NSW Waratahs coach Rob Penney has labelled Saturday’s Super Rugby AU clash with a Justin Langer fired-up Western Force as a potential massive banana skin for his side.
It’s likely to be an emotion-fuelled performance by the Force, who will debut in the revamped domestic competition and play their first Super match of any type since being cut from the full tournament after the 2017 season.
Australian cricket coach, batting great and proud West Australian Langer addressed the Force in the lead-up to Saturday night’s SCG encounter.
“He’s a good man, Rugby Australia got him on one of the Zoom conferences during the COVID offseason – he was really good,” Penney said.
“I understand that he’s probably telling the Western Force the vagaries of living on the east coast of Australia and all the things that the western province doesn’t like about the eastern side and firing them up.
“We counter that with our own motivations and our own inspirations.”
Penney is wary of a Force side he knows little about but won’t be underestimating, especially with his side needing a win after a first-round loss to Queensland.
“We are going to have to be very careful,” Penney said.
“It’s these sort of fixtures where one team gets an emotional boost. Another team, for one reason or another, might be a bit low and it turns into a massive banana skin.
“For us to be able to challenge the Force, we need to be preparing well and making sure we’re not getting a bit lazy in terms of that mental prep and game prep that individual has to go through.”
Penney has named an unchanged starting side, opting to bring Karmichael Hunt back off the bench, with the Wallabies’ veteran recovering from a hamstring injury.
Rookie inside centre Joey Walton, after debuting last week, retains the run-on spot.
“Joey had a really solid performance last week and I guess it’s furthering his development and we can unleash Karmichael a bit later,” Penney said.
Waratahs team (15-1): Jack Maddocks, James Ramm, Alex Newsome, Joey Walton, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Will Harrison, Mitch Short, Will Harris, Michael Hooper, Lachie Swinton, Rob Simmons (capt), Ned Hanigan, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Robbie Abel, Angus Bell.
Res: Tom Horton, Tetera Faulkner, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Jack Dempsey, Michael McDonald, Ben Donaldson/Tepai Moeroa, Karmichael Hunt.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
.... Global RAPID rugby. Not too sure about that
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
That says more about the poor quality of most tahs players than the "high quality" of Beale, look he was a good player who should have never strayed from fullback into the midfield. Beale had the potential to be the best fullback in the world but was done a disservice by people who convinced him he was a 12 and a Folau who refused to play anywhere but fullback. He never met his potential and was a mediocre 12 selected for wallabies duties ahead of better players by an awful coach.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
True, but we enjoy trying to remember them...He's a fair bit younger than me so he is better on recollections.
Double Agent
Guest
Love it!! Your name's Realist and you make unrealistic comments. Brilliant stuff!
Double Agent
Guest
Just get a couple of slabs from Aldi and a cask of red throw in a packet of twisties and go hard. Same result and saves yourself a fortune on a night you won't remember the next day anyway.
Ex force fan
Guest
Couldn't agree more. That last game against the Tahs will be difficult to meet....however still a little bit hopeful.
Realist
Guest
You’ve been looking forward to every match since Beale’s departure haven’t you Jez. The fact is Kurtley was the most wonderful player to ever pull on a Waratahs jersey.
Bobwire
Guest
Could be the Tahs are going to pay the Force too much respect, go Force, take your chances!
Guess
Roar Rookie
Whoa even Penney is afraid of the force. Needs to show more faith in his team.
MitchO
Guest
Stander really is a bull. Wouldn't the Tahs love to him at 8 for a bit of starch.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
I am guessing from the comments that we will all be watching the game. A mate of mine (ex 6) and I (ex 5) will be having a top-shelf lump of rump, chips, mushrooms and onions washed down with some 10 year old red. BTW we will be warmed up with the Blues v Crusaders, so it will be a big night- hopefully.
MitchO
Guest
Yeah the youth will have a crack and Hooper and Hanigan will try hard. The captaincy is possibly messing with Simmons but we do know he's a good player.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Wally agree with all you say apart from the score. I am think sub 10.....
stillmissit
Roar Guru
EFF: I can't wait to see what they are like. This is the only good thing to come out of this economy killing virus. They will be very wound up either for good or not so good. You know they will throw everything at the Tahs and they will have this match as a possible win, as the tahs are the weakest of the 4.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The one benefit of the Tahs youth is they all have a point to prove, so complacency shouldn't be as much of an issue for them.
Ex force fan
Guest
I have hope...but my glass is half full. Playing your first game, away, while the other team have more quality players makes the Force the underdog. I am hoping that they play well and are competitive.
Wally
Roar Rookie
Hopefully Bell learnt something from last week. With another 100 scrums he SHOULD be good. High opinion of Swinton. Fearless young bull. Mark N has a long way to go to be even a capable Super winger. Young Harrison is progressing really well at 10. Anyway looking forward to the game. Waratahs by 15.
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
As a QLDer I hopes it’s a cracker and both teams play amazing rugby. I fear the Force could be super rusty (pardon the pun) and it could harm the confidence they bring into the match, so I reckon the Tahs will go in with more belief after last week’s heralded performance. I don’t want to see any teams look bad as I’m all for Australian rugby to get back to great heights, I just hope the players play well and go hard! I think I’ll be going for the Force,due to a few ex QLDers playing but I guess I’ll see how it goes. Bring it on.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Any assumption should be because players like Longbottom, Thrush, Prior and Lance for example are more suited to a slower style of play than a running game. Prior and Lance aren't Clydesdales, but they are players whose strengths probably are more a defensive and kicking game plan. I don't know any side that doesn't try and be as conditioned as they can be in the time they have to get there, so the competition they are playing in would be irrelevant there.
Gary
Guest
I reckon the Force 6 8 9 10 and 12 are superior to their counterparts. The Waratahs 7 and 15 are the only 2 that are superior in my opinion. The rest are even stevens. Force by 5.