NZ view: Pack is Waratahs’ ‘soft underbelly’, Crusaders ‘just that little bit better’

THE Waratahs pack has been singled out as the team’s “soft underbelly” by a former All Blacks forward. Read on for the New Zealand view!

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 14: Jacques Potgieter of the Waratahs prepares to pack into the scrum during the Super Rugby trial match between the Waratahs and the Highlanders at Hunter Stadium on February 14, 2014 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

THE Waratahs pack has been singled out as the team’s “soft underbelly” by a former All Blacks forward, while the Crusaders are “just that little bit better” than their Super Rugby final rivals.

Yep, New Zealand’s rugby media has come out swinging in grand final week, backing their boys to the hilt while questioning the credentials of the Waratahs.

Michael Cheika’s side topped the Super Rugby ladder at the conclusion of the home-and-away season and then bested the Brumbies in their semi-final stoush.

But that hasn’t been enough to sway the rugby writers across the ditch ahead of Saturday night’s showdown for Super Rugby supremacy at ANZ Stadium.

Former New Zealand Test prop Craig Dowd, writing for ESPN.scrum, took aim at the Tahs forwards ahead of their showdown with the All Blacks-laden Crusaders at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

“The soft underbelly of the Waratahs team is in the forward pack, and I think the Crusaders will target the forward pack on Saturday night and play their own game,” Dowd wrote.

“The Waratahs-Brumbies game was messy, and the Brumbies at one point exposed the Waratahs scrum. I am sure the Crusaders will have taken notice of that because they have an even better scrum; they will target the Waratahs’ scrum, which has been their Achilles heel for most of the season.

“There has been a lot of talk about the Waratahs’ defence; but it doesn’t matter how good your defence is if the opposition gets physical dominance because your opponents will find chinks in your armour. Defence is good when you are going forward or when you’ve got the opposition going back. But when the Crusaders have the Waratahs going back on defence, they will crack their hosts eventually.”

It doesn’t end there. Dowd had another warning for the Waratahs, declaring that All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw had allayed any fears of an imminent decline with a powerhouse performance in his return from a rib injury against the Sharks last weekend.

Naturally, that spelt bad news for NSW.

“McCaw was like a spring chicken. He was just everywhere. I know there has been talk recently about his age and all the rest, but that was stellar McCaw at his best,” Dowd declared.

“And his performance showed the mindset of the Crusaders. They’ve stepped up for finals rugby. And if they can step up again for the final — and given what I saw from the Waratahs in their semi-final against the Brumbies — I don’t think the Waratahs have got a show.”

Another former All Black was more impressed with the Waratahs’ run to the final. Crusaders legend Andrew Mehrtens, who has helped NSW out this season as a kicking consultant, said he’d liked what he’d seen in Tah land.

“I’ve been lucky enough to get a first-hand glimpse at their culture and it’s impressive,” Mehrtens wrote in his Fairfax New Zealand column.

“They’re humble, eager to learn and there’s a real work ethic there.

“The message from on top is about keeping feet on the ground, staying real, working hard, and taking it week to week. They’ve got the headline acts, but there are no “superstars” in their group.”

Still, that wasn’t enough for Mehrtens to tip against his old team, declaring the Crusaders looked to be “moving back towards their ruthless best”.

The form of Matt Todd, who forced McCaw to return at blindside flanker, and Colin Slade, who held on to the No. 10 jersey with Dan Carter slotting in at inside centre, only reaffirmed his faith in the Cantabrians.

“I’m not a huge fan of not playing guys in their best positions, but in this instance Todd Blackadder has got it right with McCaw and Dan Carter because at this time of the year it’s about getting the best guys on the field. And right now the Crusaders’ best guys might just be that little bit better than the Waratahs’.”

For an example of the Crusaders’ best being that little bit better than the Waratahs’, we go to the New Zealand Herald’s Wynne Gray.

Gray believes that the Dan Carter-Kurtley Beale match-up would be key on Saturday night, and feels that the Tahs man has a weakness to exploit. The pair faced off when the Crusaders and Waratahs met in the 2008 decider, with both wearing the No. 10 jersey. This time they will face off with No. 12 on their backs.

“Six years ago when they met, Beale was a teenager who played strongly at first five-eighth until he was injured and the Tahs’ impact dropped,” Gray wrote.

“This time they are in midfield, Carter on his strong return from his sabbatical and Beale into an alternate playmaking role. He has brought a different dimension to the Tahs attack but will not get as much room against a rushing defensive line.

“Beale is a confidence player who has a clever range of attacking moves, but there are questions about his defence. If his assurance is dented his play suffers, so the Crusaders may aim early moves at him.”