Fired up Cannon says Crusaders romp is history

4.00pm

SYDNEY - New South Wales hooker Brendan Cannon claims a pre-season runaround in Newcastle has conquered the rugby demons of Christchurch and the Waratahs' 14-try hammering by the Crusaders in last year's Super 12.

Cannon denies the record 19-96 loss to the Super 12 champions has left any lasting psychological damage.

A trial match at Newcastle in February saw the Waratahs -- fielding a different team for each quarter -- fight back from a 26-point deficit before succumbing 40-41 to a late penalty by Andrew Mehrtens.

"Any ghosts were dealt with in that game. What happened last year will be with us forever but it's not like a dark cloud hanging over our heads," Cannon said as the Waratahs prepared to try to keep their semifinal hopes alive here at Aussie Stadium against the Crusaders on Saturday night.

"You have a newfound respect for a side when they beat you like that but when we played them in Newcastle we came back well and that has given us self-belief."

While both teams have downplayed the significance of last year's match, the humiliation still lingers for the Waratahs' survivors.

Cannon was happy to watch the "freak show" from the sidelines at Jade Stadium in Christchurch.

"I have to say it was a fascinating game to watch," Cannon recalled.

"It was freakish where everything they did came off. Balls thrown over the head landed in someone's hands. It was almost unstoppable.

"I came on reluctantly at 73-5. I remember being down in front of the Canterbury bench and Mark Hammett asked me: 'What are you going to do?' I told him I was worth 70 points but as it turned out I wasn't."

The Waratahs last year coined Aussie Stadium "Our House" and their imposing home record was the basis of a maiden semifinals appearance.

However, this year they have practically laid out the welcome mat for visitors, losing three of four home games, including a demoralising defeat to Queensland last Saturday which saw them drop outside the top four.

There has been plenty of soulsearching among the team this week, with Cannon, one of the Waratahs' best performers, admitting the side had to quickly find consistency or face an early exit from the competition.

"We're trying to reduce our mistakes each week but we're making too many errors at critical periods. We're turning over ball to opposition teams that they don't deserve."

After the Crusaders, the Waratahs play the Hurricanes, Brumbies and Highlanders on the road before wrapping up their regular season by hosting the Chiefs.

"We still believe we're a good chance of getting to the semis but we do have to get our backyard right," Cannon said.

Waratahs skipper Matthew Burke was ruled out of the match yesterday after failing to recover from a knee injury suffered against the Bulls in round four.

Veteran first five-eighth Duncan McRae paid for a poor individual performance against the Reds last weekend and drops to the bench to be replaced by rookie pivot Shaun Berne.

Fullback Mat Rogers is also in doubt after bruising his foot against Queensland but has been named in their side.

Uncapped duo Lei Tomiki and Matt Hodgson have been bracketed on the bench.

- NZPA