McKenzie defiant over game preparation

Ewen McKenzie has defended his decision to take the Waratahs to South Africa only two days before their eventual 16-13 defeat to the Bulls.

Ewen McKenzie has defended his decision to take the Waratahs to South Africa only two days before their eventual 16-13 defeat to the Bulls on Saturday.

Both staff and side received stinging criticism following their narrow loss that leaves them lying just one point ahead of the ever-growing chasing play-off pack.

Yet a defiant McKenzie was adamant the Australians' preparation for the South African leg – which included a fourteen-hour flight that arrived late Thursday afternoon – played no factor in defeat.

“[I] talked to the players. There was no issues,” McKenzie said, speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald.

“At half-time, the guys were good. We made replacements later than we thought we might because the guys were coping. We had plenty of chances to win it.

“We will rue our decisions on the field. We are not going to rue anything in preparation. We had enough there to be able to win the game.”

In support of his argument, McKenzie said his 26-man playing squad recorded an unprecedented perfect record in their daily hydration readings.

“For the first time we had a 100 per cent success on hydration,” he added.

“You won't get any complaints from the players. They all felt good.

“We are not going to look at that for a reason. We are going to look at what we did on the field.”

Meanwhile, 'Tahs' captain and stalwart Phil Waugh was also left ruing the loss, believing the champion Bulls were there for the taking.

“It [the weather] obviously suited them,” said the flank.

“They kicked a lot better than we did. But we had our chances to score. We could have gone 14-0 up – it [would have beeen] a different game then.

“There are critical moments that change momentum. And we were on the receiving end of those.

“But against a team like the Bulls at Loftus with their kicking game, it hurts you.”