Worst game ever but four points: Barnes rates his woeful weekend
RUPERT GUINNESS
March 22, 2010
Waratahs sneak past the Force with a 14-10 victory in Perth on Saturday night. Click for more photos
NO ONE needed to ask the question. ''That was probably the worst game I have ever f---ing played,'' offered Waratahs centre Berrick Barnes after his side's unimpressive 14-10 defeat of the Western Force in Perth.
The Waratahs' fourth win from six games elevated them from seventh to fourth on the Super 14 ladder but Barnes was at a loss to explain his sub-par performance, which included two dropped passes, a try-scoring intercept by Force winger Scott Staniforth off one of his passes and three misses from four kicks at goal.
''I don't know … you have those nights [where] nothing seems to go right. I can't explain it,'' Barnes said. ''It was just one of those nights [where] you prepare reasonably well. Luckily, as a team - not being selfish or anything - we got over the line, which is the most important thing: to get four points.''
Barnes, who was replaced in the 73rd minute by Kurtley Beale, said a groin niggle and bruising in the sternum from a hit in training had limited his kicking practice but he would not use that as an excuse. Instead, he said, he must sharpen mentally this week before playing the Blues.
The Waratahs play the Aucklanders at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night and are acutely aware how dangerous their opponents' attack can be after the Blues came out in the second half against the Brumbies in Auckland to score four of their five tries in 20 minutes to win 39-34.
''I pride myself on trying to be consistent,'' Barnes said. ''[Saturday] night was way out of the ordinary for me. I have a lot to do to rectify that. It's about preparing a lot harder and staying focused. Early in the week I had a few issues - things like getting your body right. I have to be mentally stronger.''
However, Barnes was still able to make one light-hearted reflection yesterday. It was on Staniforth's intercept of his pass in the 25th minute. It led to the Force's only try and saw the still winless hosts take a 10-8 lead after James O'Connor added the conversion.
Barnes recalled a trial game at the ME Bank Stadium last year between the Force and Reds - whom he played for at the time - and how one of his passes was intercepted by his current NSW teammate, Drew Mitchell, who was then contracted to the Perth side.
''I've thrown two intercepts on that ground now. I haven't a good track record. I've given one to Drew and one to 'Spanner','' he laughed.
But Barnes is also keeping his misfortune in perspective. Told it was good he could still laugh the day after playing such a poor game, he shrugged, smiled and said: ''At the moment I haven't got cancer. I haven't got anything real bad. At the end of the day, the sun is still going to come up and I'm still going.
''Look, when you look back on your career, you are going to have a few days like that. I just have to prepare bloody hard this week to try and rectify it.''
He also played down the attempt by Waratahs coach Chris Hickey to deflect criticism from Barnes by praising his work in defence on Saturday. ''It's easy to overlook his contribution in defence, he was a really key factor in defence, particularly marking up James O'Connor,'' Hickey said.
Told of Hickey's comment, Barnes said: ''I don't know. That's Chris [looking] for a positive, I suppose. I'll have to thank him. There weren't too many …''
But he agreed NSW's overall defence was good, saying: ''We've worked hard on our defence. Their only try was from an intercept. That's a positive.''
He also knows their defence must lift against a side like the Blues.
''They are probably the most dangerous back line at the moment,'' he said. ''Guys like Rene Ranger, [Isaia] Toeava, Stephen Brett, [Josevata] Rokocoko. They have all the names there. We are going to have our work cut out.''
