Beaten Waratahs eye Super Rugby quick fix with Sunwolves road trip

Following a horror last-gasp defeat in their Super Rugby opener, the Waratahs need to bounce back as quickly as possible. And they think they’ve happened upon a two-for-one instant solution.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 16: Curtis Rona of the Waratahs celebrates with team mates after scoring a try during the round one Super Rugby match between the Waratahs and the Hurricanes at Brookvale Oval on February 16, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

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Whenever a Super Rugby side loses its first game of the season team, there’s always two quick fixes to restore morale: a win, or a team-bonding road trip.

After their agonising one-point loss to the Hurricanes last weekend, the Waratahs are hoping to tick both boxes when they play the Sunwolves in Japan on Saturday night.

Curtis Rona celebrates scoring a try in the round one defeat to the Hurricanes. Picture: Getty

The early road trip couldn’t come at a better time for the Tahs after their error-riddled loss to the Canes but it won’t count for much if they don’t win.

“A travelling trip is always good for a team because you always end up in each other’s pockets,” assistant coach Simon Cron said.

“You get a lot more time to do little things like that cohesiveness stuff we talk about. You just get to do it 24/7 so I think it’s a good time to have it happen.”

But it’s the result of the match that will ultimately decide whether the trip to Asia is a success or not.

The Sunwolves might be regarded as the easybeats of the competition after finishing bottom last year, but with the Waratahs having the a bye in round three, it’s already shaping as a must-win game.

If previous encounters are anything to go by, the Waratahs have nothing to worry about, having piled up 50 points or more in each of their three meetings to date and the Sunwolves opened the 2019 season with a 45-10 defeat to the Sharks.

Bernard Foley missed a penalty attempt at the death against the Hurricanes. Picture: Getty

Coaches are cautious by nature so Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson won’t allow for complacency.

“I don’t read too much into that scoreline, they were very competitive right throughout and it wasn’t until very late that score blew out we know their coaches, we know what they’re capable of,” he said.

“Last year they boasted the best ruck speed of any team on the comp, they play fast, quick taps, quick tempo, quick everything and so part of our job is trying to slow all that down so it’ll be a real challenge for us there.”

No-one in the Waratahs is looking forward to the match more than Kurtley Beale.

He sat out the first game as part of the agreement with the Wallabies not to overplay the international stars ahead of the World Cup but wasn’t happy about it, taking his frustrations out in a 1.2km trial run by recording his best-ever time but will slot straight back into his usual position at inside centre, partnering Karmichael Hunt in a new-look midfield that

“We like to fight for positions and we have a really good culture here,” Beale said.

“We love playing for the sky blues. Any opportunity to miss out is always disheartening. At the same time the coaches have got a plan and as senior players we’ve got to respect that and go with it.”