A must-win derby against Queensland is the perfect way for the Waratahs to shut out the noise of the Israel Folau saga, Adam Ashley-Cooper says.
Ashley-Cooper, who will play his 150th Super Rugby match in Saturday’s match, said there was nothing more important to the side than ensuring they closed the gap on the Australian conference leaders.
“There’s no better time in the season to have your backs against the wall – five games until finals footy, make-or-break kind of stuff,” he said.
“It’s do-or-die and you’ve got to go out there and win if we want to keep our finals chances alive, we’ve got to get points this weekend and that’s exactly what we’re preparing to do.”
A decision on Folau’s rugby fate is expected to be handed down on Friday, more than a month after his initial Instagram post.
With each week that passes, Ashley-Cooper said pushing the debate to the side had become a little bit easier.
“It has because it’s dragged on for so long and it’s completely out of our hands, it’s just allowed us to focus on what we’re doing here,” he said.
“For me, my opinion is I really haven’t wanted to read into it too much or take too much of an opinion on it because for me it can become distracting.
“Where we are in the season, where we are collectively as a team, we can’t afford to be distracted.
“We’ve got to focus on getting better as individuals and better as a team because this team is desperate to play finals footy and how we do that is by individually looking after our own roles at training and preparing well to play well on weekends and that’s all we’re really concentrating on.”
While Karmichael Hunt said on Thursday that he had been in contact with Folau, Ashley-Cooper said there weren’t many Waratahs who had been in close touch with their teammate.
“No and I’m pretty sure on behalf of the team that not many people have apart from his brother. It’s all, no one really knows what’s going on,” he said.
“There’s no shortage of motivation for the Waratahs as they travel up to Queensland with their finals fate hanging in the balance.”
The Waratahs are one point behind the Reds and sitting fourth in the Australian conference with five weeks to go in the competition.
“Looking at that conference, it’s a really tight contest,” Ashley-Cooper said.
“Understanding that there’s five weeks to go, not much left in that conference. We’ve really got to take control of our own destiny and start with this game this weekend. A win is crucial for us.”
The Waratahs have won the past 10 matches against the Reds and Ashley-Cooper said there was an anticipation about heading to Suncorp Stadium for their second clash of 2019.
“There’s a different rivalry with every Australian team and it also depends on results – previous results and history,” he said.
“I guess for us, we had a really good win against the Queensland Reds earlier this year at the SCG so I’m guessing they’ll be looking to get one back on us.
“We’re going up there and playing in their backyard at Suncorp – it’s special territory up there, old Lang Park, origin week kind of stuff, the boys are really excited.”
The Waratahs take on the Reds on Saturday May 18, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO.a