News

Fit Freier believes 'Tahs can win

May 26 2008

Waratahs hooker Adam Freier says his side are confident they can go to Christchurch on Saturday and turn the tables on the Crusaders in the Super 14 Final - and that he will be fit to take part.

Freier suffered a heavy blow to the sternum in the first half of his side's impressive semi-final victory over the Sharks but is adamant the injury won't prevent him from playing in the final, and has given two reasons for backing the Waratahs on Saturday.

"Confidence and belief. They're the two things that come to mind," Freier told the AAP when asked why the Waratahs were so sure that they could reverse the 34-7 drubbing they suffered at the hands of the six-time Super Rugby champions at AMI Stadium eight weeks ago.

The Waratahs had led 7-6 in that Round six match before the Crusaders turned on the gas in a four-try final half hour blitz to run out convincing winners.

Freier, though, believes that the scoreline in that encounter is somewhat flattering to the Crusaders and is confident his can snag their first Super Rugby title.

"Going over there (last time), we definitely had the game plan to think we could beat them," he said.

"We didn't achieve that but, if you watch the video, well, it could have gone either way. They just ran away with it after getting two quick tries.

"So there's definitely a confidence and belief now, and that's not just token in saying that.

"We will genuinely go over there - and we said it in the change room straight after the (Sharks semi-final) game - and play footy against them and not be conservative and be concerned about what they're doing.

"We've just got to worry what we can do and do it well."

Speaking of his own injury, Freier had little doubt he would be on the park on Saturday.

"There is no doubt about where I'm at with my injury, it's just one of those things we've got to get a handle on it and mate, it will be right," Freier said on Monday.

The hooker was one of several key Waratahs rested from Monday's light training run with Lote Tuqiri, Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom, Tom Carter and Rob Horne ordered to take it easy after a bruising encounter with the Sharks.

Coach Ewen McKenzie conceded a number of players are nursing bumps and bruises but expects to have a full complement of players available for selection this weekend.

"We don't need to be doing anything dramatic today, we've got a few things that we'll work through but they'll watch," McKenzie said of the players who did not train on Monday.

"It's the last week, there's nothing after this one in terms of this team so we'll just make sure we get the guys to the game."

"Most of the guys sitting over there have played a lot of footy so we don't actually need to torture them every day of the week."

McKenzie is faces with a selection dilemma following Freier's excellent performance against the Sharks as first choice hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, who missed Saturday's clash with a sprained right wrist, trained with the squad on Monday and will also be expecting a place in the starting XV.

The Waratahs will also have been boosted by the news that influential Crusaders hooker Corey Flynn will play no part in the final after breaking his

forearm in last Saturday's semi-final against Hurricanes.

"That's a huge loss for Canterbury," said Freier.

"I know that the last time we really tried to target their line-out and target his throwing and he threw incredibly well and it didn't suit the way we wanted to play.

"Like most teams, we try to attack their line-out and he's one player that has really got his throwing right this season.

"That aside, his ball-playing ... he is a huge loss and we're going to have plenty of confidence from that. He's a great player."

McKenzie said Flynn's replacement, Ti'i Paulo, had huge boots to fill.

"If you actually look through their try scoring during the year, he (Flynn) has been very influential, (and) obviously getting across the try line (himself)," McKenzie said.

"He reads the game very well, he initiates a lot of key plays for them and adds a lot of momentum. So he's a pretty big loss.

"He's been there for a few years now and had the opportunity to play for the All Blacks, so I rate him as a pretty good player and that will be a blow."