Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie made little effort to conceal his delight after his side’s season opening 20-3 win over the Wellington Hurricanes.
The Waratahs proved their pre-season form was no fluke, as they muscled the visitors out of the match in a three tries to nil performance. A bonus point went beckoning as late challenges for a fourth try came up empty, however McKenzie was clearly satisfied. “The impressive thing for me was the fact we kept them to no tries. The Hurricanes had scored pretty much forty points (per game) in the three trials. To hold them to no tries was a pretty damn good effort, I reckon.”
“We created a lot of pressure. It was important to have a win at home first up.”
The Waratahs have already matched last years achievements at home by winning one match. Next is a short New Zealand tour, with New South Wales to take on the Chiefs and Highlanders, teams that lost on the opening weekend. If the Tahs can replicate their spirited performance against the Hurricanes, they will fancy their chances of racing to a 3-0 start to 2008.
“I think we knocked the enthusiasm out of them,” McKenzie said. “I could definitely see with fifteen minutes to go in the first half, they lost their rhythm and started to play one out.”
“We made mistakes, (but) I was very happy with the aggression and intent.”
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