Super W: Waratahs put unbeaten record on the line against Queensland

A weekend spent climbing ropes has got the Waratahs primed for this weekend’s Super W clash with Queensland, who will be missing their captain Liz Patu after she was suspended for biting an opponent

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A weekend spent climbing ropes has got the Waratahs primed for this weekend’s Super W clash with Queensland, who will be missing their captain Liz Patu after she was suspended for biting.

Already fierce rivals after playing each other in last year’s inaugural decider, the winner of Sunday’s match at Leichhardt Oval will almost certainly finish top the table and go straight through to the grand final while the loser will have to play an extra match.

With both sides undefeated this season, both sides know the stakes are high and Waratahs coach Matt Evrard said that’s how his team likes it.

“It is a cut throat competition, you lose a game and that will cost you a home final, that’s pretty much how it works,” he said.

“Our team likes playing under pressure and having to deliver in those situations.”

Waratah Crystal Maguire takes on the Reds defence at Suncorp Stadium last year. Maguire comes into the starting lineup this weekend. Picture: Getty Images

The Waratahs are feeling relaxed after having a bye last weekend, with Evrard instead making them climb ropes as a team bonding exercise, while Queensland beat WA Women 28-3.

The match was marred by the biting incident that saw Patu banned for the rest of the competition but for the Waratahs the biggest relief was seeing Queensland forced to work harder after romping to a 112-0 win over the Rebels in the opening round.

“Our team’s obviously a lot less nervous coming into this week,” Evrard said.

“You can always get (anxious) after watching such a big result but actually seeing them going out there another week and seeing them under pressure and how they reacted in certain situations that got our girls pretty excited and they're ready to try and turn the heat up and put some pressure on this weekend.”

The Waratahs have made several changes to their line-up for Sunday’s clash but such is the depth in their squad that most of their replacements are established internationals.

“We’ve got two injured players coming back in so Fi Jones, who was in the Wallaroos squad last year, she comes back on to the bench. Kennedy Cherrington comes back on to the bench, she’s got a sevens background so she’ll have some good speed for us for out wide,” Evrard said.

Emily Chancellor of the Waratahs is tackled by Ngawai Eyler of the Brumbies in round one. Picture: Getty Images

“Melissa Fatu, who was a Wallaroo last year in both Tests, she comes onto the bench in a hooking perspective as well. Crystal Maguire she comes into the starting line-up in place of Mahalia Murphy in the centres. Mahali went missing out for a few weeks with some sevens action but it's great to be able to bring a Wallaroo into the starting line-up with Crystal we’re not going to lose too much then and Crystal is really excited for all her opportunity and I can’t wait to see her run outside on the weekend.”

Originally published as Super W: Waratahs put unbeaten record on the line against Queensland