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Skipper puts pressure on Waratahs' back row to deliver

(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Skipper Jake Gordon has placed the onus on his back row to step up as the NSW Waratahs attempt a daring hit-and-run job on the high-flying Hurricanes on Friday night.

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The Waratahs only arrived in Wellington late on Thursday for their important Super Rugby Pacific showdown in Wellington.

But the Tahs won’t use travel fatigue as an excuse if they lose and fall to one win from four for the season.

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“We’ve had a really good training week, the energy’s really up,” Gordon said after Thursday’s captain’s run at Sky Stadium.

“It’s an exciting week for us to go up against the Kiwis who we’ve had some really good match-ups with.”

Gordon is instead challenging the Waratahs’ back row of veteran Wallabies captain Michael Hooper, Charlie Gamble and No.8 Langi Gleeson to combat the Hurricanes loose trio including All Blacks superstar Ardie Savea.

“Obviously they’re a big mobile pack, with a real presence around the breakdown,” Gordon said after Thursday’s captain’s run.

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“As we saw in the Brumbies and Rebels games, we had some trouble removing some of the threats off the ball, a lot like the back row for the Hurricanes.

“The Hurricanes are also really expansive. They’ve got some real dangers in the outside backs. Our own turnaround around the contact area is really important.

“The breakdown is nowadays so heavily congested and what we’ve noticed, especially after the first three rounds, is our arrival time must be much quicker. We need to be much more aggressive in that area.

“With Charlie coming in, he’s got really good on-ball presence.”

As Gamble hopes to prove.

“It’s an area we need to be working on,” the newly-resigned cult hero said.

“Putting pressure on their breakdown, obviously they’ve got some pretty powerful ball runners and strike players out in the backs.

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“So if we can slow the ruck down and steal a few turnovers, it will definitely go a long way towards getting a win.”

After making the top-eight finals last year from a similar position, Gordon noted it wouldn’t be panic stations if the Waratahs lost again after dropping two of their first three matches last season.

“We were in the same position last year,” he said.

“It’s been disappointing but we’ve got a really good team, on paper, so I’ve got full confidence that not only can we turn it around, it’s not the be-all and end-all.

“We do need to start performing a little bit better. There is an awareness within the group that we need to do that.

“Bit it’s only three rounds in. We can’t be too hard on ourselves. “We know if we play well tomorrow, we will win. It’s not an issue.”

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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