The HSBC NSW Waratahs are on the rise. I say this after watching and enjoying the final trial match against supposed Super Rugby favourites, the Canterbury Crusaders, at Allianz Stadium last Thursday night.
Sceptics will say that this headline is nothing new for February every year. Others will say that they plumbed such depths last year, the only way is up.
But I say three things appear to have changed for the Tahs in 2013; culture, playing style and depth.
Culture
There is clearly a different and better culture in this team and organisation. I regularly watch them interact at the stadium café. There are no cliques. There are large groups of players who clearly enjoy each other’s company. And last night as the reserves returned from a mid game stay-warm session behind the posts, they were all urging the on-field teammates on.
Down 13-0, the Tahs kept playing running, ball-in-hand rugby, refusing the penalty shots and easy points that this play generated. They came back to 14-13. There were a few almost symbolic moments that only the true, Tahs faithful could appreciate. It was as though a recalcitrant teenager, by their actions, was saying sorry for the past. My spine tingled.
Playing Style
The mentality is different.
There was fundamentally less kicking, but Berrick Barnes was not playing. The Tahs’ playing cadence is significantly faster. The forwards provided fast ball; Hart and Volavola, Southern Districts teammates, used this and challenged the defensive line. The evasiveness that characterised Ashley-Cooper’s early career is back.
Folau has the X factor. He was simply scintillating from fullback, shredding the much-vaunted Crusaders’ defensive line on numerous occasions. There were even decoy runners and moves deep into the phases.
Yes, there were quite a few handling errors at critical times. It is early in the season and Crusaders have shown us that you must keep winning but also build through the season.
The team, we are told is much fitter. Again, it may be coming off a low base, but it showed a little last night when they played the full 80 minutes.
Depth
The depth in critical positions is there. The Tahs have recruited and retained well and brought in the youngsters before they are needed. The fullback options include Folau, AAC, Foley, Volavola, Crawford and Barnes. Fly-halves include Foley, Volavola and Barnes. Halves include McKibbin, Hart and Matt Lucas.
It gets thinner with the opensides and hookers, Hooper, McCutcheon and youngster Dave Hickey and TPN, Ulugia and Luke Holmes respectively.
The overall depth is helped by players being able to play several positions.
The starting pack is essentially a Wallaby pack with Robinson, TPN, Kepu, Douglas, Timani, Dennis, Hooper and Palu. Wow! The reserve pack, including newly capped Wallaby Paddy Ryan, towelled the Crusaders in the second half.
Last night’s absentees were Horne, Barnes, Foley, Betham and McCutcheon. Southern Districts and Sydney Uni both had seven players in last night’s 29-man squad.
Turner and Mitchell did the least to impress. Volavola and Folau, the two least-experienced players in the squad, were the standout players.
The Crusaders are still the Crusaders. They have that extra gear, they get the crucial pilfer at key moments, still counter-attack and have great attacking ability through Fruean and Dagg, and are smoothly conducted by Daniel Carter.
I am not convinced, however, that they should be favourites for the 2013 crown. Sentiment seems to be playing a part even though they historically start roughly and build. They lost this trial by two tries to one — it was a Pyrrhic score board victory because the Tahs turned down at least 9 easy points.
The future is clear for the Tahs. Weekly parity as a minimum and frequent dominance upfront through the forwards and bench with an attacking mindset implemented and distributed by halves Foley and Volavola to the likes of Horne at 12, AAC at 13 and Folau at 15 with any one of Turner, Kingston, Mitchell, Betham, Hodge or Crawford finishing moves is a potentially winning outfit.
There will be injuries for every team and this will test the real mettle of Cheika’s 2013 tilt!
