Nothing beats a grudge game and the whiff of verbal cordite is swirling ahead of the Super rugby semifinal between the Waratahs and Brumbies.
The hostility is connected to the Wallabies test in Dublin last year when 15 players were disciplined for drinking and breaking curfew amid suspicions they were dobbed in by several of the Brumbies.
A number of the Tahs were intent on reprisal but bypassed any physical mischief when they easily won their round-robin contest last month 39-8. The Tahs are keen to imprint a physical message behind their determination to reach next week’s final.
PADDY Ryan says last year’s spring tour episode was a bit of a beat-up but admits there’ll be no love lost when the Waratahs and Brumbies face off for a spot in the Super Rugby final.
Ryan will come off the bench in Saturday night’s semi-final against the Brumbies in Sydney, a match that is being touted as the biggest Australian rugby derby in 12 years.
The two sides met in the playoffs way back in 2002 with the Brumbies thumping the Waratahs 51-10
But Ryan believes that incident – where he was one of seven Wallabies handed a one-match suspension following a night out in Dublin – has been put to bed.
“To be honest that has been blown a bit out of proportion,” Ryan said in a live chat with foxsports.com.au
“While it was a tough time personally and for everyone involved I think that Aussie rugby has been better for it.”
Scott Sio insists beating the Waratahs will be a tough task
Ryan said the incident had helped him improve both on and off the field, but said this weekend’s clash would still have plenty of feeling.
“I think that my rugby has been better for it,” he said. “However there’s no one I’d rather be playing this weekend.”
Asked about what the Waratahs could expect from coach Michael Cheika in his pre-match message, Ryan said it was very much a lottery.
Famous for his “Poker Face” drawing and use of a disparaging tweet from a former Brumbies assistant, Cheika has mixed things up throughout the year.
Ryan said he’d given up guessing what ploy Cheika might use next.
“It’s the unknown,” Ryan responded when asked to describe a typical Cheika speech.
“Every time you go in suspecting something he produces something totally different. The best way to prepare for Cheik’s pre-game talk is to expect the unexpected.
“I just usually try and focus on my own game.”
NSW officials opened the “don’t meddle with us” file this week when they banned the Brumbies mascot from his sideline antics in Sydney, leaving the theatrical stage clear for the resident Tah Man.
Waratahs coach Michael Cheika recalled his siege gun, Israel Folau, and other artillery Rob Horne and Jacques Potgeiter to the starting side with huge lock Will Skelton primed for a cameo from the bench.
Stephen Hoiles will continue to deputise for injured skipper Dave Dennis on the blindside so the versatile Potgeiter shifts into lock.
Horne will mark Brumbies flyer Henry Speight who bewitched the Chiefs last weekend and has been added to the Wallabies squad for the Rugby Championship in place of Nick Cummins who is heading to Japan.
The Brumbies were without four Wallabies when they were last dusted by the Waratahs but have them all back on duty for Saturday’s duel.
Assistant coach Laurie Fisher has put the acid on his loosehead prop Scott Sio to set the physical standards after the team’s lacklustre performance in their last meeting.
Versatile Wallabies loose forward Scott Fardy, who turns out at lock alongside another international squad member Sam Carter, said the Brumbies were determined to overcome their outsiders’ rating.
“They’ve [Waratahs] been excellent this year, they’ve won eight in a row and they’re at home, so they’re definitely favourites this week.”
The Brumbies tuned up for the semifinal by beating the Chiefs in the quarter-final when they pushed out to a significant lead and held out the erratic visitors’ late surge.
Meanwhile the Tahs had the week off to repair some bodies and their lineout which melted in their recent game with the Reds. They also lost the turnover battle that night.
Those faults would have been top of Cheika’s corrections manual as he continued to deliver the mantra about power and attack which have taken the Tahs to the brink of a historic Super 15 title.