Andrew Slack: Time for Waratahs to take it to the next level

The good news from Australian rugby's point of view is we're not going to see 96-19 on the scoreboard at full-time in tonight's Crusaders-Waratahs match.

The darkest day in New South Wales' rugby history will never be forgotten whenever teams from Sydney make the trek to Christchurch, and if there is some consolation for their supporters, it's the progress made by their team since that Super 12 result of 2002.

They've taken a giant leap from abysmal to very good, which is a longer stride than the Crusaders, who have for the past four years hovered irritatingly (for outsiders) around the sublime, excellent, phenomenal, whatever - find a superlative and toss it into the mix.

So while the Crusaders have spent most of their time at the summit, at least the Waratahs are now striding meaningfully away from base camp with hard-won confidence they'll handle the thin air up top.

From a Super 14 perspective, it's hardly been a surprise that NSW coach Ewen McKenzie has been publicly adopting a low-key approach to the match.

"Still plenty of time left in the competition, this result will have no bearing on what happens later on in the tournament, blah, blah, blah."

All the sort of stuff that we expect to hear from coaches before games that have aroused the public interest, and it is, in fairness, an understandable tack for them to take.

But putting the Super 14 to one side and focusing on the really big box of chocolates (the Bledisloe Cup), what can be gleaned from the clash of the respective heavyweights from either side of the Tasman?

Not much, if you take new Wallaby coach John "Knuckles" Connolly at his word.

Knuckles, who has a reputation for either making outlandish statements or not saying much at all, was leaning towards the latter on the eve of the game.

"As far as its impact at the Wallaby level for later in the year, I'd call this match not so much relevant as interesting," he said.

Exactly what that meant I wasn't sure, and while Knuckles' and my interpretations of some words in the English language have differed over the years, further discussion led me to believe that while this game will be of interest to all, it will indeed be of some relevance for the Wallaby coach and his selectors.

While one-third of the Wallaby selection panel, Scott Johnson, has been busy coaching Wales and hasn't started with the ARU yet, the other selectors, Connolly and former dual international Michael O'Connor, have been discussing each round of the Super 14 and pencilling in potential Australian squads. Wallaby defence coach John Muggleton has been in on the talks. The head coach is happy to admit all rounds aren't equal.

"We're going to have far more interest in how some of the prospective Wallabies perform in [tonight's] match than if they were up against weaker opposition," he said.

"I've been impressed with Al Baxter so far but Greg Somerville will be a step up. It will tell you something.

"The exam is a lot more thorough and I'm sure Graham Henry would agree, from the All Black perspective, that he wouldn't want one of the guys in his plans to perform badly in this type of match.

"If a potential Wallaby didn't come up to scratch in this game, it would certainly interfere with his selection chances."

While the Waratahs would prefer the contest to be taking place in Sydney, Connolly is delighted it's at Jade Stadium.

"They're walking into the lions' den there and you can add extra points to a performance in a place like that.

"I've been impressed with the way the Waratahs' pack has gone. Led by Daniel Vickerman and Adam Freier, they've had a good edge to them this season and I'll have as big a smile as anyone if they can repeat it in such an unfriendly environment."

As an occasional first-grade hooker in the late 70s and early 80s, Connolly was not the greatest player running around. But there were few tougher and there was no one who had quite the same absence of fear.

Connolly was scared of nothing and he expects likewise of his players.

"It is the Crusaders' time," he said.

"It's been their time for about four of five years now and they are clearly the benchmark. But the Waratahs are on the cusp of their time. They don't fear the Crusaders. I like that."

Practised at the art of translating Connolly-speak for the past 15 years I think what the Wallaby coach really thinks about tonight's match is this: The final scoreboard will be not so much relevant as interesting. Individual performances, though, will be highly relevant.

* Andrew Slack is a former Wallaby captain and played in the John Connolly-coached Queensland sides.