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'We know that our chances are sort of running out': Waratahs to face Rebels in 'huge' clash

(Photo by ALBERT PEREZ/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)

The NSW Waratahs are seeking an elusive 80-minute performance as they strive desperately to keep their Super Rugby AU finals hopes flickering on Friday night.

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The winless Waratahs head to Melbourne knowing it’s their last roll of the dice, with nothing less than victory over the Rebels required to stay in the title hunt.

It may seem pie-in-the-sky stuff for fans who witnessed NSW’s record-breaking losses to the Brumbies and Queensland Reds to open the season before becoming the first team to fall to the Western Force since the Perth franchise’s return to Super Rugby.

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James O’Connor speaks ahead of the Reds vs Force match.

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James O’Connor speaks ahead of the Reds vs Force match.

But winger Jack Maddocks, now arguably the Waratahs’ biggest name following the mass exodus of talent over the past two years, maintains making the playoffs remains “massively” in their sights.

“This is a huge game for us. If we win this, and the Reds win (against the Force), we’re level with the Force and the Rebels again so it will be all in our hands,” Maddocks said on Wednesday.

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“So it does have a big-game feel to it even though it’s early in the season.

“But we know that our chances are sort of running out so it’s a huge game for us and we all know it.”

The Waratahs blew a 13-0 lead last start against the Force and Maddocks said concentration lapses can’t keep happening, especially against a Rebels outfit featuring numerous Wallabies including Reece Hodge, Matt Toomua and in-form winger Marika Koroibete.

“I know we started red hot against the Force. We started well against the Reds as well and then there was 20 minutes there we made a lot of errors and they punished us and before we knew it the game was over,” Maddocks said.

“So those two games we’ve had good patches but we just haven’t been able to put that together for 80 minutes.

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“So for us it’s about consistency and patience to stay in the battle.”

Hodge is personally wary of Maddocks, declaring his former Rebels and Wallabies teammate a potential game-breaker for the Tahs.

“He’s obviously a pretty class player as all of our Melbourne fans would have seen with the season he had in 2018 down here,” Hodge said.

“”He’s got explosive pace, kicks off both feet and can beat anyone one on one.

“On his day, he would be one of the best attacking players going around in Australian rugby so between him, James Ramm and Mark Nawaqanitawase they are big attacking threats.

“So we need to make sure our kicking game and also our defence is on to counter them.”

The Rebels have made one forced change to their line-up following the three-week suspension of lock Ross Haylett-Petty, with Steve Cummins coming in.

Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese will make his return from hand surgery via the bench with James Hanson starting.

Melbourne are playing their first game back at AAMI Park in 377 days, forced on the road last year and then preseason due to COVID-19 restrictions.

After disappointment against the Rebels, the Force host a buoyant Reds outfit who last round served up the Brumbies’ first defeat.

Former Wallabies lock Sitaleki Timani will make his first starting appearance while prop Greg Holmes, in his 150th Super Rugby match, has replaced Santiago Medrano.

Samoan World Cup international Henry Taefu is the new inside centre.

Ilaisa Droasese comes in for Test winger Filipo Daugunu in the only change to the Queensland starting side.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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