The NSW Waratahs suspect they'll confront a Crusaders outfit with "a chip on their shoulder" and eyeing revenge in Saturday night's Super Rugby final rematch at ANZ Stadium.
The Waratahs return to the scene of their greatest triumph needing to again topple the seven-time champions to retain control of their finals destiny.
With the Brumbies sitting idle on their bye weekend, a Waratahs win would guarantee the defending champions top spot in the Australian conference entering the final three rounds of the competition.
The Tahs travel to South Africa for testing encounters with the Lions and Cheetahs before hosting the Queensland Reds in a potentially decisive final-round showdown at Allianz Stadium.
The tough run home adds to the importance of Saturday's showdown between the seventh-placed Waratahs and a ninth-placed Crusaders side desperate to remain in touch with the top six.
"Playing the Crusaders is always a great challenge because of the class of their players," playmaker Bernard Foley said after contributing a record-equalling 23 points in Saturday night's 33-18 defeat of the Sharks.
"There's so many All Blacks in that side, so whenever you get to play them it's a great test for us."
Foley's last-minute long-range penalty goal clinched ah historic 33-32 win for the Waratahs in last year's tournament decider.
The five-eighth admits he'll be "a bit sentimental" returning to ANZ, but also knows snatching victory from the Crusaders will also have the proud Kiwis smarting.
"For sure they've got a bit of a chip on their shoulder," Foley said.
"It's one that got away. That's the way they'll be thinking.
"We've got to go there with the same attitude. We've got to match that because they can't have the mortgage on the pride or the resentment to come back and hurt us.
"We've got to match them there and outplay them that way."
Foley's seven from seven against the Sharks was a timely confidence booster after his goalkicking strike rate had dipped to 50 per cent over the five previous matches.
"The last couple of weeks I haven't kicked as well as I'd have liked or got the result," he said.
"So it's pleasing to know that if I stick at it, stick to my processes, that they can still fly straight."
The Waratahs overcame the Sharks without Jacques Potgieter, but coach Michael Cheika is hopeful of having the storming forward back from a sternum injury and available for selection.
Share
