Waratahs still a show, says Dwyer
May 3, 2001

Waratahs coach Bob Dwyer remains optimistic his side can sneak into the Super 12 play-offs with victories in their final two games.

The Waratahs meet the Crusaders in Sydney on Saturday night and are also at home to arch-rival Queensland the following week.

The Waratahs sit on 20 points, but considering their form in Sydney this year, then Dwyer's optimism is not entirely unrealistic.

"I think someone will get in with 30 points ... mathematically we can do it," Dwyer said. "We haven't lost at home yet. In our four home games we've scored 20 tries. I wouldn't say we can't do it."

Despite only winning five of their previous six games, Dwyer was confident the Waratahs were not as bad as the record suggests.

"We were leading at half-time against Wellington, we had a horrific penalty count in the middle part of that game," Dwyer said. "It was something like 17-2 and that took care of 60 minutes of the game so it's not surprising they went ahead a bit.

"It was four tries to two and they scored one in injury time, so our form's not been that bad."

But Dwyer believes the Crusaders have done his side no favours by leaving All Blacks flyhalf Andrew Mehrtens out of the squad for a second week, with youngster Aaron Mauger to start at No.10.

"The other bloke's playing very well," Dwyer said. "I understand why they've selected him. They weren't getting what they wanted, so they had to try something else, he's a very good player."

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