Still no place for Super Sarel
The goal-kicking of scrumhalf Brendan McKibbin continue to keep South African import Sarel Pretorius on the bench, as the Waratahs prepare for their Super Rugby clash with the Chiefs on Saturday.
Coach Michael Foley backed the same team to come up with the goods for a second week running, as the Waratahs prepare to travel to Hamilton.
McKibbin impressed when making his season starting debut against the Sharks, forming a good partnership with flyhalf Berrick Barnes and producing a flawless goal-kicking display to add 12 points.
Naming an unchanged team to play the Chiefs, who currently top the New Zealand conference, the head coach is aware that his side will need to recapture that same frame of mind if they are to record their third win of the season.
“The players have been very clear about the standards they demand for themselves again this week,” said Foley, after the team dispatched the Sharks 34-30 at the Allianz Stadium last Saturday.
“It was that attitude that carried through into the game. To come together and the way they undertook the challenge for the full 80 minutes was superb.
“The two things that stood out in the Sharks game were that we tried to play with the ball as a 15 and our defensive discipline was good for the entire match.”
After their round four 29-22 victory over the Brumbies, their third win in a row, the Chiefs return from a bye week full of confidence as they look forward to playing in front of their home crowd.
The Waratahs are wary of the threat posed by Sonny Bill Williams in the Chiefs’ midfield and have tough-tackling Tom Carter lining up against him.
“We know the Chiefs will be a big game for us,” Foley said.
“They’ve always been a side able to spread the ball, they’ve certainly got pace out wide, and in Sonny Bill Williams they have another dimension in attack.”
There are other threats, according to the coach.
“Their forward pack is certainly a threat, particularly at scrum and line-out.”
Since 1996, NSW have won 10 of the 16 encounters between the sides.
The biggest of those was the last time the teams played in Waikato Stadium in 2010, when the visitors recorded a 46-19 victory.
Waratahs: 15 Bernard Foley, 14 Tom Kingston, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson (captain).
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 Sitaleki Timani, 19 Lopeti Timani, 20 Jono Jenkins, 21 Sarel Pretorius, 22 Daniel Halangahu.
Date: Saturday March 31
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19.35 (17.35 AEST; 06.35 GMT)
Referee: Mike Fraser * (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Jonathon White (New Zealand), Glen Jackson * (New Zealand)
TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
