Attacking Tahs to focus on defence

Having thrown everything but the kitchen sink at the Melbourne Rebels this past weekend, the Waratahs will now look to shore up their defence.

The Waratahs last Friday got their season back on track with a second round 38-28 away win over the Rebels in Melbourne.

That followed their untidy 12-point round one loss against the Western Force at home.

In Melbourne the Waratahs played with renewed purpose and flair in their attack to score four tries against an improving Rebels squad.

And despite losing No.8 Wycliff Palu on the morning of their second round match to injury, the Tahs lost little with the strong performance of his replacement, Stephen Hoiles.

Playing his 50th match for New South Wales, the 33-year-old Hoiles played the entire 80 minutes and was on the end of an inside pass from centre Kurtley Beale to score the team's second try.

Speaking on ABC's Grandstand programme, Hoiles said that the win and the performance in the final 10 minutes to close out the game was very important for the squad going forward after the disappointment from their opening round one loss against the Force.

Just as important as the 10 point win, according to Hoiles, was the way style of play the Waratahs played with after their uncharacteristic display during round one.

"He [coach Michael Cheika] thought the week before against the Force we didn't play the style we're known for," said Hoiles.

"He wanted us to completely throw everything at them.

"He said there's probably going to be some mistakes; it's early, there's due, there's probably going to be some dropped ball, but he just wanted us to keep pushing the pass and playing that expansive style of footy."

And while the Waratahs did indeed throw the ball around, with Kurtley Beale in particular, playing with creativity and skill, Hoiles said the side was not content with their defensive efforts after conceding four tries in their opening two games.

"We're not happy about conceding four tries," said Hoiles.

"No matter how good your attack is all good sides that go onto do good things, like what we did last year and what the Chiefs did the year before, success is based on defence.

"We've certainly got to tighten things up, but there's no reason we can't improve on that, but at the same time improve our attack."

After featuring in the two opening matches of the season, Hoiles said that he was thrilled to be taking part in another Waratahs campaign after a foot injury he suffered when playing for the Brumbies in 2010 kept the back row forward out of the game for more than three years.

In testament to his courage and determination to continue playing professional rugby, assuming Hoiles plays the next two matches for the Waratahs, he will play his 100th Super Rugby match on 14 March, when the Waratahs play the Highlanders away at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

@NSWWaratahs