Tuqiri: 'Reds are cop outs'
Tue, 13 May 2008 10:35
Waratahs wing Lote Tuqiri has added fuel to the fire for their Super 14 derby with the Reds on Saturday after branding the Reds class of 2008 a "cop out".
The outspoken Tuqiri suggested the Reds were glorifying their role as the competition's "spoilers" having long since fallen out of semifinals 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.
Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie said both sides were playing for high stakes, regardless of their contrasting standings on the ladder, and he didn't believe the Reds' priority would be to end the Waratahs' season.
"I don't think their motivation will be anything other than to try to win the game," McKenzie said.
"When they get down to it, they will try to beat us because we are the Waratahs and obviously we will try and beat them because they are the Reds.
"That is what these games are about. That is why they are good to have on the calendar. Local derbys are always good fare," added the coach.
After a winless two-match tour of South Africa, Tuqiri said it was imperative for the Waratahs to follow up their 13-16 loss to the Bulls and 13-all 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 semifinal week," added Tuqiri.
Tuqiri was tipping former 'Tahs teammate 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 teammates 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," Tuqiri said.
"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," concluded the Wallaby.
