Rugby: Waratahs try to beat boos

Chris Hickey. Photo / Getty Images

The Highlanders and the Waratahs could be on a collision course for Super Rugby's playoffs - but the southerners at least don't have the New South Wales team's major problem: boring their fans to the extent that they boo them.

The two sides are neck and neck on the table and, if they don't win their respective conferences, will be vying for top six qualification for the playoffs. They are drawn to meet on June 11 in what could be a key fixture in that regard.

However, while the Highlanders have earned admiration for their resurgence under coach Jamie Joseph, it was revealed this week that rivals are using boring tactics to incite booing by Waratahs fans and force the Waratahs into errors.

Western Force coach Richard Graham revealed this week that his side tried to use the Waratahs' fans as a tactic last week by sending a barrage of kicks to NSW.

Aware the Waratahs had been booed by their fans this year and drawn fire for conservative tactics, Graham said part of the reason they gave NSW so much ball (kicking 46 times) was in the hope a restless crowd would jeer if the Waratahs kicked back, and force a player to risk an ill-timed counter-attack.

"It was part of the plan," Graham said. "They are under more pressure than any team in Australia. Their crowd is the most demanding and the most intense. We thought if we could get the crowd involved and start pressuring the team, one or two individuals might take it upon themselves to solve problems the team was having.

Ultimately, the ploy didn't work. The crowd did grow restless but the Waratahs stuck to their task, and posted a 20-15 victory to stay in the top six.

However, falling crowd numbers and fan dissatisfaction remains a big concern for the Waratahs. So much so the side will hold an unprecedented fans' forum on Thursday, where coach Chris Hickey, captain Phil Waugh and other leaders will answer questions from fans.

Waratahs CEO Jason Allen admitted the Waratahs' bottom line was suffering : "Fortunately we brought new income into the business this year and have been able to cover the losses from home games but we can't continue that through the next three games. We can't keep eating into the war chest."

Meanwhile questions continue to be asked about the Waratahs coaching, with rumours that assistant coach and former Wallaby hooker Michael Foley may be favoured to take over from incumbent Chris Hickey this year.

In a question-and-answer session with another former Wallaby hooker, Brendan Cannon, in the Sunday Telegraph, Hickey said he was confident he'd have Foley's support if Hickey won the position again next year.

Asked about the booing, Hickey said: "We've found ourselves in a situation the last two games against the Rebels and the Force where they clearly had strong kicking strategies in place. It's two teams out there, not one team, and sometimes the tactics of the other team dictate how you can play."

"We are concerned about the supporters, but I also think sometimes they might not quite understand how what the opposition is doing affects your ability to play a certain way.

"We're sitting in sixth place on the ladder, when you look at the statistics we're fourth on the ladder for tries scored, we're second on the defensive stats and I think we're second to the Crusaders on differential. So, there are still some healthy signs."

However, the injury list is not quite so healthy. Club flanker Hugh Perrett will be drafted onto the Waratahs' bench for his Super Rugby debut against the Lions on Saturday.

Both skipper Phil Waugh and No 8 Wycliff Palu are expected to remain sidelined for at least another week with hamstring injuries, and will target the South African tour for a return to the game.

With Pat McCutcheon out for six weeks with an ankle injury, Perrett has been called as backup for the only fit openside flanker, Chris Alcock.