Super W: Waratahs looking to cement home grand final in round five

Thu, Mar 21, 2019, 2:32 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Waratahs Women's coach Matthew Evrard has named a strong starting XV to face a winless Melbourne Rebels outfit this weekend. If they remain undefeated the Waratahs will secure a home grand final in Sydney.

The Waratahs women would welcome a Leichhardt Oval Super W final but coach Matt Evrard ans his side are focused on one last regular season hurdle this weekend.

NSW come into the final round as the only undefeated team and a victory over the winless Rebels in Bathurst will cement their no. 1 spot and give them a week off before a grand final.

Queensland are the only team that could knock them off their perch but the northerners have a final round bye, putting the finals equation in NSW's hands.

Leichhardt Oval is the likely venue should the Waratahs host the final, and the match would be a standalone with no Waratahs matches in Sydney in a fortnight's time.

The NSW women played Queensland at the venue in Sydney's inner-west a fortnight ago and Evrard said it would be the ideal spot for a title playoff.

"It was a great atmosphere for us to have our first standalone in Sydney and to get a good crowd attendance," he said.

"I'm sure if we get the home final and we get to promote that even better there's no reason why we wouldn't get an even bigger crowd to that game. 

"The girls are really excited about that, it's a fantastic venue for us. No parameters around the game at all. It's nice having the whole venue to yourself and they're pretty excited about the prospect of that for sure."


Evrard and his women aren't looking too far ahead though, still looking for improvements in attack in the last weekend of the regular season.

"i think the key for us is to keep developing," he siad.

"Last week, we showed some good patience in attack and that started to pay off.

"It'd be really good now if we can just further that attacking shape we've been working on and the girls can express themselves a little bit more, which they're all looking forward to doing.

"It was great to see them finally look really comfortable in what they've been doing and all that training finally pays off now. really excited to see that this weekend."

Rookie Arabella McKenzie will have her first start of the 2019 campaign in front of her home town crowd in Bathurst and Evrard said he was excited to see her show off her skills.

"She's still very, very young in her rugby career but we are confident in her skill set and her willingness to put in attacking kicks and take the ball on," he said.

"We've got some pretty experienced players in our team that have played a high level and for her to actually want to challenge them and push the limits of what the team can do, it's a great credit to her. 

"I see nothing but a big future ahead of her in rugby. I hope she gets a real opportunity on the weekend and shows us all she can do."

The Super W finals this year will consist of a second vs third playoff on the weekend of March 30 with the minor premier awaiting the playoff winner a week later.

The Waratahs take on the Rebels in Bathurst on Sunday March 24, kicking off at 3pm AEDT, LIVE on RUGBY.com.au and Kayo. 

TEAM

1. Emily Robinson

2. Tamsin Sheppard

3. Evelyn Horomia

4. Ana-lise Sio

5. Sera Naiqama

6. Alex Sulusi

7. Emily Chancellor

8. Grace Hamilton

9. Katrina Barker

10. Chloe Leaupepe

11. Shanice Parker

12. Arabella McKenzie

13. Crystal Maguire

14. Maya Stewart

15. Ash Hewson

Reserves

16. Melissa Fatu

17. Matalena Wilson

18. Tisera Volkman

19. Pareake O'Brien

20. Fi Jones

21. Phoebe Loughhead

22. Mahalia Murphy

23. Kennedy Cherrington

Share
Praise for "grittier" Reds as eyes turn to Blues Anzac blockbuster
Five things we learnt from Reds - Highlanders
Clean sheet Queensland: Reds run riot in Highlanders thrashing
Crunch Kiwi encounters loom for red-hot ACT Brumbies