Potgieter: 'Tahs will win it'

 

As the Waratahs regrouped on Monday following their fourth loss of the season, to the Blues at Eden Park last Friday, Potgieter's optimism was as strong as when he first signed with Waratahs.

 

"I came here because of [coach] Michael Cheika, because I really like the style and play Michael brought into the system which I saw last year," said the former Bulls forward.

 

"I wanted to be a part of that. I thought that with all the talent [here] we can go a long way – and I still believe that, otherwise I wouldn't have come to the Waratahs.

 

"I just want to lift that trophy and I think we are still going to.

 

"It's halfway through the season now and I think nobody has to think too much about all the bad games.

 

"We are still in the running. We are going to lift that trophy."

 

Potgieter, would not be drawn into a discussion about the Waratahs' historical habit of starting a Super Rugby season with all guns blazing, only to stagger to a below-par finish.

 

The Waratahs risk going down a a similar path with five wins and four losses from their nine games so far.

 

After looking so strong early, they are now placed third in the Australian conference behind the Brumbies and Force respectively.

 

Asked about the prospect of Waratahs history repeating itself, Potgieter said: "I can't talk about history. I don’t know [it] at all.

 

"All I am saying is that we are taking it game by game. Each Monday we come in and prepare for that week again."

 

However, Potgieter, who scored the Waratahs' one try against the Blues, was far from dismissive about their need to lift.

 

Neither did he hide his frustration for the Waratahs poor ball handling against the Blues, especially after the side focused so much on that area of the game in training before the game.

 

"I don’t know what to say, It's not a nice feeling to go out there [when you know what to do and it's not happening]," Potgieter said.

 

"Super Rugby is difficult to play. We have a lot of talent in our team, but in this competition talent won't be enough.

 

"We really have to work hard – and we are working hard. We are just forcing those one or two extra passes …

 

"The boys, they have all the skills but sometimes it's not on. We have to be a bit more patient and let the game go a bit more.

 

"We cant just expect Michael to talk to us and [believe] everything should right.

 

"It's just the 15 of us on the field. We just need to take more control in each position and start to talk more in each position as well."