http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18203451-5002381,00.htmlNEW South Wales Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie last night refused to send for Mat Rogers to cure his five-eighth woes as his side heads for the South African high veldt with an unbeaten start in Super 14.
McKenzie had to replace error-riddled Tim Donnelly as pivot against the Stormers yesterday, just 25 minutes into a Cape Town clash the Waratahs won 32-26.
Rookie Daniel Halangahu took over in the playmaking role as the Tahs recovered from a 20-7 deficit for a second win on the road.
But as the Waratahs prepare for the rugged Bulls, who have the tournament's most intimidating pack, at altitude in Pretoria, where a kicking game will be vital, McKenzie is in three minds over who to play at No.10 this weekend.
While McKenzie has not ruled out another chance for Donnelly, it's unlikely he'll continue with a compact five-eighth whose kicking game fell to pieces and whose glut of blunders indirectly led to the Stormers' first 20 points.
"It wasn't one of his finest hours," McKenzie said. "At the time we made the change the game seemed to be slipping away. It's one of those decisions you have to make."
Halangahu impressed but has yet to start at this level, while Sam Norton-Knight offers perhaps the most appealing alternative after his outstanding man-of-the-match performance at full back.
Rogers will not be considered as he works his way back into training in Sydney after the death of his father Steve.
"He's not ready yet," McKenzie said.
"Mat's got a bit of an issue with a neck problem too, so he's had no contact training at this stage."
Norton-Knight impressed with a polished long kicking game against the Stormers and scored one of the two tries in the last 10 minutes - Halangahu grabbed the other - that hauled the Waratahs into the lead for the first time.
It was a timely display from Norton-Knight, who was initially named on the bench but received a call-up to the starting side when Australia winger Wendell Sailor failed a fitness test the day before the match.
Peter Hewat was shifted from full back to the wing, creating the vacancy for Norton-Knight. But if Sailor recovers for the Bulls clash, goalkicker Hewat could return to No.15 and Norton-Knight could be accommodated in the troublesome No.10 slot.
One area where the Waratahs are not struggling is in the back row.
Blindside flanker Rocky Elsom was superb against the Stormers, relishing several one-on-one clashes with South Africa back row star Schalk Burger.
Second-row forward Dan Vickerman was equally impressive as the Waratahs lineout, with several crucial steals, kept them in touch during a first half that in every other area went pear-shaped for the tourists.
"I can't say enough good things about the work Dan has done in the lineouts for us," McKenzie said.
"(After losing Justin Harrison) he's been learning more about the role, and he's been coaching and mentoring others, too.
"We saw the fruits of that when we took four or five of their lineouts to keep even more heat off in the first 40 minutes.
"The lineout kept us in the game and Sam Norton-Knight kept us at the right end of the field to help defuse the pressure."
The Waratahs conceded two tries in the first 19 minutes, scored one through skipper Chris Whitaker after flanker Phil Waugh charged down a clearing kick, and went to the break behind 20-10.
It took a 30-metre solo effort from centre Morgan Turinui to bring the Tahs back into striking range, with his try and Hewat's conversion leaving the Waratahs trailing 23-20. Replacement halfback Brett Sheehan produced a cross-field run for Halangahu to stroll over and a stolen lineout led to the sealer from Norton-Knight in the 74th minute.
