By MARK CASHMAN

Randwick coach Ben McCormack has urged his side to “walk on the wild side” when they take on Sydney Uni in their Round Nine Shute Shield clash at Coogee Oval on Saturday.

McCormack stressed that the Wicks needed to get in and take a few risks with ball in hand if they were to get any sort of result against the clinical and disciplined Students.

“We can’t afford to play like Uni because the simple facts of the matter are that they are just so much better at it than us,” McCormack told Rugby News.

“So we’ll have to take a little bit of risk in the way that we play and really attack them from the start.

“It’s a similar approach to what we adopted last year, we’ve just got to get stuck in and push things, be brave.

“There is a down side to this sort of approach though because if you get it wrong they can really make you pay.

“Uni probably vary between a side that you would eight or nine out of 10 every week while just about weary other team in the competition varies between a six and a nine.

“So you’ve really got to be on your game.”

Nothing ventured, nothing gained as they say.

That result that McCormack was referring to was a 42-24 win by Randwick over the Students and they did take numerous risks and forced Uni constantly out of their comfort zone and it did work.

In many respects it was really a bit of a touch up but the Sydney Uni that Rob Taylor and his team have pulled together are almost machine like in their precision.

Their kicking game and attention to detail make any sort of indiscretion in your own half just about fatal.

Other teams may kick the ball to grab the upper hand in the field position stakes but not with the unnerving accuracy of Uni.

“They are accurate and strategic about the way that they do it,” McCormack added.

“They then force you to make your way out of your own 22m and the mistakes come from there. It’s not hard to figure out what they are going to try and do.

“But they are just so good at it, it’s a very simple game plan and they are just so good at it.”

The Wicks are one from three at Coogee Oval and sit in seventh place on the ladder going into Round Nine.

A late in for them is Waratahs winger James Ramm who is making his way back from a Shoulder issue and he will share a game with Jackson Mohi.

Uni sit in second spot one point adrift of Northern Suburbs but they have taken their bye and have managed to grab a bonus points in each of their seven wins this year.

Coach Rob Taylor hasn’t fiddle too much with his side this year and to be honest why would he.

There will be a few Super Rugby players filtering back in coming weeks but this group has really delivered for him.

One of his reliables Henry Clunies-Ross has switched to the wing this week after a stint at fullback and much of the wearily part of the season at outside centre.

How Ofa Manuofetoa goes at inside centre will be interesting to watch while in the backrow the combination of Hugh Bokenham, Jack McCalman and Nick Champion De Crespigny will be keen to get make sure none of the Randwick endeavour bears fruit.

It will be an intriguing clash of styles!

IMAGE: BRETT DOOLEY