The Australian conference-topping Waratahs face perhaps their toughest test of the season when they host the Lions at the SFS on Friday night. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 7:45pm AEST.
In one of the clashes of the round, we’ll start with the home side.
Daryl Gibson’s men have won four on the fly, and look all the better for their handy off-season recruiting.
The backline is starting to fire on the back of solid front foot ball laid by their forward pack. They also have a genuine finisher on the wing in Taqele Naiyarovoro.
In the forwards, Tom Staniforth starts in place of Will Miller, who drops back to the pine.
It’s an otherwise unchanged starting XV for the Tahs.
Now, Swys De Bruin’s troops.
They are coming off a 52-31 demolition job of the Stormers last start, and will need to harness the attacking mindset they had in that fixture if they’re to get outside the first channel of Waratahs defenders tonight.
Their forward pack is one of the biggest in Super Rugby, and they have arguably the form player in the competition in Malcolm Marx packing down at hooker.
Andries Ferreira and Marvin Orie are two keys to the Lions rock solid lineout, and will be the target men in the lineout once again this evening.
In the backs, pivot Elton Jantjies has found his rhythm after a slow start to the season, and will like the dry, warm conditions presented to him this evening.
Andries Coetzee, as always, is a threat from the back. Expect plenty of counter-attack from De Bruin’s men.
Where the game will be won
Set piece. Daryl Gibson has made no attempt to hide the fact that he’s opted for size over speed in his piggies. Staniforth and Wells will shoulder a lot of the carrying load in general play.
With a 6-2 split on the bench, there’s no excuse for the Waratahs forwards not to run their legs out for the periods they play.
That being said, the Lions have a strong set piece when it fires. Nullify that, and the Waratahs can win.
It’ll be a belter.
Lions by 6 in an arm wrestle.
Join The Roar for live scores of the match, starting from 7:45pm AEDT.
RobC
Roar Guru
Re-watched the game. Tahs dominated 1H: - but Lions in D were quicker than what the Tahs were used to I think. - Tahs were camped in the Lions redzone, but made a lot of rushed errors - Tahs did a great job in keep the pressure and dominating territory - The Lions scored 7 in the 1H by kicking over the top. A well oiled machine. 2H the Lions changed tactics and challenged the BD: - Instead of letting the Tahs cycle quickly and let in midfield metres - this resulted in multiple BD penalty wins, territory and tries for the Lions - Tahs had 10' around 60' onwards but failed the score tries The Tahs did change their attacking structure for this game. They may have done a better job doing the same as last week+
RobC
Roar Guru
Bourkos I think I should watch it again. I thought the Tahs changed it up somewhat. There was less reliance on Big T yesterday as a finisher.
Ed
Guest
Beale will be starting next to Foley in the first test against Ireland, unless either is injured. Here are their defensive stats so far in the SR season (courtesy of ESPN stats). Tahs have played eight matches: Beale - 11 turnovers conceded, 44 tackles, 20 missed tackles Foley - 17 turnovers conceded, 46 tackles, 20 missed tackles. These don't provide how effective the tackles were. They are not stats to give hope of them defending in their positions while wearing gold. So the Grey shuffle again this year fellas?
Cuw
Guest
i think he does not like head on tackles. also dont forget - he was "marvelos" at WASPS playing 15.
Fionn
Guest
Agreed, Rhys. That performance surely hurt Kurtley's chances of wearing 12 in June, and provided a tick to Hodge especially and even Kerevi.
Superba
Guest
Waraklaars .
CJ
Guest
I naively thought there was a light at the end of the tunnel for Australian Rugby after the recent displays by the Waratahs, but this is a very bad scoreline and is part of a long lasting continuum. Basically, things have been going downhill since the start of extra time in the World Cup final in 2003. One wonders what would be the attraction for a young person to follow Rugby as a sport in Australia now. Back in my day, the reason many of us started to follow union rather than league, started from the sheer magic of Kenny Wright slicing up the ABs at Eden Park in 1978 and then gutsy people like Chris Handy and then the Ella brothers and Campese and NFJ and Eales, Little and Horan so on up to Larkham, Gregan and Morlock. And although League had even more exciting players like Lewis and Kenny and Stuart and Brett Mullins and Meninga, union had an international dimension to it that surpassed what league had to offer. I just can't see what the game in Australia has to offer any more as a mainstream spectator sport to draw in young people, as opposed to keeping rusted on supporters. And I don't know what is being done to address it. I recall reading somewhere that when things hit rock bottom in the mid-seventies whatever was the past incarnation of the ARU did a review based on Welsh Rugby and got things back on track. Cricket did something similar with the Argus Report which got things going ok till recently.
i miss the force
Guest
yes, because this game has nothing to do with the force and their 11 years of not doing anything
mattocks
Guest
I was a 15 many years ago. A 15 absolutely has to tackle.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Word.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
There is no jumper in rugby for those who do not want to tackle, those people should play soccer.
ethan
Guest
If Cheika has failed to notice this in all his years coaching Kurtley then he is not cut out for coaching. It's simple. If you want to play 12, you have to tackle. If not, 15 is the jumper for you.
Dave_S
Guest
Yes one is entitled to suspect that ...
Dontcallmeshirley
Guest
He doed this a lot. I am convinced he does it to avoid having to make a tackle. I hope cheika has noticed because i am sure Hansen has.
Fionn
Guest
Yeah, he certainly didn't look top 2 flyhalfs in the world like RTT said.
Marty
Guest
Pretty sure there was an article written last week (not here) touting the Tahs as genuine finals contenders. LOL.
Malo
Guest
Look at the ladder
Andy
Guest
The lions lost to the blues at home, one win doesn’t make a season
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Maybe over-simplified but check the log 2014 - 1st 2015 - 3rd Enter Gibson 2016 - 10th 2017 - 16th
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Thanks Harry