Waratahs coach Darren Coleman says he will happily accept the tag of underdogs against Queensland in round one of Super Rugby after being thumped by the Reds in a trial in Roma on Saturday.
The Reds were impressive under new coach Les Kiss, and far too strong for the Waratahs in a 32-7 victory. It was NSW’s second heavy trial loss in as many weeks after they were beaten by 38-12 by the Rebels in Melbourne seven days earlier.
Coaches and teams that lose trials often try desperately to cling to the “it’s just a trial” disclaimer, but a pair of big defeats will rattle confidence levels at the Waratahs’ Daceyville headquarters and present a major test of nerve for the outfit with only one trial left before the Super Rugby Pacific season begins against the Reds in Brisbane on February 24.
Coleman said the trial results wouldn’t change his plans to rest most of his main squad for the third trial against club sides Manly and Warringah, which will be a hit-out for mostly the second-string members of the NSW squad.
“We won’t change tack on that, we feel we have a good plan and they will have a little time to freshen up for round one,” Coleman said.
“There will be a lot of review and meetings – what do they say, winners have parties and losers have meetings – so we will review pretty strongly. It was disappointing, particularly that first half. Full credit to the Reds, though, they played fast and enterprising rugby, and we just couldn’t come with them.”
Jed Holloway wins a lineout during the Waratahs-Reds trial in Roma.Credit: Brendan Hertel, Rugby Australia
The Reds played with superior pace and physicality and dominated the Waratahs all night at the contact zone – with and without the ball. The only sign of intent early from a sleepy Waratahs side was a strong shot from Dylan Pietsch that saw him sin-binned for a high tackle. It was a questionable call and the Reds capitalised by scoring twice with him off the field via Hunter Paisami and Jock Campbell.
With the Reds maul in good shape, too, the hosts rolled in another two tries and led 29-0 at halftime. NSW scored a penalty try after the break but were shut down by an aggressive Reds defence, and couldn’t build any pressure.
New Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt watched on and would have been pleased with the work of Queensland under Kiss, particularly at the tackle.
“Hopefully we all get a realisation that we have to better, we have all got to work harder in all aspects of our game and be more accurate and more disciplined, and work faster off the footy. You’d like to think it will serve as a bit of a motivator,” Coleman said.
Tate McDermott gets ready to feed a scrum.Credit: Brendan Hertel, Rugby Australia
“I have always liked being the underdog. This time in particular so far has done better when people write us off or don’t have us as favourites, and I am looking forward to that lead-in going up to Brisbane, after they’ve spanked us.
“You’d like to think most people will be backing them. They were fast and fluent. Their forward play and detail around their forward play was much improved, and Les [Kiss] has got them playing a free-flowing style of footy. And they have some really good link players with McReight and Wright. But I am confident if we can play our best and put that on the field, we will be in the hunt. We have just to get there.”
Lalakai Foketi was the only new injury concern, and will have scans on a wrist on Monday. Max Jorgensen is pencilled in to return from a broken ankle in the weekend’s trial but coaches will make a call late in the week.
Ned Hanigan, Izzy Perese, Fergus Lee-Warner, Dave Porecki and Hugh Sinclair are all hoped to be right for round one.
The Waratahs had a big win in the women’s trial, however, with a 29-0 thumping of the Reds. Facing her old team, new Waratahs recruit Annabelle Codey scored one of the Tahs’ five tries.
An ankle injury to Wallaroos prop Emily Robinson soured the night, but the Waratahs were otherwise pleased with the strong showing ahead of the opening round of Super W on March 16.
“I’m really proud that we kept the Reds to zero, I think Mike [coach Mike Ruthven] will be very happy with that,” Waratahs No.10 Arabella McKenzie said.
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