NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar insists his side are “on the right track” despite their Super Rugby season hanging by a thread.
The Tahs’ crushing 21-14 defeat to the ACT Brumbies in Sydney on Friday all but ended their hopes of making the six-team playoffs, while securing the Brumbies a playoff spot.
A lack of execution despite dominating first-half possession saw the hosts go 21-0 down before a late fightback set up a grandstand finish.
McKellar’s erratic side must now beat the Western Force next weekend and hope the sixth-placed Queensland Reds lose their last two regular-season matches to keep their campaign alive.
“We want to be playing at the back end of the season and we’re not, so it’s a pretty easy answer – we’re disappointed,” McKellar said.
“But in terms of progress over the last two seasons, I think we’ve made huge progress. A lot of that the public can’t see, so it’s within the four walls of the building.
“We’ve made a lot of change and we’re on the right track, but we’re far from where we need to be.”
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The victory pushed the Brumbies into fifth on the log ahead of a final regular-season clash next week against bottom-placed Moana Pasifika.
If they win that match and the Crusaders lose to the table-topping Hurricanes, Stephen Larkham’s Brumbies will snatch fourth place.
Finishing in the top four shapes as critical under the competition’s new playoffs format this year, which pits first against sixth, second against fifth and third versus fourth.
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“We just can’t take the foot off the accelerator now,” said Larkham. “We’ve just got to make sure that next week our preparation is as good or better than this week.
“We just want to put our best performances on the field from now on.”
– AFP
Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
The post Waratahs coach defiant despite latest loss appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar insists his side are “on the right track” despite their Super Rugby season hanging by a thread.
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