Mckenzie Wary Of Red Rivals

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday May 2, 2005

Greg Growden Chief Rugby Correspondent, in Dunedin

Highlanders 20

Waratahs 41

NSW, who on Saturday night overhauled one of the most complete teams in the Super 12, are on top of the ladder and heading for a Sydney semi-final appearance.

Everything is looking bright for the Waratahs, but that does not mean they are beating their chests about how they will at last exact revenge on their oldest, most bitter rivals - Queensland - this week.

Instead, the Waratahs yesterday did all they could to build up the Reds, even to the extent of explaining that Queensland had to be favourites for Friday night's match at Aussie Stadium, despite having won only a third of their games this season.,

Everything points to a NSW victory, but the Waratahs' uneasiness about the game is all to do with history. After 10 years of Super 12, NSW are still waiting for their first triumph over the Reds.

And weighing heavily on the Waratahs is the fact that no matter how badly Queensland play all season, they always peak for the interstate encounter and inevitably embarrass an often better-placed NSW.

The Waratahs were supposed to win last year, the year before, and the year before that. But nothing came of any of those games except an increase in the level of self-doubt within the Waratahs team.

That's why NSW coach Ewen McKenzie was extra cautious about the prospects of playing Queensland, despite having seen the Waratahs complete one of their best performances of the season in outplaying the Highlanders.

Their composure on the night indicated NSW were a serious Super 12 title threat, as they possess the versatility and power in their game to worry all - including the Crusaders.

After playing a defensive kicking game against the Brumbies, NSW were more adventurous against the Highlanders, playing the ball wide, throwing their fair share of cut-out passes, and attempting to attack from all parts of the field.

There were touches of NSW's traditional bash and barge, with centre Nathan Grey and breakaway Rocky Elsom consistently making ground in midfield. But there were also subtleties, and wide movement of the ball, giving the outside backs enough opportunities to show their pace and skill, which exposed the Highlanders back three, particularly winger Glen Horton.

As importantly, NSW's outstanding defence stood up once more. But whether all of this is enough to defeat the Reds, who turn into wild, untamed beasts for this match, remains to be seen.

McKenzie knows, at this early stage, there is no point provoking them. "You write the Queensland players down on paper ... and there's about 13 Wallabies there," he said yesterday.

"You can't tell me with 13 Wallabies in their team that they are a bunch of duds. And what I saw on Friday night when they defeated the Cats was a very confident Chris Latham and equally confident John Roe. They are the leaders of their team, plus the personnel they have got impresses upon us the importance of not taking them lightly.

"Clearly, Queensland have to be favourites. Everyone talks about history, except for us. But this is a time when you have to consider history, and because of that, they have to go in as favourites. But we'll give it our best shot."

McKenzie is not exactly adopting a defeatist attitude. "I would just like to think we are better prepared, better armed and have better depth than we have in the past to be able to take them on."

NSW captain Chris Whitaker, who made his 100th appearance for the Waratahs on Saturday night, was as careful in what he said about Queensland.

But Whitaker at least conceded that NSW would go into the match with a better mental approach. Queenslanders have often remarked that while they play for their state jersey, the Waratahs have often seemed more interested in becoming Wallabies. Whitaker argued this was no longer the case.

"We are definitely a lot tighter-knit group this year," he said. "Everyone is playing for each other. You don't hear anyone talking about playing for the Wallabies. They are just worried about the Waratahs. It might have been different in the past. But this season is very much focused on the Waratahs doing well, and not worrying about the rest of the stuff, which in the past we have been criticised about.

"There's a fair bit of honesty in this team. Guys own up to things, and are putting their hand up."

© 2005 Sydney Morning Herald

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