Cape Town - The Waratahs' Springbok import, Jacques Potgieter, feels his adopted side will win this year's Super Rugby competition, despite a recent dip in form.
The men from Sydney made 16 handling errors in a sloppy 21-13 loss to the Blues in Auckland last Friday, leaving them in third spot in the Australian Conference and sixth on the Overall log.
The 'Tahs have never won Super Rugby and have developed a reputation of failing to deliver on their promise over the years.
However Potgieter, 28, who played three Tests for the Boks in 2012, feels they have enough class to earn a maiden title in 2014.
In an interview with the Courier Mail website, the former Bulls enforcer, who played 22 times for the Pretoria side, said the past doesn't really matter for the current crop coached by Michael Cheika.
He said he came to Sydney because he liked the style and play that Cheika brought into the system, which he observed last year.
“I just thought with all the talent that we could go a long way - and I still believe that. Otherwise I wouldn't have come to the Waratahs.
“I just want to lift that trophy and I still think we're going to.
The Waratahs host the Hurricanes in Sydney on Saturday (kick-off 11:40 SA time).
Teams:
Waratahs:
15 Israel Folau, 14 Matt Carraro, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis (captain), 5 Jacques Potgieter, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson
Substitutes: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Stephen Hoiles/Pat McCutcheon, 21 Brendan McKibbin, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Alofa Alofa/Cam Crawford
Hurricanes:
TBA
The men from Sydney made 16 handling errors in a sloppy 21-13 loss to the Blues in Auckland last Friday, leaving them in third spot in the Australian Conference and sixth on the Overall log.
The 'Tahs have never won Super Rugby and have developed a reputation of failing to deliver on their promise over the years.
However Potgieter, 28, who played three Tests for the Boks in 2012, feels they have enough class to earn a maiden title in 2014.
In an interview with the Courier Mail website, the former Bulls enforcer, who played 22 times for the Pretoria side, said the past doesn't really matter for the current crop coached by Michael Cheika.
He said he came to Sydney because he liked the style and play that Cheika brought into the system, which he observed last year.
“I just thought with all the talent that we could go a long way - and I still believe that. Otherwise I wouldn't have come to the Waratahs.
“I just want to lift that trophy and I still think we're going to.
The Waratahs host the Hurricanes in Sydney on Saturday (kick-off 11:40 SA time).
Teams:
Waratahs:
15 Israel Folau, 14 Matt Carraro, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis (captain), 5 Jacques Potgieter, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson
Substitutes: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Stephen Hoiles/Pat McCutcheon, 21 Brendan McKibbin, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Alofa Alofa/Cam Crawford
Hurricanes:
TBA