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'That's how we have to play - like a test match': Waratahs brace themselves for red-hot Jaguares
By Online Editors
The NSW Waratahs are approaching Saturday night's showdown with the red-hot Jaguares with Test-match intensity as they fight to keep their Super Rugby finals hopes alive.
Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson rates the Jaguares - who have won five of their past six games to rocket up the ladder - as a "top two" outfit.
But Waratahs and Wallabies lock Rob Simmons ranks the Argentines even higher than that.
"They're basically an international team. I'm not too sure if they'll have a player out there on the weekend who hasn't played for their country," Simmons said at Friday's captain's run.
"So they're basically a Test-match team out there and that's how we have to play - like a Test match."
In somewhat of a conundrum for Gibson's side, the Waratahs - sitting less than a win behind the Brumbies in the Australian conference - believe they control their finals fate yet have little idea how to plan for the free-running Jaguares.
"In counter-attack, they play really carefree. They really throw it around, get themselves a little bit isolated, but they seem to make it work," Simmons said.
"It looks real frantic, but I think they know what's going on. Their forwards interplay with their backs.
"It's a little bit of a surprise packet and they sometimes get passes away that you woudn't think is going to happen so basically they're a really hard team to plan for."
Apart from having to expect the unexpected, the Waratahs are hoping to impose themselves physically on Super Rugby's Globetrotters.
"We can't get too caught up in what they're doing and we know they're going to throw some stuff at us," Simmons said.
"But you go back to rugby 101 and try to win that physical battle and that set-piece battle.
"Especially the forwards, if we can own that up front, our backs will do their part."
Victory at Parramatta's Bankwest Stadium would set up a grandstand finish to in the race for Australian conference honours and a guaranteed finals berth.
The Waratahs face the Melbourne Rebels, also play-off contenders, next week and then the Brumbies in the penultimate round before completing the home-and-away campaign against the Highlanders in New Zealand.
"Fingers crossed we need to win our last game because it means we are still in the comp," Gibson said.
AAP
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Latest Comments
The New Zealand performance in the return fixture in 2016 was filthy. A lot of Irish supporters were pretty shocked by it, viewed it as de facto cheating just to avoid another defeat.
Also shocked by the abuse to Ireland, captain, vice-captain and spectators after the full time whistle in Paris defeat, last match.
Sledging is sledging, but that happens during the game and targetting spectators should be completely out of bounds.
The Irish public used to enjoy these matches, even in defeat. Now they are necessary but unpleasant, because NZ apparently cannot accept or respect successful challengers.
Go to commentsThanks for the analysis Nick, thought provoking as usual. Couple of queries though, in the pic where you've circled Williams bind , I'm pretty sure it shows Stuart's knee on the ground, surely that's a NZ penalty? Also having had the chance to watch it again the All Black scrum seeems to improve after halftime, but before either England or the All Blacks replace their props. Not sure if that was the result of Tuipolutu coming on or some halftime tips. Either way this is only Williams second international season, so he'll be better for the experience.
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