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Waratahs want to send off departing Kepu and Phipps with a win
By Online Editors
The Waratahs will treat their showdown with the Highlanders as if it's their last of the Super Rugby season, ensuring their focus is on farewelling Sekope Kepu and Nick Phipps in style.
Qualifying for the playoffs is still a slim possibility for the New South Welshmen but they'd need to secure a bonus point win in Friday's final-round match at soggy Invercargill and then hope other results fall their way.
Just securing a win without five resting Wallabies will be a steep enough task for a team that has stumbled throughout 2019.
Forward Ned Hanigan betrayed the team's realistic ambitions when talking to reporters on Thursday, referring to a desire to finish the season on a high.
"It's been ups and downs for us throughout the year and there's a few guys playing their last game over there," he said.
"(Let's) send them off on a high and finish this season off the way we should."
Hanigan was keenest to put in a big shift for veteran prop Kepu and captain for the day Phipps, who are both bound for English club London Irish after the World Cup.
"When I first game in, they were the guys who greeted you with open arms," Hanigan said.
"Keps is one of the best props in the world and it's sad to see him go. It's the same with Fang (Phipps), he's just energy the whole game.
"So both those players, I'm mates with them off the field and on the field they're always by your side."
Hanigan said there was a determination among some of the lesser-used players introduced this week to prove themselves and enhance their chances of winning fresh contracts for next year.
While conditions are expected to be challenging, the Waratahs produced one of their best displays of the season when they beat the top-qualifying Crusaders in the wet of Sydney nearly three months ago.
The Highlanders, who are also fringe finals contenders, won't appreciate the heavy going either, having become accustomed to the pristine conditions of playing under the roof of their home base of Dunedin.
- AAP
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Latest Comments
Does anyone know a way to loook at how many mins each player has played whilst on tour?
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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