The NSW Waratahs have vowed to fix a leaky defence which faces a mighty test from Super Rugby’s table-topping Brumbies on Sunday.
The Waratahs’ drought-breaking championship last year was built on the back of the competition’s deadliest attacking unit, averaging 30 points a game, and also the safest defence.
But, while the Tahs conceded an average of just 17 points a match during their march to the title in 2014, they’ve already conceded 13 five-pointers in four games this campaign.
Most alarmingly, the Highlanders, Western Force at NSW’s home fortress at Allianz Stadium and even the Melbourne Rebels in defeat have all managed to rack up four-try bonus-point hauls against the defending champions.
Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau says the Waratahs’ early-season defensive vulnerability is “an attitude thing” which they plan to put right against the Brumbies.
“Obviously we take pride in our defence because it’s one of the things we’ve worked hard on, getting our systems in place and gaining that trust in each other,” Polota-Nau said on Wednesday.
“We still have some work to do because we didn’t execute against the Highlanders.
“When we go into a tackle, it’s not just to make the tackle for the sake of it, but also getting some leg drive so we can hopefully get some pay out of it with a turnover.”
The Waratahs’ defensive steel faces an acid test at Allianz Stadium, with the Brumbies having piled on a tournament-best 19 tries in their surge to the competition lead.
Coached by Michael Cheika’s recently-appointed Wallabies assistant Stephen Larkham, the Brumbies have also conceded a meagre three tries in five games this campaign.
The Waratahs know they’ll be a tough nut to crack.
“The Brumbies are a very well drilled team,” Polota-Nau said. “They do everything very well.
“Obviously if you want to win a title, defence and attack goes tit for tat.
“Our focus this Sunday will be on playing consistently throughout the whole match and delivering a full 80-minute performance, which we haven’t managed yet.”
The Waratahs enter the derby 10 competition points adrift of the Brumbies, who have played one more match.
“It’s an important game in terms of our progress in the competition,” Polota-Nau said.
“But also in terms of getting our game together.”
