Tough Tahs Will Try It On

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday April 28, 2005

By ADRIAN WARREN

HIGHLANDERS coach Greg Cooper expects the NSW Waratahs to stretch his team's much-vaunted defence more than any other side this season when the Super 12 rugby leaders visit Dunedin on Saturday.

Buoyed by six straight wins, the third-placed Highlanders have conceded fewer points (115) and tries (11) than any other team in the tournament.

Cooper's team is the only Super 12 side this year not to have given up a bonus point for conceding four tries in a match.

But he is wary of the strike power of a potent NSW side which trails only the Crusaders in tries and points scored, and boasts three of the top five try-scorers in the tournament, in wingers Peter Hewat and Lote Tuqiri and centre Morgan Turinui.

"We know our defence will have to be well organised, because this game will be the game where we will be stretched the most, in terms of previous games," Cooper said. "We know we've got to be absolutely on top of our game, because if not we can be punished."

Cooper felt it would be unwise for the Highlanders to focus on the threats posed by former rugby league stars Tuqiri and Matt Rogers, whose game-breaking runs attract so much attention.

"You've just got to be aware of them, but not focus your energies on them, because you do that, take your eye off the others, and you'll be punished," Cooper said.

"We're also fully aware that it's not just a couple of players, it's across the park.

"(Inside centre) Nathan Grey has been a proven performer, (five-eighth) Lachie Mackay has shown what he can do, he did that against the Brumbies, (outside centre Morgan) Turinui has scored plenty of tries and you've got the likes of (halfback Chris) Whitaker, who is such a good organiser.

"I think they are a classy side, there's no question about that.

"The best lineout in the competition, the stats prove that, their scrum has been a very sold unit as well. Looking across the park, it's a very very strong side, who deserve to be where they are."

Although the Highlanders boast the competition's longest current winning streak, Cooper stressed his team wasn't talking up the possibility of a finals berth.

"I know even the younger players are focusing on the first job at hand, because we've got immense respect for the Waratahs. If we drop our guard, by 1 per cent, 2 per cent then we're in trouble," Cooper said.

He reported no injury problems, while NSW flew to New Zealand yesterday morning with their squad of 24 also intact.

© 2005 Illawarra Mercury

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