Waratahs pledge to unleash their South African force of nature in opening round of Super Rugby

WYCLIFF Palu has warned the South African-heavy Force that the Waratahs have their own Bokkie bully in round one.

The Waratahs’ bovver boys in arms, Jacques Potgieter and Wycliff Palu.

WYCLIFF Palu has warned the South African-heavy Force that the Tahs have their own Bokkie bully to contend with in their round one showdown.

Marquee signing Jacques Potgieter has rattled NSW players so much at training with his heavy hits that Palu admitted they were “keeping an eye out” whenever he came close.

The Force have used an ARU dispensation on South African recruits to sign a host of big boppers from the republic, many who will be unleashed at Allianz Stadium this Sunday when they face NSW.

But Palu said of Potgieter: “He’s already bashed a few blokes around, guys are keeping an eye out for him.

News_Rich_Media: Fox Sports rugby commentator Greg Clark says the NSW Waratahs must be considered favourites for the Australian conference in the 2014 Super Rugby competition due to their superior attacking weapons including Israel Folau and Kurtley Beale.

“It’s good that he’s come around, he gives us word on how they perceive our pack, it’s always good to have that.

“The [Force] have got a lot of South African guys in their squad, so I think they’re going to look to be a lot more physical this year.

“It’s going to be a pretty tough test.

“They’re going to look at us and probably try to stop our backs, to do that they’re going to have to bully us around so it’s going to be one of those games.

“We’ve talked about it a lot as a forward pack, in the past NSW sides have been good at set-piece and quite physical, but we’re going to have to be a bit more consistent in the physical side of things.”

News_Rich_Media: NSW Waratahs fullback Israel Folau admits he feels much more comfortable heading into his second season of Super Rugby.

No.8 Palu played all three pre-season trials for the Tahs in the last month, the first time he has strung a hat-trick of games together since playing for the Wallabies against the British & Irish Lions in last year’s epic mid-season Test series.

“It’s been a while since I played three games back to back, I just want to get into that weekly grind,” Palu said.

“It was British Lions Tests, it would be good to get a few more.

“It has been a while, I just want to try to get as many games as I can under my belt.

“This year I’m not trying to think about things too much, I’m just going to enjoy it.

“The last couple of years, they held me back in the trials, but it’s been good because Cheik (coach Michael Cheika) has thrown me straight in.”