Waratahs prop Tom Robertson is well aware that it will take some preparation to adjust to Johannesburg’s altitude, but says his team has the necessary experience to cope during Saturday’s Super Rugby semi-final against the Lions.
The Waratahs edged the Highlanders 30-23 in Sydney to book their place in the last four, but history suggests they are in for another tough battle this weekend, as they have never won a Super Rugby play-off match in South Africa.
Ellis Park will host the clash and apart from playing in front of South African fans, the ‘Tahs will have to cope with playing over 1700 metres above sea level.
“It is just getting used to it throughout the week in training and stuff like that. A lot of us, all of us in the match day 23, have played a game over here and we know what it feels like. We’ve played a few Tests in Pretoria and Joburg and we know what it feels like so we’ll be getting used to it at training this week,” said the Wallaby prop, according to IOL.
Robertson has called on his fellow forwards to help supply clean ball to the Waratahs’ star-studded backline, which includes the likes of Kurtley Beale, Bernard Foley and Israel Folau.
“We have one of the best backlines in the competition and it is up to us forwards if we can get them good, clean ball so they can do the work. We are really confident in those guys,” he said.
“It is our task as a forward pack in the scrums and lineouts to deliver them clean ball and you’ve seen last week what Kurtley (Beale), Israel (Folau) and Bernard (Foley) can do, they are freaks on their own. It will be up to us to get them the ball.”