Unchanged Tahs to 'step up' in Final
Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has named an unchanged side for their colossal Super Rugby Final against the seven-time champion Crusaders in Sydney on Saturday.
Cheika knows his side will have to step it up another level this week if they are to lay their hands on the ultimate prize for the first time.
"We've got to keep pushing, holding on is not enough," the coach said.
"We will go out there, play as we have all season and play good attacking footy and give them some trouble.
"The Crusaders are a powerful unit who really focus on their set piece and will be confident after taking apart a strong Sharks outfit."
Explaining how the Tahs intended to overcome the visitors, hooker Tatafu Polota Nau said: "I will be taking this game as if it was my last, not worrying about what they are doing will be the key to victory against the Crusaders."
The Crusaders and Waratahs have met 20 times since Super Rugby started, with the Crusaders leading the way with 16 wins.
The New Zealand side has taken the honours in the past 11 encounters, with the Tahs' last win coming back in 2004 in Christchurch.
Despite this track record, Cheika would be lying if he said the side wasn't looking forward to Saturday.
The Tahs' front row will see Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota Nau and Sekope Kepu lock bodies for the final time this year.
Hardman Jacques Potgieter will partner Kane Douglas, who plays his last game for the Tahs, in the second row.
Cheika has kept the loose forwards as is, with Wycliff Palu at No.8, Stephen Hoiles at blindside and captain Michael Hooper at openside.
The match will see Palu become the NSW Waratahs' most capped No.8 in Super Rugby history, with a total of 90 games.
Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley will once again take charge of the Waratahs backline.
Adam Ashley-Cooper holds on to the outside centre spot that has been his all season and will partner Kurtley Beale, who will make his 100th Super Rugby appearance (86 for Waratahs, 14 for Melbourne Rebels) and become the 10th most capped Waratah in Super Rugby when he runs out on to the pitch on Saturday.
The back three remains unchanged, with Rob Horne on the left wing and Alofa Alofa on the right wing, with Israel Folau at fullback.
The replacement bench for Saturday's season climax sees one change made to last week's line-up, with Peter Betham in for Cam Crawford. It's been 16 weeks since Betham's last appearance for the Waratahs, when he injured his foot against the Stormers in South Africa in Round Eight.
The extended bench will consist of Tolu Latu, Paddy Ryan, Jeremy Tilse, Will Skelton, Mitchell Chapman, Pat McCutcheon, Brendan McKibbin, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Matt Carraro and Peter Betham, and will be narrowed down to the obligatory eight before gameday.
Having topped the table at the completion of the regular season the Waratahs will be seeking to right their wrongs from past Final losses to the Crusaders – in 2005 and 2008.
This is the first time the Waratahs have hosted a Super Rugby Final and Hooper and the squad will be looking to capitalize on the support of a potentially record-breaking home crowd to bring the state its first Super Rugby Title.
New South Wales has gone rugby crazy, snapping up over 12,000 tickets to see the Tahs host their first ever Super Rugby Final this Saturday in the first hour of public sale!
Tuesday's public clamour follows a tremendous members' pre-sale and takes total ticket sales for Saturday's Super Rugby Final to over 38,000.
The Tahs secured the historic home Final with an impressive 26-8 semifinal victory over the Brumbies.
With the team's current form and amazing value, the Tahs are the hottest ticket in town and early sales indicate the match could rewrite the record books by achieving a Super Rugby record crowd.
Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Alofa Alofa, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 5 Kane Douglas, 6 Stephen Hoiles, 4 Jacques Potgieter, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements (two to be omitted): 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Mitchell Chapman, 21 Pat McCutcheon, 22 Brendan McKibbin, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 24 Matt Carraro, 25 Peter Betham.
Date: Saturday, August 2
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 19.40 (09.40, GMT21.40 NZT, 11.40 SAST)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
