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Waratahs focus away from Wallabies selection drama as their Super Rugby season hangs by a thread

Adam Ashley-Cooper. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
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Waratahs veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper says his team won’t get caught up in the ongoing availability of their Wallabies and are focusing solely on beating the Brumbies on Saturday night.

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The Waratahs go into the Super Rugby match against the Australian conference leaders with the knowledge that even if they win to keep alive their hopes of making the play-offs, they may be without a swag of stars for the last round clash with the Highlanders in Invercargill, which is also must-win.

NSW still have to rest Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, Michael Hooper, Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley as part of an agreement with Wallabies management in the World Cup year, but Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson says they will play this week at Bankwest Stadium.

Ashley-Cooper felt the drama surrounding sacked teammate Israel Folau this season had taught them to focus inwards.

“I think when it’s out of your hands and out of your control is not to have any feeling towards it and just deal with it,” the centre said on Monday.

“We’ve shown enough resolve this year with a lot of external stuff that’s been happening, so that’s just another area that we won’t allow to distract our game or our preparation.”

The Waratahs showed their resolve with a gutsy 20-15 win over the Melbourne Rebels last round, with Ashley-Cooper enjoying a blossoming centre partnership Lalakai Foketi.

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The 24-year-old got the start following a long-term knee injury to Karmichael Hunt and earned praise from Ashley-Cooper.

“It’s obviously disappointing to lose Karmichael but I think Lalakai’s done a really good job to come in and fill his boots,” Ashley-Cooper said.

“K (Hunt) was very solid for us in the midfield in defence and obviously with his ball carries, but Lalakai’s come in and brought a new aspect.

“He’s given us a bit of X-factor in that ball-playing option and changed up the dynamic of our attack in the midfield which has been great for us.”

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Ashley-Cooper, 35, said the match wouldn’t be his last Super Rugby match on home soil, hinting he intended to play on for another season.

AAP

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Phantom 35 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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