NSW Waratahs players react with bemusement at Brumbies’ claims semi-final will be like a home game

NSW players reacted incredulously to the assertion that playing the semi-final at Allianz Stadium would be “like a home game” for the Brumbies.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 06: Sekope Kepu of the Waratahs celebrates with team mates after scoring a try during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Waratahs and the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium on July 6, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

MAKE no mistake Brumbies, this is the Waratahs’ home ground.

NSW players reacted incredulously to Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher’s assertion that playing this weekend’s semi-final at Allianz Stadium would be “like a home game” for the Canberra franchise.

“It’s at our home, so it’s not really a home game for them, they’re not playing in Canberra, it’s our home,” prop Paddy Ryan said.

Winger Rob Horne added: “Playing out here at the footy stadium, we grow another leg when we play here.

“Laurie is probably looking at the alternative, they’d be heading to Christchurch [to play the other semi-final against the Crusaders]. In terms of travel it’s a good result for them.

“But apart from that I don’t think you could draw too much from that.

“It doesn’t say Canberra Stadium on the posters.

“I think they’re expecting a pretty big crowd, there’s still a few seats to be sold, but it’s exciting.

“You can feel the buzz around Sydney, no doubt everyone that turns up will make it feel like home for NSW.”

Rob Horne scores a try for the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium.

Saturday’s showdown will be the biggest Super Rugby match in Sydney in 12 years, and early indications suggest this game could even break the all-time record for the most attended match in Waratahs’ history (40,449 vs. the Brumbies at Allianz Stadium in 2002).

It will certainly go close to beating the record for a finals game in Sydney, which also came against the Brumbies later in 2002, with 35,462 fans turning up to see NSW hammered 51-10 by the visitors.

With crowds having depleted rapidly from 2008 to 2013, the Tahs finally seem to be pulling the supporters back in with their expansive approach and honest public appraisals of their performances, with figures up 20 per cent from last year.

And now with a semi-final showdown against their fiercest rivals, NSW may pull of a crowd that appeared impossible just two seasons ago when they lost their final eight games and were jeered by their own supporters.

The Brumbies are organising conveys of their own fans to travel up the highway for the match, and with Sydney Cricket Ground Trust members expected to turn up in droves, the atmosphere on Saturday is expected to be reminiscent of rugby’s halcyon days a decade ago.

“It’s like the Roosters v South Sydney, it’s a big match,” NSW lock Kane Douglas said.

“There’s always stuff in the media said about it. It’s good for the game having those rivalries and hopefully that can add to the game.”

Brumbies players had publicly boasted of their desire to face NSW after winning their elimination final against the Chiefs last weekend — before the other semi had been decided — and Ryan said it was because “they didn’t want to go to New Zealand”.

Ryan added of the teams’ rivalry: “I reckon there’s something in it, it’s great that we’re playing the Brumbies in a final, it’s great for Australian rugby, it’s great for the players because there’s always a little bit of something there.

“There has always been a strong rivalry.

“I’m sure they’ll be down there absolutely fired up.

“It’s a really exciting prospect, they’ve been the form team in the Australian conference for the last three years.

“They’re playing some good footy, you probably couldn’t have picked a better opposition for a semi-final I don’t think.

“I’d be surprised if they didn’t use a lot of mauling and try to use the set-piece to their advantage.

“I think that’s the way they think they can beat us, by taking away our ball from source, and taking away ball from our backs because the backline has been going so well.”

But Horne challenged the Brumbies to continue their attacking approach this weekend.

While the Brumbies have unleashed their brilliant backline in the past fortnight, they have largely been known for their dour, grinding style in the past three seasons.

“It was good to see them playing a bit of rugby on the weekend, I think that’s positive for the game on Saturday,” Horne said.

“We’re not going to change. We’re going to play the way we’ve played all year.

“I really do hope they come out and play the way they did on the weekend, because it worked for them and they’ve had a bit of success doing that now.”

This will be the Waratahs 140th home game at Allianz Stadium, and their first finals game at the ground since 2008.

Originally published as NSW Waratahs players react with bemusement at Brumbies’ claims semi-final will be like a home game