Daryl Gibson issues stark warning to Waratahs ahead of Reds clash
NSW coach Daryl Gibson has issued a warning to his players ahead of the ‘State of Origin’ battle, saying the Waratahs risk losing their nine-game win streak over the Reds.
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After biting his lip while the Waratahs were on a week off, coach Daryl Gibson has let his players know he hasn’t forgotten how poorly they played in the first two rounds of Super Rugby.
As soon as the players got back to training after having the bye, Gibson sat them down and reminded them they need to get their act together after losing at home to the Hurricanes then scraping in by a point to beat the Sunwolves in Tokyo.
If the players thought Gibson might cut them slack after the Japanese franchise proved they’re a handful for any team by beating the Chiefs in New Zealand the following week, they were sadly mistaken as the former All Black left them in no doubt he wants more from his team.
“I wasn’t surprised by that performance from the Sunwolves. They performed very well but we always knew they were a quality side and that’s why we picked the team we did,” he said.
“But it doesn't take away from our performance. We left a lot of points out there and (wasted) a lot of opportunities.
“We spoke about that in depth and we know we have to be much better to compete with teams in this league.”
Gibson has also warned his players about the dangers they face from Queensland when they square off at the SCG on Saturday night.
The Waratahs are on a nine-game win streak against the Reds, who are yet to win this season, but Gibson isn’t taking anything for granted, firing a warning to his players not to let any complacency creep in.
“They’re much better (than last season). I think they a very competitive unit, you saw that on the weekend you saw that in the first game so we know what we’re in for,” he said.
“We’re facing our oldest rival this week so we’ll put out the strongest team we can.
“There’s obviously a lot of history and tradition in this fixture, and playing at the SCG gives the game some extra historical aspects and more meaning, but the most important thing is still the standings on the competition ladder.
“The pressure is on from a really early stage so we know how important these derbies are in terms of the conference standings so there’s plenty to play for.”
Originally published as Daryl Gibson issues stark warning to Waratahs ahead of Reds clash
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