Tuqiri throws first punch
May 13 2008
Waratahs winger-cum-full-back Lote Tuqiri has inadvertently lit the fuse for another fiery Super 14 derby with the Reds on Saturday, branding the class of 2008 a "cop out".
The Waratahs must win to ensure they remain inside the top four and clinch a semi-finals berth, while the Reds will look to end their arch enemies' campaign in bitter disappointment.
Quizzed on the Reds' eagerness to rain on the Waratahs' parade Tuqiri went on the attack.
Tuqiri suggested the Reds were glorifying their role as the competition's "spoilers" having long since fallen out of semi-finals contention.
"They call themselves the spoilers and it's a bit of a cop out to call yourselves the spoilers. Why not try a bit harder at the start of the year?" Tuqiri told AAP.
Despite his harsh words Tuqiri insists he is still a Queenslander at heart but made it quite clear where his allegiances will lie on Saturday.
"I'm proud of the fact that I was from up there and everything else and obviously I'm playing for the 'Tahs now but when State of Origin rolls around I wear the maroon on the sleeve," he said.
"But (this is a) different game and different code and I'll be putting in for the boys this weekend."
After a winless two-match tour of South Africa, Tuqiri said it was imperative for the Waratahs to follow up their 16-13 loss to the Bulls and 13-13 draw with the Stormers with victory over the Reds heading into the play-offs.
"You want to be playing some good footy leading into the semis and getting a bit of a roll on," he said.
"We're not too far away, but a really good win would be nice going to the semis for confidence and everything else.
"I wouldn't say confidence is low but a good win always lifts that up going into a semi-final week."
Tuqiri said was tipping former Waratahs team-mate Morgan Turinui, who has been outstanding in recent weeks for the Reds, to try to unsettle the Waratahs with some verbal volleys, but urged his team-mates not to get caught up in any sledging battles.
"I think he'll certainly have a chirp back but you can't make it personal," said Tuqiri.
"It's a game where if you take things personally, it takes away from what you're trying to do as a team. I think we've been professional enough to do that this year.
"We've won the past three derby games and we've got good form coming into another derby game, so hopefully we can have the same result."
Having spent the majority of his 73-match career with the Waratahs on the wing, Tuqiri was shifted to fullback in atrocious conditions against the Stormers in Cape Town.
The 28-year-old made a good fist of his new position in his first attempt but is unsure where he will line up against the Reds.
"I'll play where ever they put me ... I don't mind playing anywhere in the backline, I'm quite comfortable on the wing but I'll put my hand up wherever the team needs me," he said.