Tim Horan says ‘it’s time for the Waratahs to stand up and be counted’ if they want to play for Australia
Down to their last Wallabies selection chance, the Waratahs need to take the lead from a player who should be one of the first names in Dave Rennie’s team plans, says Tim Horan.
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No-one from Queensland or NSW should need any extra motivation for Saturday’s Super Rugby AU clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but the Waratahs have got some added incentives.
This is one of the oldest rivalries in Australian sport so every match counts, but it’s now or never for the Waratahs to stand up and be counted.
If they don’t win this one, the Waratahs are really going to struggle to make the playoffs and press their claims for selection in Dave Rennie’s Wallaby squad for the end of the year.
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In last week’s column, I wrote that 80 per cent of the players in the Wallabies side will come from the Brumbies and the Reds, and my opinion hasn’t changed after they produced the best game of the season last weekend.
Now it’s up to the Waratahs to get themselves back in the picture, and the best way to do that is by beating the Reds, but that will only happen if they change a few things.
I’ve got no doubt that the talented crop of young players that the Waratahs are developing have got what it takes because they’ve already shown plenty of positive signs without winning.
But time is running out because we’re getting to the business end of the competition so they need to start playing without fear.
That can be hard when you’re not winning but they should take a leaf out of the Reds’ book and start chancing their arm with a few more offloads.
That’s one of the main reasons the Reds got so close to the Brumbies last week, because whenever they made a half break they were looking to offload and turn it into a try.
It didn’t always stick but it showed that the Reds have got confidence and trust in the players around them so the Waratahs need to take a risk or two and reduce that fear factor.
The Reds will be favourites but this could go either way. The Waratahs are very hard to beat at the SCG and the Reds have got to deal with travelling in the bubble, which makes things even harder than usual for the visiting team.
Queensland trump card is their forward pack, which has been led by Taniela Tupou.
Angus Bell had a rough time last time he went up against Tupou but he can take comfort from knowing that the experienced Queensland tight-head has been doing the same thing to every prop he’s come up against this season.
This is the challenge for the Waratahs, can they hold their own at scrum time?
The attacking flair of Jordan Petaia’s comeback last weekend was just what Australian rugby needs.
Even after a long break, he stepped straight back in and showed everyone what an incredible athlete he is.
He’s so versatile that the Wallabies should be building their backline around him and playing the same fearless way he does because that’s the hope for Australian rugby.
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WESTERN FORCE TO CALL GOLD COAST TEMPORARY HOME
The Western Force will play their two next ‘home’ games at the Gold Coast after the Queensland border closures prompted a late change of venues.
Originally scheduled to return home to Perth after being based in the Hunter Valley, the Force will now relocate to Kingsliff, near Tweed Heads on the NSW North Coast.
They will play their next two matches — against the Waratahs on August 14 and the Reds seven days later — at CBUS Stadium, taking charter buses to and from their new base camp to the ground.
The remaining fixtures for rounds nine and 10 are still to be decided but new venues will have to be found for the Melbourne Rebels, who are based on the NSW Central Coast and can’t play their home matches in Victoria.
This weekend’s matches are unchanged with Jordan Petaia set to be rushed straight back into the Queensland starting side for Saturday’s crunch showdown with the Waratahs after his stunning return from injury last week.
The Wallaby utility back was only supposed to play a cameo role against the Brumbies after being cleared to return from shoulder surgery but was thrown into the fray early when Chris Feauai-Sautia injured his calf.
Petaia had a blinder, setting up a try for Harry Wilson after scoring one himself which was disallowed for an earlier infringement, and with Feauai-Sautia still sidelined, he’s certain to get a start in the only tweak to the run-on side.
Scott Malolua is set to be rewarded for his strong performance in the last-gasp loss to the Brumbies, retaining the starting halfback spot ahead of the dangerous Tate McDermott.
One-time Wallaby Jake Gordon looks likely to start at halfback for the Waratahs after making his return from a hamstring injury off the bench against the Rebels two weeks ago.
Needing to win to get back into the race for the finals, NSW coach Rob Penney is not expected to make any other changes to his starting side though there remains some doubt about Rob Simmons, who announced last week he was leaving Australia at the end of the season.
The Waratahs’ skipper broke a rib in the loss to the Rebels but last week’s bye bought the veteran lock some extra time to recover and he was able to join his teammates at training this week.
Junior Wallaby prop Angus Bell was also back at practice this week and is expected to be recalled to the bench.
The unbeaten Brumbies are considering two changes to their starting side for Friday’s clash with the Rebels at Leichhardt Oval, in line with Dan Mckellar’s policy for rotating his squad.
The vice-captain Tom Cusack started on the bench last week but should return to openside flanker with the busy Will Miller dropping back to the reserves.
Winger Adam Muirhead is also in line for a recall, possibly at the expense of Tom Wright, while former Australian Under 20s halfback Ryan Lonergan will move on to the bench for Isaak Fines.
The Rebels are also looking at a change at halfback with Frank Lomani set to take over from the injured Ryan Louwrens and James Tuttle called on the reserves for his first match in over two years. Campbell Magnay is available for selection after missing last week’s extra-time win over the Force.
Originally published as Tim Horan says ‘it’s time for the Waratahs to stand up and be counted’ if they want to play for Australia