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No Gamble as re-signing boosts Waratahs' finals hopes
By AAP
Accepting it's now do-or-die time, the NSW Waratahs are promising to rise to the challenge when their Super Rugby Pacific finals hopes go on the line against the ACT Brumbies.
Wherever you look, the odds are stacked against the Waratahs scraping into the playoffs after winning only two games all season, ironically both against the defending champion Crusaders.
The second-last-placed Tahs are languishing five points adrift of the top eight and likely needing to win at least three of their remaining four games against the Brumbies, Western Force, Moana Pasifika and Queensland Reds to make the finals.
Their position will escalate from precarious to perilous if they can't snap a 12-match losing streak against the Brumbies, who have won seven of their past eight games to be sitting pretty in third spot.
But dynamic back-rower Charlie Gamble remains defiant after inking a new deal to remain in Sydney for at least another two years.
"We know that if we win four games in a row we're a chance of making the finals, and what better way to do it than against the Brumbies," Gamble said after recommitting to the club on Friday.
"This club's given me the opportunity that I've always wanted. I always wanted to play Super Rugby as a kid.
"They gave me that dream and to be able to live it out and obviously do it for two more years is pretty awesome."
The New Zealand-born fan favourite says he's indebted to the Waratahs, and coach Darren Coleman is hoping the flanker repays the faith.
"Obviously he's got some growth in his game still to go," Coleman said.
"We want to add some things to his game, particularly the attacking side of the ball.
"So I'm looking forward to that, and the next step for him is to make that Wallaby squad and to go on and be a really regular Wallaby."
Gamble, who has been instrumental in the Tahs' three wins over the mighty Crusaders during Coleman's reign, knows as much.
"Like DC said, I know that I haven't reached my full potential," he said.
"So I don't know if I can do that, I can reach that level soon".
Gamble hopes to prove that on Saturday.
"The Brumbies have been the pinnacle of Aussie rugby lately and the Wallabies forward pack is usually dominated by Brumbies," he said.
"So to be able to go head to head, it just kind of proves if you can dominate them that you can play that level."
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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