McKenzie: 'Waratahs must refocus'
Sun, 04 May 2008 11:28
Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie hopes the 13-16 loss to the Bulls at the weekend will serve to refocus his side for next weekend's critical Super 14 showdown with the Stormers in Cape Town.
The Waratahs remained second despite their defeat in Pretoria, but missed a golden opportunity to shore up their position.
The loss was their first in six matches and left them only one point clear of the third-placed Hurricanes, with the Stormers another point back.
"Sometimes you need a loss to just get focused again and we will take this opportunity to learn some lessons," McKenzie said.
Leading 7-0, the Waratahs dominated the opening quarter, but couldn't build on an early Rob Horne try.
Scrumhalf Luke Burgess crossed the Bulls line, but had the ball knocked out of his hand by prop Werner Kruger.
The big Bulls inexorably worked their way back into the game and fought back to trail just 6-7 at the break.
McKenzie identified the turning point as coming in the 44th minute when the Bulls opened up a 13-7 lead after hooker Derick Kuun scored a breakaway try after Horne almost scored at the other end.
Flyhalf Kurtley Beale hauled the Waratahs level with a penalty goal and a drop-goal, but his opposite number Morne Steyn produced a match winning field goal of his own to break the deadlock with just over five minutes remaining.
The Waratahs mentor admitted his team kicked poorly in general play, while their line-out struggled in the near constant rain.
A victory would have ensured the Waratahs went into the final round in the top four irrespective of next weekend's result, but the single point for a narrow loss, means they could now drop as low as sixth if the results next week are unfavourable.
"It was a game we could have won, probably should have won but didn't," McKenzie said.
"You've got to give credit to the Bulls, they bustled us and made us play at the wrong end of the field."
While the Waratahs were outscored 10-6 in the second half, McKenzie said he had no issues with his team's fitness and said their preparation had been very good despite only arriving two days before the game.
"We defended very well, some of the tackling was outstanding at times. The effort of the team was quite good.
"The guys worked hard, but I don't know if we worked smart."
McKenzie said he also took no issue with Lote Tuqiri taking the long distance penalties instead of Beale, despite the winger skewing two 40m plus attempts well wide of the posts.
The one injury worry was a calf strain to Wallabies prop Matt Dunning who will be monitored during the week.
