Ryanno : TBH it was Joubert who got nsw a title - and not forgetting FOLEY holding his nerve to kick the last minute penalty. to be fair , Jouber is accumulating last minute honors at a rate :)
cuw
Guest
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (cc), 9 Brad Weber, 8 Tom Sanders, 7 Sam Cane (cc), 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Mitchell Graham Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Kane Hames, 18 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, 19 Michael Allardice, 20 Lachlan Boshier 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Andrew Horrell, 23 Sam Vaka
Ben
Guest
Roff was very smart and positionally brilliant as a winger . Mortlock and Wendall were probably our most physical wingers ever.....
CUW
Guest
they got a chance , the waratahs this weekend. no seta and no leitch for chiefs - the two best players in forwards and backs injured :( mama vaipulu is 50% of leitch. and sanders lacks match practice after injury. BTW , where is Bardul? Ngatai will be back but how is his concussion? too bad if he has to give it up due to head knocks (like Leon Mcdonald). anyways nsw without beale is like coffee without a little sugar - looks and smells the same but a vital ingredient is missing :D
Redman
Guest
Stop living in the past. Look at him play week in week out, he's avarage at best. World Cup he hardly got us there on his own. Got out classed by carter. And every kiwi fly half so far.. Time to look else where.
boonzie
Guest
Roff and Mortlock had some presence
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yeah agree, I didn't think he looked too bad, others were at least as poor and Guilford toiled away relentlessly at least. Said beginning of the season that to get the best out of Guilford they've got to allow him to roam, and look to get him running off the inside backs. He has that rare sniff for gaps but has to have that synergy with other players. Obviously he's to blame as much as anyone else, but he's still worth basing a lot of the play around.
ken
Guest
TN is soft mate..If he was anygood Checka would have selected him..He is lazy
Jason
Guest
If you are going to compare those blokes to Jonah Lomus PHYSICAL presence you must not have seen Lomu play Tune was physical at times but not consistenlty Physical, He was smashed by Lomu many times and rag dolled by him also Tuquri wasn`t physical, he was skilfull athletic and fast.... SHEEESH ( Wendall was more physical ) Tomane has no talent, Savea is a flat track bully George North got dumped on his noggin by IZZY FOLAU and couldn`t get back up.. Lomu was the SCARIEST player, forward or back on the planet in his day and im an aussie.. Move on lads..
ken
Guest
Honey badger PHYSICAL??.. hahahahahahahahahahahaha
Boz the Younger
Guest
In fact I would go so far to say that if they got over the loss of Beale, got rid of Horwitz, stuck Horne in the 12 spot for his defence and crash ball running, put Guildford on the wing and let him rove, they might throw up a few surprises.
Boz the Younger
Guest
I rated Guilford in the early games and don't know why the Tahs would run Horne instead of him, now that a defensive babysitter is not required for their 12.
JT
Guest
Looks like his time playing for west harbour gave him back his confidence. He needs a few big games to get another contract
woodart
Guest
fins up!! hope they go back to there old logo, the new one is terrible!
woodart
Guest
yes that will be a good test at centre for folau. tamanivalu has come good this year, and is very hard to stop, or go around.
ClarkeG
Guest
Zac Guildford off to Tasman Makos as soon as Waratahs season is over. - Radio Sport NZ
PeterK
Roar Guru
Tuqiri, TN, Tomane, George North
jameswm
Roar Guru
Ben Tune. The Honey Badger. Julian Savea. There have been plenty of very physical wingers.