Gibson backing ‘Tahs stars to shine

Editor

Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson believes that the players selected from his team for the Wallabies squad to face England will shine when the two sides go to battle in a three-match Test series starting on June 11.

The Waratahs put in their best performance of the season on Friday when they beat the Chiefs 45-25 in Sydney. The players that were picked in Michael Cheika’s squad to take on England all enjoyed fine performances during the game, with centre Israel Folau and flanker Michael Hooper scoring two tries apiece.

Gibson told the Canberra Times after the game that he expects his players to take their Super Rugby form into the international season.

"For the last two or three weeks and probably the majority of the season, our best players have been our Wallabies," Gibson said. 

"Folau is in dominating form at the moment, so too Michael Hooper, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps.

“It's all good signs for Australia and particularly going into a series that will be fascinating just for the contest that looms."

Gibson added that he sees Folau as the perfect attacking weapon for the Wallabies.

"I'm not sure what kind of style Cheik is looking to play, but I'm sure it'll be a ball in hand one, so that's a nice alignment for the Wallabies that our best players are going into a national team in some really good form," he said.

"The way we used Israel's high ball strengths, to make sure he's back in catching position on defence and also in attack one pass off Bernard Foley, worked well.

“We've put him closer to our first receiver to get him the ball sooner. His involvements have certainly gone up and his overall statistics on Friday night were outstanding."