The time for action is now, Jed Holloway says as the Waratahs look to turn their season around.
With a 1-3 record to start the year, Waratahs No.8 Holloway said talk was meaningless and time was of the essence.
Players and coaches alike have praised the team’s training efforts in recent weeks but skipper Michael Hooper lamented a disconnect between those super midweek efforts and the sloppy weekend performances.
Holloway echoed his captain’s thoughts speaking after the 28-12 loss to the Brumbies.
“That’s the most frustrating part, we’ve been training really well but then not executing under lights and playing that 80 minutes,” he said.
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“We’ve just got to keep on competing, stay tight as a group and keep showing up on Monday eager to fight.
“What we say doesn’t mean too much at this point.
“We’re one-and-three so we got to come out fighting, we just got to shut our mouths and get working.”
Saturday was Holloway’s first game in nine months, after a shoulder injury, but Waratahs fans got only a 44-minute glimpse of their first-choice back row, before a leg injury ended Jack Dempsey’s night.
“It’s hugely disappointing for Jack and I’m pretty gutted because I was really looking forward to creating that combination we had last year and putting some games together with him.
“He’s a strong guy and I’m sure he’ll come back bigger and better.”
Ned Hanigan replaced Dempsey at blindside flanker on Saturday night and the lock would be a chance to do that more often as the season unfolds.
A six-day turnaround for the Waratahs, with a Friday night clash with the Rebels, is a welcome lead-in for Holloway, desperate to make amends.
“The boys are hugely disappointed in that game so I can’t wait to get to training on Monday and hopefully rip in and make amends.”
The Waratahs take on the Rebels on Friday night in Melbourne, kicking off at 7:45pm AEDT, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via radio on RUGBY.com.au.