Waratahs get tips on how to bash and bounce South Africans at Aussie cricket training in Durban

THE Waratahs were given inspiration about how to intimidate South Africans ahead of their clash with the Sharks by attending a training session of the Australian cricket team in Durban.

The Waratahs celebrate Ned Hanigan’s winning try on Saturday night.

THE Waratahs were given inspiration about how to intimidate South Africans ahead of their clash with the Sharks by attending a training session of the Australian cricket team in Durban.

The Tahs, who will play the Sharks at Kings Park on Sunday morning, spent time with the Aussie cricketers as they prepare for the first Test of their three-match series against the Proteas.

The rugby players and cricketers shared a gym, and the Waratahs later attended the Aussies’ session at Kingsmead, where the likes of Dave Warner, Steve Smith, Josh Halzewood chatted with a large contingent of the NSW squad.

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“We were just having a bit of a look about — I don’t think I will be getting into the nets any time soon,” said Waratahs lock Ned Hanigan.

Waratahs winger Curtis Rona.

“​I can hardly see some of the pills that are coming down at the moment​.”

The Waratahs are planning to attend some of the first day, said Hanigan.

“​We will come out for the morning session. We will come out to support the boys for sure, ​” he said.

Geez he’d be an animal at sledging, wouldn’t he?

After touching down in Durban, the team got down to the Australian Cricket team’s session at Kingsmead before getting stuck into the training week.

📃👉 https://t.co/3v21FOpHQm

Good luck @CAComms! pic.twitter.com/oijivOtiCp

— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) 27 February 2018

New Waratahs wing Curtis Rona said the Aussie cricketers “were looking pretty fired up” but he also said the Tahs were brimming with confidence after their first-up win against the Stormers in Sydney on Saturday.

Hanigan was the hero, barging over the line in the 81st minute to take victory from what appeared destined for a draw.

“​I was really proud of Ned eh ​to get over the corner, it was amazing for all of us on the field and especially for all the fans off the field as well,” Rona said.

“But we have moved on from that and are looking forward to this week.”

While the scrum was a headache, the Waratahs’ victory was pleasing for coach Daryl Gibson given the evidence that two key weaknesses from last season had turned a major corner: fitness and defence.

In a game Gibson said last year’s team would have probably lost, the Waratahs had a capacity to keep throwing punches through to the final stages courtesy of a much stronger fitness base.

​”That was the main focus of the pre-season, to get fit first​,” Rona said.

“​There was a lot of running​ and to transfer that into rugby was the ultimate goal.

“​That’s what we were striving to do. To compete in the 81st minute and the team showed a lot of resilience in that match and it will gives confidence​ to the players making their first-cap debuts for the Waratahs and also for the guys who have been there for numerous years, because last year wasn’t the best.”

Defence was also improved. The Waratahs averaged almost 35 points conceded last year, and above four tries per game.

It still needs more work but 27 points and 3 tries was a good start, said Rona.

​”if you don’t make your tackles they’re going to put big scores on you and that was another focus of pre-season. It wasn’t up to scratch with what happened last year ... but the mindset has completely changed and you could see out on the field when we played it was a massive change of attitude​,” he said.

Originally published as Waratahs get tips on how to bash and bounce South Africans at Aussie cricket training in Durban