NSW coach Michael Cheika says it’s not Berrick Barnes’ fault he’s lost his starting inside centre position for Friday night’s must-win Super Rugby clash with the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Cheika says Barnes’ forwards let him down in last week’s surprise loss to Melbourne, but it’s prompted his decision to reinstate Rob Horne to the starting No.12 jersey and Brendan McKibbin at halfback.
The Waratahs are expecting a physical, down-to-the-wire contest against the Crusaders, as the two teams fight for a playoff berth.
Horne will provide the presence early on, with Barnes in a position to impact the contest later in the match like he did with a match-winning performance against the Brumbies two weeks ago.
“Rob didn’t do anything wrong the week before to miss out against the Rebels … I always told him he’d be playing this week so he’s playing because he deserves his opportunity in the team,” Cheika said.
“I don’t think it didn’t work because it was Berrick’s fault. We didn’t lay the platform for that type of 10, 12 combination.
“The Crusaders is going to be a game where it goes down to the wire and if we’re going to win it we need to have good impetus coming off the bench.”
Captain Dave Dennis switches to No.8 in place of injured Wycliff Palu – with the task of taking on Crusaders skipper Kieran Read.
The Waratahs remain in with a chance of making the six-team finals series but face a daunting task against the All Blacks-laden Crusaders in Christchurch where they have not won since 2004.
In the 19 previous meetings between the sides, NSW have won just four and lost the past 10.
Fully recovered from a corked thigh, wing Cam Crawford returns to the starting side in place of Drew Mitchell.
With veteran forward Mitchell Chapman sustaining a medial ligament injury at training this week, 20-year-old back-rower Jed Holloway comes onto the bench for a possible Super Rugby debut.
Cheika said last week’s first-ever loss to the Rebels was all part of the learning process for the Waratahs.
The coach blames an attitude dip for the result, but suggested the disappointment set a perfect platform for a bounce-back win against the most successful team in the history of Super Rugby.
“It’s an ideal match for us to come back because I felt last week we had a step down in our attitude and our edge compared to the five games before that,’ Cheika said.
“This is a perfect game for us to bounce back and test our attitude and try and make a name for ourselves by taking a big scalp.
“What we’re looking for predominantly is for our attitude to bounce back.
“The whole season has been about getting our mentality right and laying the platform of how we want our team to look and think and we’ve got a good run of games together.”
NSW Waratahs: Israel Folau, Cam Crawford, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne, Peter Betham, Bernard Foley, Brendan McKibbin, Dave Dennis (capt), Michael Hooper, Pat McCutcheon, Kane Douglas, Sitaleki Timani, Sekope Kepu, John Ulugia, Benn Robinson. Res: Luke Holmes, Paddy Ryan, Will Skelton, Jed Holloway, Matt Lucas, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell.