Stephen Hoiles

Waratahs flank Stephen Hoiles has warned that the Highlanders pack could cause problems for the defending champions heading into the semifinal clash in Sydney on Saturday.

The Highlanders pack completely outmuscled the Chiefs in the Super Rugby preliminary play-off match last week – defeating the Chiefs 24 / 13.

“Watching their play-off match the other day, they were very impressive and they have been impressive all year,” Hoiles said in an interview on the Waratahs website.

“Probably because of how strong that New Zealand conference has been,” he added.

“They have snuck under the radar for most of the season, but the last few weeks it has been really obvious just how exciting they are.

“They play a really good style of footy to and that’s something that all the fans can appreciate and hopefully we’ll see one on Saturday.

“They don’t get the raps they deserve to be honest.

“They have had a similar side for the last couple of years and they have been building well.

“Their forward pack is a very hard working forward pack and they have some very dynamic players.

“They are a determined pack that don’t get the accolades they deserve and I think that’s probably the way they like it down the South of New Zealand.

“They’re not the big names of the other sides and they probably feel they are the side to get the least praise in New Zealand and I’m sure they feed off that.”

The Highlanders will travel to Sydney with aim of knocking over the defending champions – the latter bidding to make a consecutive Super Rugby Final for the first time.

Hoiles believes the Waratahs 2015 season has made the New South Wales squad stronger.

“Having 10 games straight was a challenge for us.

“This season has been different to last year because we have to fight for more wins.

“We haven’t had the dream run we had in 2014 where we put sides away by 20 to 30 points and we’ve had to fight for the games we’ve had.

“I think that’s helped us. We’re trying to do something that no Australian team has done before so we very much feel as though our backs are against the wall and that’s the mentality we’re taking into the match.”

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