News

Waratahs add fuel to Reds' fire

May 15 2008

Saturday's Super 14 derby between the Waratahs and the Reds has taken on some interstate intensity with barbs flying from both sides of the border and the Waratahs refusing to publicise their team and also snubbing a traditional pre-game function.

Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie was forced to explain his decision to release only a 23-man squad to travel to Brisbane - rather than name a starting XV and seven replacements - and also defend the Waratahs' decision not to attend the annual interstate luncheon.

With the third-placed Waratahs needing to beat the Reds in the final-round fixture at Suncorp Stadium to ensure a semi-final berth, McKenzie said he had no choice but to delay announcing his line-up because he simply hadn't finalised it.

The Waratahs only arrived back from their demanding two-match tour of South Africa on Monday afternoon and Thursday's run at the Sydney Football Stadium was just their second training session of the week.

"Being a short week for us, we'll just maximise our training opportunities and work out our best team," McKenzie told AAP.

"I've got time."

Of most interest to the Reds is whether the Waratahs will start high-profile recruit Timana Tahu and, if so, exactly where.

The options are on the wing or opposite in-form ex-Waratah Morgan Turinui at outside centre, where the former rugby league international appeared in his cameo return from a hamstring injury against the Stormers in Cape Town last weekend.

While adamant there was nothing sinister in his selection approach this week, McKenzie was taking great delight in the fact his delay in naming the Waratahs' team was causing such angst among the Reds.

Turinui has been desperately seeking answers on the Waratahs' starting team from anyone with a link to the New South Wales camp, but so far his investigations have come up empty ahead of a game the visitors must win to secure a semi-final berth.

"Morgan's been ringing everyone. I think he's rung most of our players to see what's going on," said McKenzie.

Asked if he thought the Reds were concerned about the uncertainty, McKenzie said he I didn't know.

"I don't know if they're the worrying types," he said.

"I'm sure they'd like to know what our team is and I'm sure they'll spend plenty of time trying to find out.

"But whether they do or don't, we'll see how it goes on the night.

"I know Morgan's been on the phone a lot so, I guess if he's not the worrying type, he's worrying on someone else's behalf."

Waratahs winger Lote Tuqiri had fired the first salvo of the week on Tuesday when he branded the Reds a "cop-out" for declaring themselves the competition's "spoilers" after falling out of play-off contention.

"Why not try a bit harder at the start of the year?" Tuqiri said.

Continuing the verbal warfare, the Reds hit back, accusing the Waratahs of reneging on a deal to attend their annual luncheon on Friday.

Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) chief executive Ken Freer was incensed the Waratahs, with the exception of McKenzie and a couple of token injured players, snubbed the invitation to help promote the match.

The Reds attended a similar function, put on by the Rugby Union Players Association, in Sydney last season and Freer said the New South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU) agreed to return the favour this year.

"Talk about copping out and not fronting up," said Freer.

McKenzie, though, said the Waratahs were not deliberately brushing the Reds, but merely had to train.

"We do our training and captain's run in the afternoon. That's when we normally do it, so it sort of clashes with the lunch," he said.

"I'm going to go to the lunch and I'll stand up there and 'Buddha' (Chris Handy) will ask an array of questions, so I'll be the punching bag on behalf of the team and then we'll go to training.

"One thing we've been this year is very consistent in our preparation and we don't want to compromise that."

Waratahs 23-man squad:

Backs: Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Matt Carraro, Tom Carter, Sam Harris, Rob Horne, Sam Norton-Knight, Brett Sheehan, Timana Tahu, Lote Tuqiri, Lachie Turner.

Forwards: Al Baxter, Will Caldwell, Matt Dunning, Rocky Elsom, Adam Freier, David Lyons, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Dan Vickerman, Phil Waugh [c].

Date: Saturday, May 17

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Kick-off: 19:40 (09:40 GMT)

Referee: Matt Goddard (Australia)

Touch judges: James Leckie (Australia), Damian Mitchelmore (Australia)

Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)