The Waratahs drought breaking victory over the Crusaders shows things are heading in the right direction for the NSW based franchise.
Young Waratahs flyhalf Tane Edmed played a major role in the victory and was overrun with emotion by the conclusion of the match, showing just how much the victory meant to the local junior.
“I’ve grown up here my whole life in this area, I played all my junior rugby just down the road. It was just a really good feeling driving up here,” he said.
“It has been a tough road for these boys and to get a win and then for me to get a win like that, against probably the best team in the world, in front of my friends and family on a field that I have grown up playing on.
“That was just amazing and I was a bit lost for words.”
There was some tense closing minutes towards the end of the match with the Crusaders still very much in the hunt late in the game.
When asked about his team closing out the match Edmed said “We probably did not do the best job to be honest, I was not happy with a few kicks that I did towards that back end to give them (the Crusaders) the ball back, because they’re lethal.”
“We could probably clean up a few things around that, having a more controlled kick, even kicking those balls into the stands, making sure they go out because even if it is a good kick, they can just do a quick line out and they are back in the attack.”
“We probably can clean up a few things in that back 20 minutes with our kicking game.”
In respect of his own game, Edmed thinks if he is taking the line on he will give himself the best chance to play well.
“I feel like I play my best footy if I have a run first mentality. I just want to get myself in the game early,” he said.
Before heaping some praise on the his openside flanker, Charlie Gamble, who has been in fantastic form for the Waratahs of late “Charlie Gamble being on the ball was amazing”
In the end, Edmed put the victory down to the Waratahs resolute defence and the team’s mentality. “I think it was more our defensive effort that kept us in it and not so much the game management.”
“It is a good change room to be in at the moment, last year it was not overly fun. But we just stuck by each other. We stayed extremely tight and now its just so nice to see some good results and the boys are really enjoying it”
Edmed was also asked about the amount of Waratahs supporters in the Leichhardt Oval crowd “yeah, it was amazing I have never played in front of that many people before. It was new for me.”
“I’m so appreciative of those fans there, it’s just amazing. Especially after the year we have had last year, for them to be rolling in, in those numbers, I am so glad we could put on a good performance for them.”
The Waratahs did have a strong turnout of supporters on Saturday. Which is a positive sign for Super Rugby Pacific after the disastrous Super Rugby super round in Melbourne last weekend failed to attract large crowds to the inaugural event.
The Waratahs will be looking to follow up this performance next weekend against Moana Pasifika. Meanwhile, the Crusaders will be looking to bounce back against the Western Force over in Perth.
