Tahs not interested in talking up Super Rugby finals hopes

THE Waratahs are deflecting talk of a playoffs charge despite moving into striking distance of the top six after beating the Brumbies.

Waratahs

THE Waratahs are deflecting talk of a playoffs charge despite moving into striking distance of the top six after beating the Brumbies.

It was the first time NSW have won three straight games in two years, and moved them to within three points of sixth spot with four competition rounds remaining.Despite the Reds losing to the Cheetahs, NSW still appear too far back to challenge Queensland or the Brumbies for the conference title. But they are one of seven teams in the hunt for a wildcard spot.

Aussie teams will play three more rounds before the June hiatus and just one after it.

NSW play the Rebels on Friday night and then meet the Crusaders and Force - all away. They finish against the Reds at home. Asked if he felt confident of being able to make the finals, Tahs coach Michael Cheika said: "I have learned as a coach predicting all that stuff only leads to disappointment.

"There's no point in me predicting it. It's about planning for the next game and trying to get it right."

Despite the possibility of reaching the finals in year one of Cheika's regime, the Tahs are keen to keep it at arm's length. "If we keep winning, we are obviously moving in the right direction," skipper Dave Dennis said. "But it's easy to get too ahead of yourselves."