Michael Cheika says Waratahs must be clinical in attack ahead of clash with fast-paced Blues

THE Waratahs must be clinical in attack to beat the Blues in Auckland on Anazc Day and remain a genuine Super Rugby title challenger.

Israel Folau takes on the Bulls defence at Allianz Stadium.

THE Waratahs must be clinical in attack to beat the Blues in Auckland on Anzac Day and remain a genuine title challenger in the run home to the Super Rugby finals.

Coach Michael Cheika delivered the assessment as the Tahs passed the halfway point of the season second in the Aussie conference and “on track”, but preparing to re-adjust their strategy again for a testing run of New Zealand opponents.

The Waratahs notched up a win over the Bulls low on glamour but high on resolve on Saturday night, showing an improving capacity to shift down gears and grind out wins against defence-minded South African teams.

For all there is to admire about a running game, too much attack can be one-dimensional as well and NSW’s no-kick tactics played into the hands of the Sharks and Force.

But as they did against the Stormers, the Tahs used the boot to counter the Bulls’ kick-and-pressure style and pocketed the four points.

It was as far removed from the Waratahs’ style as seen under Cheika — kicking (1130 metres) almost double the running metres (667m) — but the stubbornly applied pragmatism was as telling about NSW’s title credentials as the hot sizzle that saw Israel Folau score after 28 seconds.

News_Image_File: Waratahs fullback Israel Folau on the attack against the Bulls.

“It wasn’t the way we’d normally do it, but we also have to be a bit unpredictable. It sounds a bit silly, but we can’t show the same thing all the time (by running),” Cheika said.

With a South African/Force “block” out of the way, now, however, the Waratahs are set to upshift again in coming weeks and open back up their attack against like-minded Kiwi teams.

With space set to be freed up more against the Blues and faster-paced trans-Tasman games, the creativity of Folau, Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale (if fit) again serve as primary weapons.

“They can score tries,” Cheika said of the Blues.

“They have got firepower and at Eden Park, of course, on Anzac Day it is going to be a pretty big day and they’re a team that can score tries.

“But them playing like that opens up opportunities for us as well.

“There’s a different dynamic between us and them as opposed to a team like us and the Bulls. That’s a different story in itself.”

Waratahs captain Dave Dennis is encouraged by his team’s ability to change tactical gears and feels content the Tahs are well equipped to match the New Zealanders.

News_Rich_Media: Catch all the highlights from the Waratahs' clash with the Bulls.

“Ideally every week we want to play our style of game and attack and score some tries and play as we know how we can play as a team. We are learning as we are going along that we have to play what’s in front of us, and adjust a little bit. As long as our physicality is there, our intention to play football is there, we are moving in the right direction,” Dennis said.

“Now we face two New Zealand teams where I think our game will be suited to what they’re going to throw against us.”

Cheika said the big focus for the Waratahs in the next stage of the competition was to become a side who ruthlessly dictates terms in a match; both in building points and pressure, and denying their rivals the chance to accrue either.

“It’s no good just making opportunities. The key statistic in rugby is the conversion rate. Not just in tries, but converting the opportunities that make us go further down the field, keep the ball and put pressure on the opposition,” Cheika said.

News_Image_File: Waratahs inside centre Kurtley Beale floats a pass against the Bulls at Allianz Stadium.

“If you score tries or get points or keep them on the back foot, they feel pressure so they can’t play their game.”

The Waratahs invited the Bulls to get back into the match at the weekend, and the dominant Bulls of old probably would have taken the invitation and the points.

“Once you start letting them play their game they have an even shot at winning the game. We have to play our game so we can stop them playing theirs,” Cheika said.

“(The Blues) are very dangerous, especially on broken play. So errors will kill us. We have to be very, very good. We talk about improving and that’s the number area. Making sure we consolidate all the little opportunities and at a minimum, be really skimpy and miserly on giving the ball away.”