Waratahs’ hopes of unleashing star backline in Super Rugby opener boosted by Stormers injury list
BERNARD Foley says he’ll back the Waratahs’ backline to cause problems for the Stormers in the opening round of Super Rugby but they’ll need their forwards to outmuscle the Africans first.
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BERNARD Foley says he’ll back the Waratahs’ backline to cause problems for the Stormers in the opening round of Super Rugby but they’ll need their forwards to outmuscle the Africans first.
And that task has been made a fraction easier for the Tahs with Stormers captain Eben Etzebeth to miss the game, along with several other key forwards.
Etzebeth — who is also the Springboks captain — is out for several months with a shoulder injury, and fellow Test lock Pieter Steph Du Toit is also in major doubt for their Australasian tour with a back injury. Prop Frans Malherbe and hooker Scarra Ntubeni are also on the injury list.
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The Stormers will still be armed with a strong pack and outstanding skipper in Siya Kolisi, but the Waratahs’ task of opening up space for the likes of Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau has been made more achievable without Etzebeth’s giant presence.
“I will back our attack every day of the week,” Foley said.
“There are some world-class players in our backline but in saying that, we can only do that if we get the momentum and we get the gainline, early on in the phases. The Stormers pose a real big physical pack and like to defend up in your face, so it’s going to be a big physical challenge.”
Foley said the Waratahs were guilty of not adapting quickly enough “in the grind” of a tight opening half against the Rebels on Thursday night. The Tahs ran away to win 47-5 but while the attack elements were encouraging, said Foley, the best part was the team’s industry.
“The most pleasing thing was workrate, guys were up for repeat efforts and to keep working and that is something we really want to mark ourselves on,” Foley said.
“Hopefully we can review the game with honest eyes and get to work next week. We can’t take much from the scoreline tonight, it is all about the effort and workrate.
“Fitness-wise, the guys have done the hard work through the pre-season and hopefully we can show that.”
Damian Fitzpatrick — who was appointed the new president of RUPA on Friday — remains the only major injury concern, with a knee issue. Scans will reveal more detail on the problem over the weekend.