Waratahs keen to extend surprise start to the Super Rugby season against Sunwolves
IT might not have caught your attention but, just quietly, the Waratahs have made their most successful start to a Super Rugby season this decade.
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IT has slipped quietly under the radar, but the Waratahs have recorded their best start to a Super Rugby season since 2009.
That Phil Waugh-captained outfit won four from five, then missed the top four finals series by a points differential of just four behind the Crusaders.
This Tahs outfit has won three, drawn one, and lost one of its opening five, and given their next opponents the Sunwolves have never beaten an Australian team, NSW has a grand chance to create a new record.
To do so, they’ll deploy openside flank specialists Michael Hooper and rookie Will Miller in tandem, to outpace the Japanese side considered to play the quickest rugby in the tournament.
“We see Will’s selection as an opportunity to play two genuine fetchers,” Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson said.
“We believe the game’s going to be played at a high intensity because of the way the Sunwolves like to play, a lot of ball in play, they like to play fast.
“So we’ve opted for what see as a really fast loose-forward trio.
“Will’s been excellent for us in the past five games, so it’s a really good opportunity for him to see what he can for an extended period.
“We believe in tandem with Hooper in this game, it could be something a bit different for us.”
Another point of difference in Tokyo on Saturday afternoon will be 124kg winger Taqele Naiyaravoro, who will pose a destructive threat for the smaller Sunwolves defenders.
However, Gibson wants more effort and output from the big man.
“More than 40 minutes would be nice, the longer we can keep him out there, the more destructive he can be,” Gibson said.
Naiyaravoro has scored four tries in three games but has been subbed early due to fatigue.
“We’ve been talking to him around wanting more out of him; getting more touches, getting ball carries and being far more threatening.
“He’s definitely someone who we want more out of.”
The Sunwolves are yet to win a game this season, and average 44 points conceded in their five defeats, but Gibson has concerns.
“The mobility of the Sunwolves will be different for us, they play a different style that we haven’t come up against,” Gibson said.
“[They’re] probably like the [Jaguares] if anyone, lots of ball movement, lots of offloads, a three-man coaching team from New Zealand (Jamie Joseph, Tony Brown and Scott Hansen) with experience from the Highlanders, we’re looking at it as though we’re playing the sixth Kiwi team.”
With Israel Folau injured, Alex Newsome starts on the wing for NSW and Cameron Clark comes onto the bench for his first game this season.
Miller’s inclusion in the starting side means Jed Holloway drops to the bench.
NSW Waratahs: 15. Bryce Hegarty 14. Alex Newsome 13. Curtis Rona 12. Kurtley Beale 11. Taqele Naiyaravoro 10. Bernard Foley 9. Jake Gordon 8. Michael Wells 7. Michael Hooper (captain) 6. Will Miller 5. Rob Simmons 4. Ned Hanigan 3. Sekope Kepu 2. Damien Fitzpatrick 1. Tom Robertson.
Reserves: 16. Hugh Roach 17. Harry Johnson-Holmes 18. Paddy Ryan 19. Tom Staniforth 20. Jed Holloway 21. Mitchell Short 22. Lalakai Foketi 23. Cameron Clark.
Originally published as Waratahs keen to extend surprise start to the Super Rugby season against Sunwolves
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