Waratahs looking to regain dominance – Super Rugby 2018 Preview
It’s been three seasons since the Waratahs took home their maiden title, and each one has been worse than the last. From an 11-win season in 2015 that saw the side finish 2nd in the round-robin, the Waratahs fell to their worst ever result in 2017 only managing four wins.
For Kiwi coach Daryl Gibson this season will be make-or-break. The deterioration of the side’s results under his watch hasn’t gone to plan for the Waratah’s succession planning. Gibson was the backs coach during the 2014 championship season.
“2018 is a new start for us, at a new home with a new attitude and approach. We are fully aware of the expectations there are of us as a team and me as a coach. Aside from the obvious goal of winning, we want to implement a style of play that we are known for,” Gibson told Green and Gold Rugby.
“At the same time, we want to be a fit and mobile team which is reflective of the players we have recruited.
The biggest off-season addition is the return of superstar Kurtley Beale, who is expected to return at inside centre and re-form his successful combination with Israel Folau. Beale’s biggest benefactor will arguably be flyhalf Bernard Foley, who plays best when Beale shoulders some of the load.
Incumbent halves Nick Phipps and Foley may come under pressure from young pairing Jake Gordon and Mack Mason. Gordon especially, gives the Waratahs a running game from 9 that Phipps cannot. Mason is an Australian under-20 flyhalf that could be the Waratahs future at 10.
One of the shortcomings of last season was only having one true centre in Rob Horne on the roster, with Folau offered as cover. The return of Beale, as well as the signing of Force star Curtis Rona and Bay of Plenty mid-fielder Lalakai Foketi has bolstered the midfield depth. One of the NRC’s best emerging players of a couple of seasons ago, centre Irae Simone, could also be ready for a breakthrough season.
There is no question of talent at the Waratahs, with three of best players in the World in Michael Hooper, Israel Folau and Kurtley Beale. The bigger question will be whether they can finally pull it together under Gibson’s structures and a young pack.
There were suggestions last year the pack was ‘unbalanced’, with too many ball-handlers in the back row and not enough big bodies to bring physicality. The addition of Rob Simmons from the Reds should add some size and lineout stability, as well as young Brumbies lock Tom Staniforth who makes the move north to chase a starting role.
Michael Hooper will lead a young backrow with emerging talent Jack Dempsey, Jed Holloway, Queensland product Maclean Jones, ex-Rebels open side Will Miller and highly touted youth prospect Brad Wilkin.
The front row has experience in Sekope Kepu, but is fairly green with young starters in Tolu Latu and Tom Robertson. A host of babies in relative terms for props join the squad in Harry Johnson-Holmes, Cody Walker and Shambeckler Vui.
“We have put a strong emphasis on strength and conditioning in our pre-season preparations. This is one area that let us down in previous years and if we want to play an expansive, positive game of rugby, our players need to be in the physical condition to do so for 80 minutes,” Gibson said.
All the talk from Gibson indicates that the Waratahs will play an expansive game, much like the success found during the 2014 season. The biggest test for the side will be depth. The pack is very young, especially in the tight five. If injuries play a part then the Waratahs set-piece will suffer.
They may have the best backline in Australia. The addition of Curtis Rona is a gem – he was a big part of the Force’s attack and had a major impact at Super Rugby level in his first year transitioning from the NRL. Adding a quality centre allows Folau to move back to fullback which has been his best position.
The question will be whether the forward pack can hold up to allow the backs to hit their straps. With so much on the line for Gibson and so much talent back, we back the Waratahs to finally click and pip the Brumbies as Australia’s top side.
2018 Predictions
Australian Conference Placing: 1st
Player of the Year: Michael Hooper
Rookie of the Year: Brad Wilkin
Breakout Player: Mack Mason
Best Signing: Curtis Rona
Franchise History
Best finish: Champions in 2014
Worst finish: Sixteenth in 2017
In: Kurtley Beale (Wasps), Lalakai Foketi (Bay of Plenty), Harry Johnson-Holmes (NSW Country Eagles), Will Miller (Rebels), Alex Newsome (Force), Nick Palmer (Hawke’s Bay), Curtis Rona (Western Force), Rob Simmons (Reds), Tom Staniforth (Brumbies), Lachlan Swinton (NSW Country Eagles), Cody Walker (Sydney Rays), Shambekler Vui (Force).
Out: Andrew Deegan (Connacht), Rob Horne (Northampton), David Horowitz (Rebels), Matt Lucas (Brumbies), Dean Mumm (Retired), Will Skelton (Saracens).
Squad: Kurtley Beale, Cam Clark, Jack Dempsey, Damien Fitzpatrick, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Jake Gordon, Ned Hanigan, Bryce Hegarty, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Maclean Jones, Andrew Kellaway, Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu, Mack Mason, Ryan McCauley, Kelly Meafua, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Alex Newsome, Nick Palmer, Nick Phipps, Hugh Roach, Tom Robertson, Paddy Ryan, Matt Sandell, Rob Simmons, Irae Simone, Tom Staniforth, Lachlan Swinton, Shambeckler Vui, Michael Wells, Brad Wilkin.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Havili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
61 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to comments