Waratahs flanker Charlie Gamble says re-establishing the aggressive defence that underpinned NSW’s resurgence last year is the key to the Tahs rescuing their season and going on a winning run before the finals.
And Gamble is putting his body on the line for the cause, with the flanker revealing he has put off surgery on a painful shoulder injury until the end of the season to prioritise the Waratahs’ late-season push.
NSW take on the Highlanders at home on Friday night and a third victory from nine games is sorely needed.
After snapping a three-game losing streak the week before, the Waratahs were thrashed 55-21 by the Blues in Auckland at the weekend, conceding 50 points for only second time in the last two years.
The Waratahs were depleted with injury, suspension and having rested three Wallabies, but the heavy defeat was the latest where NSW’s defence had wilted from the force it was last year.
After going winless and conceding a shocking 42.9 points per game in 2021, NSW prioritised defence and winning collisions in 2022 and it worked a treat; by time the Tahs had earned a quarter-final spot, they’d vastly improved and averaged just 22.9 points conceded per game.
Charlie Gamble is tackled in the Waratahs’ Super Rugby opener against the Brumbies.Credit: Getty Images
This year, in a 2-6 season, the Waratahs have slipped back to 31.7 points conceded per game.
Some of that can be put down to new law interpretations speeding up the game and introducing fatigue, increasing scorelines in many matches, but top Kiwi teams are still averaging under 22 points a game.
The Brumbies have also slipped defensively and are out to 27 points a game, but the ACT side have upped their attacking output and have scored the most points in the competition. NSW’s attack output is only fractionally higher than last year.
“A big part of our game last year was priding ourselves on defence,” Gamble said.
“That really went well for us last year, and our attack came off that, because we were forcing errors and getting turnovers. We have showed glimpses in parts of games, against the Chiefs and the Brumbies, where we have defended really well and got pay out of it.
“So if we can fall back on our ‘D’ and get systems right, and just be a lot more aggressive there, I think our attack will come and we will start getting performances.”
Unregarded and with a low injury toll, the Waratahs flew under the radar in 2022 but this season rivals have come prepared and a weekly reshuffle due to injuries hasn’t helped with consistency.
“That’s just how the dice rolls sometimes and you have to find a way around it,” Gamble said.
Michael Hooper (right) is back in action as well against the Highlanders on Friday.Credit: Getty
“It is not for a lack of trying in this team. Some parts of the game are working and in some parts it isn’t, so we have to make sure we are switched on in the full 80. To beat Kiwi teams, you have to play the full 80. A lot of the Australian teams are leading 60 minutes in, and then get blown past. The full 80 minutes is needed.”
There’ll be more changes for NSW this week, but of the welcome kind this time. Wallabies Michael Hooper, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Lalakai Foketi, Langi Gleeson and Dave Porecki all return, along with the hard-working second-rower Hugh Sinclair.
Gamble returned last week after missing three games with a left shoulder injury sustained against the Hurricanes. The flanker opted to forego surgery and stay on the field and play through the pain.
“Unfortunately it is a little bit worse than people think. I was supposed to get surgery, but I will just grit my teeth and do lots of strengthening work to stay on top of it,” he said.
“I am confident how it is going, it feels a lot better this week than last week, and every week it gets stronger. But I am pretty keen to just help the boys out as much as I can, and get to the end of the season and see what happens.”
Having already played four of the top five sides, the Waratahs are hoping they’ll be able to build a run in the final stretch and qualify for the finals. They’ve been lucky in the fact they’re one of several teams stuck in the middle, and are only one win away from sixth spot.
After a breakout 2022, Gamble was on the Wallabies’ radar and attended a camp in January under Dave Rennie. But after becoming eligible this month, he wasn’t named in Eddie Jones’ squad.
“Like I have said before I guess you just focus on what you can control right in front of you, and right now that’s performing well for the Waratahs and helping gets some wins and finish the year strong,” Gamble said.
“And then whatever happens after that will happen.”
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