Waratahs mean business on their crusade to Christchurch

Waratahs captain Michael Hooper marked “business” on his departure card at Sydney Airport on the way to Christchurch.

Michael Hooper means business in Christchurch: ‘We need to be really good to beat this good Crusaders team.’

NSW Waratahs captain Michael Hooper marked “business” on his departure card at Sydney Airport yesterday morning before the team flew to Christchurch for their important Super Rugby game against the Crusaders tonight.

Perhaps subconsciously, Hooper was underlying the fact that the Waratahs mean business on this trip: their whole season ­potentially relies on the result.

The Waratahs are on top of the Australian conference, one point ahead of the Brumbies, but they face four New Zealand teams in their last five games.

If the Waratahs can upset the Crusaders in Christchurch, where they have not win since 2004, it will provide them with a tremendous boost.

“I wasn’t sure what to tick on the departure card, so I ticked business,” Hooper said. “It’s work for us. It’s not a holiday.

“You go over there to do a job and to do it well. We need to be really good to beat this good Crusaders team.”

Hooper said the Waratahs would have to play their best game of the year so far to beat the ­Crusaders.

“Our attack needs to be sharp,” Hooper said. “We can’t give them turnover ball. They make the most of that.

“You have to expect anything. We have to be really on our game and play our best game of the year.”

The Waratahs are buoyed by the fact they have beaten the ­Crusaders in their past two meetings.

If they win tonight, it will be their longest streak against the seven-time champions.

They will also have the benefit of coach Daryl Gibson’s inside knowledge of the team for which he played 77 Super Rugby games between 1996 and 2002.

“We have had good results in the last two years against them, last year being a really good performance,” Hooper said.

“We have taken a bit out of that. We have seen what can get them on the back foot. That’s been our main focus.

“He (Gibson) knows what they try and do. He knows the way they try to play football, what their backs are doing.

“While that’s good, I’m sure they know that as well, so maybe they’ll try and change things up knowing that he’s got that insight. It is a benefit for us no doubt.”

Gibson, who will be opposing the Crusaders for the first time as a head coach, was uncharacteristically off limits to the media yesterday.

Asked whether Gibson was on edge prior to the big game, Hooper said: “I don’t think he’s been on edge. He seemed more on edge as an assistant back in the day back in 2013 when we played them there.

“That was probably a bigger moment for him. Now he is Waratahs through and through. He’d love to see us get a good win.”

After winning eight games in a row, the Crusaders’ streak came to an end last Saturday with a 34-26 loss to the Highlanders.

“They will be fired up from losing that game last week,” Hooper said.

“On the flipside, it was a really draining game. The ball was in play a lot of minutes.”

Much will depend on how rookie playmaker Dave Horwitz replaces the irreplaceable Kurtley Beale at inside centre.

“It’s just about bringing his skills to the table,” Hooper said.

“That’s what the coaching staff are wanting from him and us as a team are wanting from him.

“Dave has some really good stuff that he can bring to the table. It’s different to Kurtley, but he needs to put that out there and if he does, we’re stoked.”