Waratahs coach Michel Cheika has taken responsibility for botching his team’s preparation before their shock 25-13 Super Rugby home loss to Western Force, but has dismissed the suggestion he was distracted by Wallabies duties.
The Force scored four tries to two in Sydney, as they notched their first opening round victory and their biggest away winning margin in an Australian derby.
They defended resolutely against an error-prone Waratahs side that showed little of the quality that carried them to the title last year and who lacked urgency at the breakdown.
It is the Waratahs’ first loss in 10 games following an unbeaten run since April 2014 and their first home defeat since 2013.
“I think I’ve got the leadup wrong obviously because we didn’t have any zip at the ruck and I think I have got to take some responsibility that I didn’t get the balance right, to have us ready for game one,” Cheika said.
“I’ve got to take 100 per cent responsibility for them not being in the right space.
Cheika was measured throughout the media conference, but bristled when asked if his Wallabies duties had been a factor.
“No it’s irrelevant, this is about what’s happening at training, what our plan is,” Cheika said.
“I’m sure you will trot that one out, that line about ‘should he be doing this or should he be doing that?’
“But the reality is that there is plenty of time to focus on what you need to win rugby matches.
“It’s a contact sport, so you’ve got to get angry and we weren’t angry enough today.”
The Force won despite losing Wallabies prop Pek Cowan in the first half when he had to be taken off by a medicab after a scrum collapse.
Force coach Michael Foley said Cowan felt tenderness in his neck, but had feelings in his fingers and toes and would go for scans.
Foley said Cheika chatted to him briefly on Saturday about playing a part in the Wallabies setup and that while he was open to the idea, nothing had been agreed.
He attributed his team’s win to their defence.
“I take my hat off to the courage that was shown out there today, I thought the defence was magnificent,” Foley said.
“Our defence earned us that win and I think to suggest that they (NSW) would be complacent, would be off the mark.
“They showed a lot of maturity in the first part of the game because there was a few things that didn’t come off for us and we stayed composed.’
The back row trio of Ben McCalman, Angus Cottrell and Chris Alcock outpointed the Waratahs all-Test trio, with the latter two scoring their side’s first two tries either side of the break, when Force led 8-3,
Winger Rob Horne briefly gave the Waratahs hope by scoring the first of his two tries, seconds after Force halfback Alby Mathewson was sin-binned,
But it was the Forde who finished stronger, with winger Luke Morahan and replacement prop Francois van Wyk scoring opportunistic tries in the final quarter.
AAP aw/wd
