Centre Ryan Cross of the New South Wales Waratahs has positioned himself against his former Western Force teammates, asserting they have yet to master winning tight matches.
Cross is set to face off against the Super Rugby franchise where he spent the last four seasons as the two squads meet in Perth on Saturday evening.
The Force enters the encounter reeling from a heartbreaking 26-25 defeat to the newcomers, Melbourne Rebels, a result that resonates with Cross, reminding him of his experiences in Western Australia.
“When I was there, we faced the same issues… we just couldn’t close out those games,” remarked Cross, who was named the Force’s player of the year in 2008.
“When the matches become close, I sense they start feeling nervous and uncertain about their next moves.
“They’ve fallen into that pattern of being anxious and lacking the know-how to finish off games.
“Hopefully, we can exploit that this week.”
The Force’s season opened with a narrow loss to Queensland Reds 21-20, followed by a dramatic 22-all draw against the Blues in round four.
Cross, a former rugby league star, noted the contrasting atmosphere at the Waratahs, who recently celebrated a determined 23-16 home win against the Chiefs, preceded by a tightly contested 29-22 away victory over the Brumbies.
“I think it’s a completely different environment here; there’s more of a winning mentality,” he stated.
“The Waratahs have learned how to close out matches, plus they have substantial experience in crucial positions, which I believe is the key difference.”
Cross, stepping in for the injured Rob Horne after starting the season on the bench, expressed his satisfaction with receiving more playing time.
“Coming off the bench was unfamiliar territory for me… I’m just aiming to improve weekly; hopefully, my performance continues to get better,” Cross shared.
“I’m thrilled to be starting… the past few weeks have been very enjoyable for me.”
He acknowledged that, despite their recent victories, the Waratahs had not been at their best, yet he is optimistic about their progress.
“We’re certainly not playing our top game, but as long as we keep winning and building momentum toward the end of the season, that’s what matters,” he explained.
Saturday evening will be a milestone for Cross in his football career.
“It’s the first time I’ll be playing against a team I used to be part of; I never had that experience in league, and I’ve never played against the Force, so I’m looking forward to it,” Cross added.
by Buford Balony