SOUTHERN Kings head coach Matt Sexton says his team must contain the “big busting” players in the Waratahs side when the teams clash at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium tomorrow .
Faced with an outfit who are unafraid to run the ball, the Kings are anticipating a big battle for supremacy in what promises to be an absorbing Super Rugby showdown.
Two opposition players singled out by Sexton when he looked ahead to the clash were fullback Israel Folau and centre Adam Ashley-Cooper .
“They are determined to play from anywhere and they’ve got some big busting players throughout their pack. In their back division Folau and Ashley-Cooper are dangerous players,” said Sexton.
“If we get our defensive systems right, we can contain them and there can be opportunities in turnovers and bits and pieces.
“Our defence has been good and we need to step it up again against the Waratahs. I’m confident that we are going to do that.”
Sexton, a former Crusaders hooker, says his team have been on a learning curve since they made their Super Rugby debut against the Western Force in February.
“One little slip-up and teams can really punish you. Some of our slip- ups have been in the set piece area and we saw against the Cheetahs that our scrum did not function at times.
“There were also a couple of defensive errors and I have to get back to what our director of rugby Alan Solomons has said that this team is still learning the ins and outs of Super Rugby.
“We have been trying to learn via video and reflect on showings each week to make sure the guys understand these critical moments that occur in a game.
“The Kings work hard on the paddock physically, but also off the paddock with lots of mental and tactical stuff which is critical at this level of the game,” Sexton said.
Meanwhile, Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has made just one change to the team that lost to the Bulls last week. Peter Betham is promoted to the starting line-up and Tom Kingston moves to the bench.
The Waratahs were not happy with their showing in the lineouts in Pretoria last week and devoted much time to improving this aspect of their game in Port Elizabeth this week.
Waratahs assistant coach Alan Gaffney says the players know they will have a battle on their hands against the Kings.
“The Kings have a hard-working forward pack and they’re coached by Alan Solomons, a guy who’s been around the block a long, long time, having coached Ulster when I was with Munster, and Northampton in the early 2000s,” Gaffney said.
“We have got to approach this game as a battle.
“The attitude in the squad is great. We don’t treat any game easier than the next game. You can’t in this competition. Over the years there have been too many examples of what can happen if you don’t pay everyone the respect they deserve. We won’t make that mistake this weekend.”
Kings face massive test against visiting Waratahs
Faced with an outfit who are unafraid to run the ball, the Kings are anticipating a big battle for supremacy in what promises to be an absorbing Super Rugby showdown.
Two opposition players singled out by Sexton when he looked ahead to the clash were fullback Israel Folau and centre Adam Ashley-Cooper .
“They are determined to play from anywhere and they’ve got some big busting players throughout their pack. In their back division Folau and Ashley-Cooper are dangerous players,” said Sexton.
“If we get our defensive systems right, we can contain them and there can be opportunities in turnovers and bits and pieces.
“Our defence has been good and we need to step it up again against the Waratahs. I’m confident that we are going to do that.”
Sexton, a former Crusaders hooker, says his team have been on a learning curve since they made their Super Rugby debut against the Western Force in February.
“One little slip-up and teams can really punish you. Some of our slip- ups have been in the set piece area and we saw against the Cheetahs that our scrum did not function at times.
“There were also a couple of defensive errors and I have to get back to what our director of rugby Alan Solomons has said that this team is still learning the ins and outs of Super Rugby.
“We have been trying to learn via video and reflect on showings each week to make sure the guys understand these critical moments that occur in a game.
“The Kings work hard on the paddock physically, but also off the paddock with lots of mental and tactical stuff which is critical at this level of the game,” Sexton said.
Meanwhile, Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has made just one change to the team that lost to the Bulls last week. Peter Betham is promoted to the starting line-up and Tom Kingston moves to the bench.
The Waratahs were not happy with their showing in the lineouts in Pretoria last week and devoted much time to improving this aspect of their game in Port Elizabeth this week.
Waratahs assistant coach Alan Gaffney says the players know they will have a battle on their hands against the Kings.
“The Kings have a hard-working forward pack and they’re coached by Alan Solomons, a guy who’s been around the block a long, long time, having coached Ulster when I was with Munster, and Northampton in the early 2000s,” Gaffney said.
“We have got to approach this game as a battle.
“The attitude in the squad is great. We don’t treat any game easier than the next game. You can’t in this competition. Over the years there have been too many examples of what can happen if you don’t pay everyone the respect they deserve. We won’t make that mistake this weekend.”
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