THE Waratahs have declared their hand; there will be no toning down of aggression despite the suspension of three key players in the past fortnight.
While discipline seems to be an issue with the finals approaching, NSW halfback Nick Phipps countered that the team’s now trademark physicality cannot be compromised if they are to defend their Super Rugby premiership.
Tolu Latu, Will Skelton and now Rob Horne have all been suspended by the SANZAR judiciary in the past two weeks due to dangerous tackles, as the governing body clamps down on players lifting opponents beyond the horizontal position.
“It seems to be a very highlighted thing outside the team at the moment, but the reason we won last year was because of our physicality and our defence,” Phipps told the Daily Telegraph from Johannesburg, where NSW was beaten 27-22 by the Lions last weekend after having Horne and Jacques Potgieter sin-binned for dangerous play.
“The semi-final and final last year, they weren’t won with the finesse and flair of the regular season games.
“It’s funny how in the last five or six years, Australian teams have always been on the receiving end of the physicality and nothing has been said.
“Now we’re coming back with some of our own, it’s becoming an issue.
“We knew this year would be a different path for us, we knew teams would be coming for us and people would be looking at our game in a different way.
“But if people are starting to talk about our physicality it means they’re worried about it.
“We’re not going to change, the physicality and intensity is a big part of the way we play, but we just won’t be lifting anybody’s legs off the ground.”
Rob Horne crunches the Sharks’ Marco Wentzel. Source: Getty Images
With the World Cup to be played later this year, and NSW coach Michael Cheika to lead the Wallabies’ campaign, the cynical minded might be tempted to deduce some kind of conspiracy against Australia’s new-found hostility.
“Cheik always wants that physicality, he’s always in there ranting and raving about what he wants from us before games, and when you start playing that way you begin to really enjoy it,” Phipps said.
“Hopefully Cheik can instil that in the national team as well.”
For now, NSW must not lose their mettle as they chase successive home semi-finals for the first time in their history.
Two bonus point wins in their remaining games against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and Queensland in Sydney will guarantee that happens.
“But we can’t afford to be going into any games planning to score a four-try bonus point win, the competition is just too hard, but we certainly see the next two matches as must-win games for us,” Phipps said.
Will Skelton brushes off defenders. Source: News Corp Australia
Breathing down NSW’s necks are arch-rivals the Brumbies, who have the same amount of competition points (42) but one less win.
NSW only lost four games during their victorious 2014 march to the title, this year they’ve already lost five.
“In the last three years Cheik has built into us a confidence and single-mindedness to achieve our goals,” Phipps said.
“Three years ago if this had happened we would have fallen off the perch, but this group has got the single-mindedness and determination to want to get to the end.
“We’re not going to let a little thing like last week’s loss put us off.”
With lock Mitchell Chapman cleared of injury, the NSW side is set to remain much the same as last weekend, with the exception of Peter Betham replacing Horne.
Jono Lance has flown to South Africa and is expected to provide cover off the bench.
Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau had hoped to fly to South Africa for this game, but due to ongoing concussion issues has been held back, and will most likely return against Queensland.
Originally published as Phipps warns rivals: ‘we won’t tone it down’
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