Pummelling Palu and co.

Posted in Super 14 by Ryan Vrede www.keo.co.za

Nullifying the Waratahs’ loose trio will be vital if the Sharks hope to progress to the Super 14 final.

Eighthman Wycliff Palu, in particular, has sprung to prominence in the latter part of the Waratahs’ campaign. Last year the Australian press sounded a warning to the rest of the world about Palu’s ability. They spoke of his power with ball in hand and the pace to complement that power. They lauded his ability to link with the backline and marvelled at his handling skills. Let’s not forget his supposed brilliant anticipation and ability to read the game.

Palu failed to match his hype in 2007. However, those qualities are evident in 2008. He has been a key figure in the Waratahs’ resurgence after an ordinary start and he was outstanding in their 25-10 victory over the Sharks in Round 11 of the tournament - scoring two tries. The first came after he put a massive hit on AJ Venter which dislodged the ball. The Waratahs scooped up the pill and ran at an unset defence before Palu rounded off the move he begun by bulldozing over two defenders.

It is essential that the Sharks stand firm in the collisions with the 120kg bruiser. They failed to do so in the their previous fixture and paid a heavy price.

But while keeping Palu anonymous will be central to their plans, the Sharks can ill-afford to channel their energy towards him alone. In Rocky Elsom and Phil Waugh, Palu has a supporting cast of the highest calibre.

Elsom was injured for the previous encounter, but has since returned with devastating effect. He adds grunt to the back row but integrates that with intelligence, making him a dangerous opponent.

If Palu was the hitman against the Sharks, Waugh engineered the murder with his relentless and highly effective breakdown contest. He turned over seven times in the second half alone, and slowed sufficient ball to ensure that the Sharks were never in the contest. An encore performance from the master pilferer and the Sharks will see an already difficult task become a near impossible one.

They’ve committed to being patient in their phase play, and that approach paid dividends against the Chiefs on Saturday. Their ball carriers were seldom isolated and as a result the Chiefs’ attempts to steal possession proved futile. They’ll need to replicate their efficiency in that facet of play in Sydney.

However, rugby is a study of cause and effect relationships. The Waratahs pack have made dramatic improvement to their set phase and general play this season, to the point where they have troubled some of the tournament’s finest heavies. The result has been that Palu and co have had the platform from which to attack.

Coaches and forwards routinely tell you that rugby matches are won and lost up front. Backs will disagree, but in this particular semi-final, even they will concede. The match will be won by the team whose defenders are willing to put in the ground gaining tackles on 100kg-plus men, the team whose primary ball carriers bust the gain line regularly and the team who have the ascendency at the set phases.

The backs will take the stage in the final quarter. But the match situation at that point will depend almost entirely on the effectiveness of the beef eaters. In this regard, Palu and co need to be non-factors.