Super Rugby winner Stephen Hoiles has called on the NSW Waratahs to play with more attacking “risk” after falling to the Blues 12-10 at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium last weekend.
Looking to bounce back from their heartbreaking defeat to the Highlanders in round three, the Waratahs got struck first against the Blues with Tane Edmed converting a 22nd-minute penalty.
While the Waratahs were never really out of the fight, the hosts would have to wait until the 78th minute to score again with replacement Jay Fonokalafi crashing over a try at the death.
It kept the Tahs in with a chance of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, but time wasn’t on their side in the end as the Blues hung on for an unconvincing win.
With the Waratahs losing two matches in a row against New Zealand opposition by a combined margin of four points, a former Wallaby has called on the New South Welshman to change up how they approach attack.
“It’s hard at the moment for the Tahs. They’ve won one and lost three,” Stephen Hoiles said on Stan Sports’ Between Two Posts.
“They’re not playing poorly at all, they’re showing signs.
“But this can’t go on for too much longer otherwise it gets away from you.
“They’re playing tough and they’re brave and they’re hanging in there and they’ve got good qualities and they’ve got a few good players coming back but the beauty about this competition, whether you like it or not… (top eight making the playoffs) it does keep teams like the Tahs playing for plenty cause they’re still a genuine chance of playing finals footy.
“You’d much prefer them not giving in on themselves and having to work on a few technical things than worrying about attitude, that’s not an issue for them at the moment.
“I don’t think they’re probably taking enough risk to be honest in attack… the Tahs look as though they’re sticking to the script a bit too much.”
The Waratahs are currently just outside the top eight with just one win to their name from four starts, with the Western Force the only Australian side below them.
New South Wales started their season with a big loss on the road in Brisbane before stunning defending champions the Crusaders 37-24 in Super Round.
As Hoiles discussed, the Waratahs aren’t a bad team but they may have to reassess their mindset and how their approach Super Rugby Pacific matches.
“I’d like to see the Tahs in a game where it just has to go toe-to-toe,” Hoiles added.
“They’re playing not to lose rather than playing out there to win. There is a difference in that mentality.”
