NSW coach refuses to rule out breaking deal to rest Wallabies

The Waratahs may renege on an agreement to rest their Wallabies if they win this weekend — but if they don’t beat the Brumbies, “all bets are off”.

Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson during the Round 11 Super Rugby match between the New South Wales Waratahs and the Sharks at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney, Saturday, April 27, 2019. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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The Waratahs are keeping coy about whether they will renege on an agreement to rest their Wallabies for at least two matches at season.

Under the pre-season deal that was struck between the four Australian Super Rugby teams, the Waratahs still have to rest five of their top players, Test skipper Michael Hooper and fellow Wallabies Bernard Foley, Kurtley Beale, Sekope Kepu and Rob Simmons — for another match before the end of the regular season.

The problem for head coach Daryl Gibson is there’s only two games to go and they need to win them both to make the Super Rugby playoffs.

Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

The former All Blacks has decided to delay making the tough call for at least another week, picking his best available side for Saturday night’s game against the Brumbies at Bankwest Stadium.

“I think that gives us an opportunity to see what next week holds for us,” he said.

“If we don’t win this weekend all bets are off, we’ve got no opportunity to qualify for the finals, so the focus has been on this week, let’s get an outcome if we can.”

If the Waratahs lose, then Gibson’s job next week is simple, he can rest his big name for players for the final match away to the Highlanders.

But if they win, the season will still be alive so he’ll face a scenario where’s he damned if he does, and damned if he doesn’t.

(L-R) Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, Waratahs captain Michael Hooper and NSW Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson. Picture: Brett Costello

“That’s a hypothetical problem for next week,” he said.

“We want to look at it then. Am I going to make any guarantees? No.

Critics of the rotation system are urging him to select his best side to try to qualify, believing Australia’s World Cup hopefuls would be better served by playing in the finals rather than sitting on their hands waiting for a tournament that is still months away from starting.

But the other Australian teams, who have all complied with the agreement, will be screaming foul if the Waratahs break their promise so Gibson will have to plead his case with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.

“We’re in a situation where we need to get an outcome in this game to remain in the competition and we’re giving our Australian players of national interest an opportunity to play against their peers,” he said.

“We’re going to get through Saturday and if the result goes our way, then we’ll have those conversations.”