NSW captain Dave Dennis insists the Waratahs can end a nine-year drought against the Crusaders provided they display the right attitude in Friday’s must-win Super Rugby clash in Christchurch.
Like all of his teammates, flanker Dennis has yet to play in a winning side against the Crusaders, who have won 10 straight against since their last Super loss to NSW nine years ago.
A win in Christchurch on Friday could lift the eighth-placed Waratahs into the top six and above the Crusaders, who are two places and three points above them.
A loss would almost certainly inflict terminal damage to their finals prospects, especially if fifth-placed Queensland score a home win over Melbourne on Saturday and open up a potential double-digit lead over the Tahs.
With just two more games to go after Friday and no more four-point byes to come, NSW cannot afford another loss.
“I think for some reason we’ve gone over there (to Christchurch) doubting whether we can win,” Dennis said.
“Obviously we haven’t had a good history there and we’ve probably flown over there thinking it’s not possible.
“But with the young group we’ve got, there’s no reason we can’t achieve something special there.
“Just talk about belief and I think this year we’ve got a bit more of that.
“In the way we potentially can play, if we’ve got the right attitude, we can beat these guys.”
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder said fullback Israel Folau had turned the Waratahs season around, but expected the NSW pack to place his team under huge pressure.
“We respect them. We know the way they’ve been playing they’ll bring a lot of physicality and we’ll be under the pump,” Blackadder said.
With Wallabies No.8 Wycliff Palu injured, Dennis has moved to that spot from blindside flanker.
Pat McCutcheon comes in at blindside and will partner openside Michael Hooper, with Dennis saying that formation would suit the way NSW wanted to play.
In backline changes, halfback Brendan McKibbin, inside centre Rob Horne and winger Cam Crawford replace Matt Lucas, Berrick Barnes and Drew Mitchell respectively.
Blackadder has made three changes to his starting XV.
All Blacks hooker Corey Flynn returns from a hamstring injury in place of Codie Taylor, Dominic Bird replaces Test lock Sam Whitelock, who has a fractured finger and Willi Heinz starts at halfback, with Andy Ellis dropped to the bench.
