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Waratahs unveil new captain for pre-season clash against Highlanders
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Karmichael Hunt is happy to take on more responsibility as he prepares to lead the NSW Waratahs after his first “decent” Super Rugby pre-season in several years.
With several senior backs having left NSW, including Wallabies Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Curtis Rona, Hunt will inevitably assume more of a leadership role this season.
“In terms of my age and experience and being a bit older than the other guys, it’s sort of been a natural progression,” said Hunt who will captain NSW against the Highlanders tonight at Leichhardt Oval.
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Hunt appreciated the faith being shown in him after acknowledging some self-inflicted off-field blows, which included receiving fines and suspensions after pleading guilty to drug possession charges in 2015 and 2018.
“I’ve done a lot of hard yards. I’ve had a few downfalls over the years of my own accord which has been well documented,” he said.
“But I’ve got off the deck and just try and continue to get better as a footy player and as a person.”
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Damian McKenzie in a @ChiefsRugby pre-season match sounds like a recipe for a great highlights reel.https://t.co/9nttt36Rx6 #SuperRugby
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 16, 2020
The six-test Wallabies’ back suffered a medial ligament knee injury last May which cut short his impressive first Super Rugby campaign with NSW and effectively culled any World Cup aspirations.
He played some Sydney club rugby but was rested from the NRC. The extra rehab has put him in fine fettle for the coming season.
“It was like pre-season on top of a pre-season. It was worthwhile – I feel great,” Hunt said.
“There’s no issue with the knee. Conditioning-wise, I’m back to full fitness.
“It’s probably the first decent pre-season I’ve had in a few years, having missed out in Queensland (before the 2018 season).
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“Rolling into the Tahs after Christmas (2018), a couple of weeks before the (2019) season started, I didn’t have the greatest base, obviously.”
Despite the exodus of experienced players, which also included Wallabies front- rowers Tolu Latu and Sekope Kepu, Hunt is optimistic about the Tahs’ prospects under new coach Rob Penney.
“We’ve lost a lot of experience but it’s an exciting horizon, I think for us,” Hunt said.
“With Rob bringing in a new game plan for us to utilise and put a bit more trust back into the boys to play what they see.”
Although capable of playing multiple positions including fullback, Hunt is set to play primarily at inside centre, where he had spent most of last season.
“All my footy has been training at 12. There’s been no discussions otherwise,” Hunt said.
Hunt, halfback Jake Gordon and prop Tom Robertson are the only Wallabies picked to face the Highlanders, while former Parramatta NRL forward Tepei Moeroa’s debut will be delayed as he is sick.
AAP
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Comments on RugbyPass
I wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
1 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
4 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
23 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
23 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
16 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
23 Go to comments