The Roar
The Roar

Rugby
Advertisement

Waratahs set for more risky business
Tom Wald
8th December, 2008
12
Join the conversation
1063 Reads
Advertisement
Write for The Roar

Anyone can contribute to The Roar and have their work featured alongside some of Australia’s most prominent sports journalists.

Tom Wald
Roar Guru
8th December, 2008
12
1063 Reads

Sam Harris (centre) of the NSW Waratahs is tackled by the ACT Brumbies George Smith (centre) and Mitchell Chapman (left) during their round 4 Super 14 match in Sydney. AAP Image/Paul Miller.

The NSW Waratahs will shed their conservative style of play for a more expansive game plan under new coach Chris Hickey in the 2009 Super 14 season.

The Waratahs have become renowned in recent times for their forward-dominated play that led them to two finals in four years under former coach Ewen McKenzie.

However Waratahs utility player Daniel Halangahu revealed plans on Monday to play what Hickey terms “positive risk” – allowing players to be more instinctive on the paddock.

“We will be looking to play a bit more and really take a few more risks in the game,” Halangahu said.

“Ewen was a pretty safe sort of coach and we were very forward dominated and I think in the coming seasons we will be looking to be fitter and looking to offload a lot more.

“We will be running really hard on the field and looking to have a crack.

“It is positive rugby and hopefully the fans can enjoy that.”

Advertisement

Halangahu, who is in a battle with Kurtley Beale for the No.10 jumper, said the new coaching regime brought some much-needed freshness following McKenzie’s five-year reign.

“Two totally different guys and different backgrounds and it is a breath of fresh air for us really having (had) Ewen around for so long,” he said.

“He was a good coach but there were also certain perspectives that he had built up over time and getting a fresh perspective on things is good for the boys.”

However Hickey said he would still be looking to draw on the Waratahs’ previous strengths despite the losses of enforcers Daniel Vickerman and Rocky Elsom from the pack.

“If you look at the ability and players in the team, we certainly have the cattle to look to play a more expansive game,” he said.

“But before you do that, you have to win the ball and 50 per cent of the time the opposition team have the ball so things like defence and set pieces and those type of things are still really important.

“The Waratahs showed last year they have a really solid game plan and we just want to try and change things around the edges a little bit and look for that extra five or ten per cent.”

Advertisement

Waratahs centre Tom Carter felt the changing game plan would be a natural evolution as the side’s backline matures.

“I think last season we had a lot of inexperienced or younger backs and I think with that the more confidence you get the more prepared you are to throw the ball around,” he said.

“So I think you will see guys willing to play what is in front of them as (Wallabies coach) Robbie Deans has practiced and purported for the Wallabies to do.

“So I think we can hopefully play a similar type of football.”

The Waratahs received a much-needed boost on Monday for their forward stocks with line-busting No.8 Wycliff Palu expected to be fit for their season-opener against the Hurricanes in Wellington on February 14.

The backrower was forced to return home early from the Wallabies’ northern hemisphere tour with a shoulder injury.

Waratahs medical staff expect Palu to be back in action by the middle of next month in some heartening news following serious injuries to props Matt Dunning and Sekope Kepu last week.

Advertisement
12
Join the conversation

Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast.  If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp.  Chances are you’re about to lose.  Set a deposit limit.

Related Posts

close