Vodacom Super Rugby
McKibbin stays at halfback
2012-03-28 07:46
Sydney - Goal-kicking halfback Brendan McKibbin has kept star import Sarel
Pretorious on the bench for the Waratahs' Super Rugby clash with the
Chiefs on Saturday.
Coach Michael Foley on Wednesday retained the same team
that secured a 34-30 win over the Sharks last Saturday as the Waratahs
prepared to fly out to Hamilton to play the top-ranked team in the New
Zealand conference.
McKibbin impressed when making his season starting debut
against the Sharks, forming a good partnership with new flyhalf
Berrick Barnes and producing a flawless goalkicking display to add 12
points.
The Waratahs are wary of the threat posed by Sonny Bill
Williams in the Chiefs' midfield and have tough-tackling Tom Carter
lining up against him.
But they will also need to be wary of the impressive new
halves pairing of rookie halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow and All Blacks' flyhalf Aaron Cruden who have given the historically-erratic Chiefs
new direction.
The match against a team that loves to attack with ball
in hand will provide a good test of the Waratahs' vow to do the same in
the wake of their hard-earned home win over the Sharks.
"The players have been very clear about the standards they demand for themselves again this week," said Foley.
"The two things that stood out in the Sharks game were
that we tried to play with the ball as a 15 and our defensive discipline
was good for the entire match."
"We know the Chiefs will be a big game for us. They've
always been a side able to spread the ball, they've certainly got pace
out wide and, in Sonny Bill Williams, they have another dimension in
attack.
"Their forward pack is certainly a threat, particularly at scrum and lineout."
Teams:
Chiefs: TBA
Waratahs: 15 Bernard Foley, 14 Tom Kingston, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Tom
Carter, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Wycliff
Palu, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Sekope Kepu,
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson (captain)
Substitutes: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Paddy Ryan,
18 Sitaleki Timani, 19 Lopeti Timani, 20 Jono Jenkins, 21 Sarel Pretorius, 22 Daniel
Halangahu