Waratahs coach Michael Cheika ‘not stressed’ about lineout woes exposed by Reds
THE Waratahs will rename their lineout calls after conceding that Queensland had cracked their code, although coach Michael Cheika is “not stressed”.
Waratahs
Don't miss out on the headlines from Waratahs. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE Waratahs will rename their lineout calls after conceding that Queensland had cracked their code last Saturday, although coach Michael Cheika says he is “not stressed” about it.
NSW lost six of their lineouts to the Reds in an otherwise dominant display in their 34-3 win in Brisbane.
They cannot afford similar mistakes when they play their next game, a home semi-final on July 26, because they are sure to be targeted in that area by their rivals.
“I think it was really bad but that happens sometimes,” Cheika said.
MORE: Watch full highlights of the Waratahs’ big win over the Reds
“It’s up to us to get it right. It’s not like it’s a chronic problem.
“You’ve got to understand where we were put in difficulty, and I’d say that over the whole season we haven’t done too much tinkering with our calling so most teams probably know our calls, because you can hear everything.
“So you just go work on making a few little changes, and quality and no panic, just get on with it.”
NSW have the week off after finishing as minor premiers, and have time to rectify their lineout, which suffered due to the absence of captain and regular lineout caller Dave Dennis, who is out for the year with a knee injury.
Stephen Hoiles is now leading the lineout, and will work with Cheika this week to devise a new sequence of calls that are unfamiliar to rivals.
“I’m sure that we’ll work something out,” Cheika said.
“It’s just a matter of getting it right and if you don’t get it right you’ve got to get the ball some other how.”
Cheika was pleased with how his troops finished the regular season with big wins over the Highlanders and Queensland to seal top spot and claim the Super Rugby record for most bonus point wins (nine) in one season.
Riot act saved Tahs but proves Super Rugby’s ‘fundamental flaw’
Waratahs coach Dan McKellar was forced to bring out the old school system to rev up his repeatedly lacklustre team over the Western Force. But in doing so, the riot act has proven Super Rugby’s ‘fundamental flaw.’
Attitude problem? Tahs need to identify issues amid failed season
For the Waratahs to turn their fortunes around, they’ve first got to work out what exactly is going wrong and first-season coach Dan McKellar has hinted at a bubbling issue.