Waugh ready for Crusaders

Waugh: Ready for 'a big week'

Waratahs skipper Phil Waugh was over the moon with his team's impressive 28-13 Super 14 semi-final win over the Sharks on Saturday, but still feels there is plenty of room for improvement when they face the Crusaders next weekend in the Final.

Apart from scoring four tries, the Waratahs won the battle at the breakdown, stole five line-outs from the Sharks.

Led by powerhouse performances from Rocky Elsom and Phil Waugh and lock Dean Mumm, they physically destroyed the South African forwards.

Just like his entire team at half-time and full-time, Waugh received a standing ovation from the 37,378 strong crowd when replaced in the 62nd minute of his 100th match for the Waratahs.

The comprehensive victory completed an unbeaten home campaign for the Waratahs, leaving Waugh delighted.

"Defence has been a big part of our game this year and we stood up again," Waugh said after the Waratahs' seventh win from seven at the Sydney Football Stadium in 2008.

"Off to Christchurch next week and we'll freshen up and it's obviously a big week.

"Our execution could have been a lot better, but it's obviously a very pleasing result.

"The Crusaders have been the form team all year and they deserve to have a home final.

"It's a big week [ahead].

"We've got a lot of inexperienced guys here and they've done really well all year, so I guess it's a matter of freshening up and making sure we get ready to play."

Disappointed Sharks captain, Johan Muller, said his team had made too many mistakes.

"We were beaten by a better side tonight but we made a lot of errors and they scored off those," said Muller.

"All credit to the Waratahs I thought they were outstanding tonight, especially in defence. They really put us under pressure. Also, in the first half our lineouts didn't function the way we wanted them to.

"But credit to my guys, it was a tough season for us, we lost a couple of players, and its unfortunate that we lost in such a situation."