Skipper Dave Dennis labels Force clash as the most important match of Waratahs’ season

WARATAHS skipper Dave Dennis has declared that their showdown with Western Force is their most important match of the season.

Dave Dennis says the Waratahs face a big challenge against the Force.

WARATAHS skipper Dave Dennis has declared that their showdown with Western Force this weekend is their most important match of the season.

With the winner potentially able to seize top spot in the Australian conference, the result will have big ramifications for both sides.

Dennis said that while others might be surprised by the Force’s emergence as Super Rugby’s form side, he always expected them to get their act together.

As the Waratahs welcomed the return of superstar fullback Israel Folau for Saturday’s key match in Perth, Dennis joined the chorus of praise for the once-battling Force, who are now riding a club record four-match winning streak.

“We have a the same win-loss record, they will be full of confidence now having won four in a row, this is our most important game so far this season,” Dennis said.

“All of the stuff that is being written about them is well deserved.

News_Image_File: Israel Folau returns for the Waratahs against the Force.

“For a few years now they’ve copped a bit of unwanted press, and now they’re reaping a bit of warranted praise for their performances.

“They have always had a decent group of players, things just haven’t gone their way in the past.

“The way the game is, and this competition is, I knew they were never going to battle for years and years to come.

“Maybe it has come a bit earlier than others expected, but I’ve always thought they were a great, competitive team that would start putting results together quickly.

“We’ve always treated the Force with a lot of respect, and that’s no different this time.

“They have always challenged us.

“On Saturday, the extra bit on top they’ll have is that level of confidence that comes with a few wins in a row.”

News_Rich_Media: Western Force captain Matt Hodgson says the Force are happy to wear the underdog tag when they come up against the Waratahs this weekend; the Force are looking for their fifth win in a row.

The return of Folau from a throat injury is a huge boost for the Tahs, who have struggled to score tries without him, notching just two in the past fortnight on their South African tour.

“Having Izzy back just adds that little bit of confidence to everyone around him,” Dennis said.

“Knowing he can create something from nothing, knowing he’ll always have a crack from the back, that lifts everyone.”

Folau is the tournament’s leading try-scorer with eight from four games including a double against the Force in Sydney in their opening game. While the Tahs easily won that encounter 43-21, they encounter a much-improved Force side this time.

Dennis also said the Force coach Michael Foley, who was in charge of NSW in 2012, would target their set-piece after it struggled against the Brumbies and Sharks before improving markedly against the Stormers last weekend.

“There is a guy that knows a fair bit about our set-piece on the other side,” Dennis said.

News_Image_File: Dave Dennis in action for the Waratahs.

“We’ve been disappointed with how our set-piece has gone earlier in the season, I know the front row and tight five haven’t been happy around our scrum.

“Our lineout is operating at about 70 per cent.

“We talked a lot about our set-piece before the Stormers match and I thought we delivered well.

“That shows the attitude and mentality that we’re developing.”

Waratahs wingers Peter Betham (broken foot) and Alofa Alofa (strained knee) were ruled out earlier this week, with Rob Horne and Cam Crawford taking their places in the starting side this week.

With Wycliff Palu still unavailable through injury, NSW retains the same pack that led them to victory in Cape Town last weekend.

WARATAHS: 15. Israel Folau 14. Cam Crawford 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper 12. Kurtley Beale 11. Rob Horne 10. Bernard Foley 9. Nick Phipps 8. Dave Dennis 7. Michael Hooper 6. Jacques Potgieter 5. Kane Douglas 4. Will Skelton 3. Sekope Kepu 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau 1. Benn Robinson.

Reserves: 16. Tolu Latu 17. Jeremy Tilse 18. Paddy Ryan 19. Stephen Hoiles 20. Pat McCutcheon 21. Brendan McKibbin 22 Jono Lance 23. Matt Carraro.