Advice from Eddie Jones, a training tweak and surging second halves are among the ingredients that have helped the Waratahs get their mojo back, and on the cusp of securing a spot in the Super Rugby finals.
After recording a third straight win last weekend, a NSW victory over the Fijian Drua at Allianz Stadium on Saturday would see the Tahs bank a playoffs berth with two rounds remaining.
Finals footy looked questionable for the Waratahs after a poor first half of the season, when the side struggled to live up to high expectations and won just one of their first six games.
But the team turned a corner with a victory over the Force in round 7, and have only dropped one of their last five games since; the defeat coming when they took a B team to Auckland.
Waratahs players have revealed how an observation made by Jones to NSW coach Darren Coleman played a role in the turnaround.
“DC spoke to Eddie [Jones] about it, and he said ‘you guys can get up faster, reload quicker and be faster’ and that’s what we’ve been focusing on,” lock Hugh Sinclair said.
Mark Nawaqanitawase celebrates with Max Jorgensen.Credit: Getty
“We’ve changed at training a bit a month or two ago … we want to be faster around our speed of set, up off the deck.”
Waratahs forwards coach Pauli Taumoepeau said Jones’ tip was a good reminder for the NSW coaches to a “speed to set” directive, so players are in position to attack and defend.
“It was a welcome observation from the national coach that we’ve taken on,” Taumoepeau said.
“It’s not new … but what I think happened is we weren’t saying it enough. We knew we had to do it, and DC and Eddie have had some chats early on and DC mentioned this was an observation from Eddie early on, and we’d be silly not to take that. We are now stressing it more.”
Though the Waratahs will be without star centre Lalakai Foketi (ankle), the team welcome back key forwards Ned Hanigan and Taleni Seu to take on the Drua. The pair will bolster an already impactful NSW bench, with Charlie Gamble and Mahe Vailanu impressive in recent weeks.
The improved bench depth should only continue a trend that has underpinned the Waratahs’ revival: second-half strength.
After going into half-time trailing the Rebels and tied with the Reds, the Tahs rolled home over both after oranges, outscoring the Melburnians 24-3 and 15-7 over Queensland. The 21-20 win over the Highlanders came via a try in the last minute.
“You could argue last year was probably a little bit different, we were starting well and just remembering our last two games at Leichhardt, we came into the sheds up or even and then didn’t play anywhere near our potential in the second half,” Taumoepeau said. “So it is pleasing we have been able to find a balance on how to finish games off. Our leaders are doing a really good job there at half-time, what our focus points are there, and then our bench has been strong for us.”
Having deliberately bulked up over summer for more power in contact, the Tahs banked on getting fitter as the season went on, and that appears to coming to fruition.
But hooker Dave Porecki said bench impact was a must-have, too.
“You are going to go far if you have a strong 15 but you are going to go even further if you have depth and a bench that comes on and adds impact, with punch, versatility and athleticism,” Porecki said.
“You can definitely see that in the last couple of games. Historically we might have a good first 60 but teams like the Hurricanes last year, in the last 20, would blow us away. We are turning the tide on that. We are staying in the fight as we did in our first half on the weekend and our bench comes on and blows other benches away.”
Ned Hanigan carries the ball.Credit: Getty
Taumopeau said it was a luxury to have star players on the bench, and allows coaches to plan for maximum impact.
The Waratahs displayed patience and second-half strength to beat the physical Drua in round two, when they turned a 10-all scoreline at half-time into a 46-17 win. The Tahs were lucky to play the Drua in Melbourne in Super Round, and not in Fiji, where the Mick Byrne-coached side have caused major upsets. Replicating that form on the road has been harder for the Drua who are gunning for their first finals berth, and the Waratahs know it will be a tough fight.
“You need to play a structured game against them because they thrive on unstructured,” Porecki said.
“The games they’ve won, and the upsets they’ve had against the Crusaders and the Hurricanes, they’ve been able to play their way. That’s the key. There’s no hiding behind the fact that if they get a roll on, they’re nearly impossible to stop.”
Halse misses out as Wallaroos name four debutants
A Wallaroos debut will have to wait for 16-year-old NSW young gun Caitlyn Halse after coach Jay Tregonning opted for a different teenager at fullback for Saturday’s Test against Fiji in Sydney.
The Wallaroos will field four debutants in their first match of the year, with No.10 Carys Dallinger and 18-year-old fullback Faitala Moleka earning their first national caps.
Uncapped Brumbies pair Tabua Tuinakauvadra and Jasmin Huriwai have also been named on the bench for the match at Allianz Stadium.
Halse, who debuted for the Waratahs in March, was one of the standout performers in Super W this year and subsequently rewarded with her first national call-up.
Caitlyn Halse in action for the Waratahs.Credit: Getty
However, Tregonning has backed Moleka instead, saying that Halse was “absolutely” close to getting the nod and becoming the youngest Wallaroo ever.“We had really good discussions on Wednesday morning … age is not the reason,” Tregonning said.
“There are a few other things we’ll talk to her about … in regards to things we think she can improve on.
“Faitala has come in and shown a lot of calmness around game organising. She has an awesome skill set. She won the spot with her performances at training during the week.”
Shannon Parry will captain the side in her final international match, featuring at No.7 alongside fellow back-rower and former skipper Grace Hamilton.
Queensland playmaker Carys Dallinger.Credit: Getty
In the driver’s seat at No.10 is Kiwi-born Dallinger, who grew up dreaming of playing for New Zealand. Regular starter Arabella McKenzie was unavailable for selection due to club commitments in the UK.
Picked up by the Queensland Reds, who lost the recent Super W final to Fijiana Drua, Dallinger will now run out in a gold jersey thanks to some quick thinking from Rugby Australia.
“We were aware she had an Australian father, so qualified for us,” Tregonning said. “We had discussions with her during Super W.
“Carys has fitted in extremely well. She’s come in and met a new group of people. She’s got the confidence as a game-driver you need and has an awesome skill set that opens up a number of opportunities for us.”
Newly announced captain Piper Duck won’t take part in the match due to a foot injury.
Kick-off is at 5pm and with a Waratahs and Fijian Drua fixture set to follow the women’s international, Tregonning suspects there’ll be plenty of support for the away team.
“If the [Super W] semi-final at Concord is anything to go by, I think there will be some loud Fijians,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any better supporters in world rugby.”
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