Phil Waugh retires (source AFP)
Phil Waugh’s rugby, on the field, will be finished at the end of this 2011 season. In making this announcement this afternoon the most capped player in NSW provincial history is doing the right thing for himself, the Waratahs and for his legacy.
There was the danger that he might continue his career for another year or even two, a bit like George Gregan, who stayed on for several years too long.
The golden goodwill and esteem a once-great player like Gregan, and in this case, Waugh builds up over a stellar career can be diminished if that player is seen to put his understandable self-interest (generally a high remuneration) ahead of the interests of the franchise he has honoured.
Waugh has avoided this Gregan-like ending to his career. The dramatic media conference announcing his impending retirement means that he goes out on a rugby high.
He will be remembered for being a combative, pesky loose forward who never shirked the tough stuff, who was a first-class scrounger for the ball in the deeps of the rucks. A fearless tackler and a combative and often inspirational leader in the ‘follow me’ mode.
He was a great player (in his prime) at the Super Rugby level, and a very good player at the Test level.
He is still ambitious about regaining his Wallaby colours, as the back-up to David Pocock. Now is not the time to fully discuss this matter.
Suffice to say that this is unlikely but is still possible if Robbie Deans wants an experienced campaigner for his Rugby World Cup campaign.
It is with the Waratahs, though, that Waugh has and still can make his most important contribution.
His comeback match against the Brumbies last weekend revealed that a back three in the pack of Dave Dennis, Dean Mumm and Waugh is a well-balanced force that can ask a lot of questions of the Blues in Friday night’s knock-out qualifying final at Eden Park.
Waugh’s snarling will-to-win can also be an asset in this qualifying final. I am reluctant, though, to push this line too far.
For, to be honest, this antagonistic approach to captaincy, with its emphasis on a negative, kicking for position style, has alienated a number of the more talented players.
Would Kurtley Beale have defected to the Melbourne Rebels if Waugh had encouraged the attacking potential of his players?
Last season it was lack of 4-try bonus points that kept the Waratahs out of the finals. This year the Waratahs have just made the finals and although as Waugh points out they scored the most tries of any team in the tournament (48) they suffered the indignity of being booed by their home crowd, and plunging crowd numbers as fans voted with their feet against the Hickey/Waugh doctrine that might is right.
The irony here is that Waugh has developed a cult following with Waratahs supporters. But this is hopefully less because of his playing philosophy than for his fearless play. And here we have the paradox about Waugh’s career which the rugby historians, no doubt, will pontificate on and sort out for us in the coming years.
He is undoubtedly the most popular Waratahs player in the last two decades. This is a significant achievement. But as far as the ‘Running Rugby’ motto the Waratahs adopted in 1991 when NSW was re-branded, his legacy has been more negative than positive.
Eric
Guest
Good timing Phil. Good player in your time, but lately you have been an inhibiting captain and keeping a better player (Allcock) out. Good luck post rugby.
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Guest
My point was that all countries have thuggish players. To comment on an article about a player retiring, and focusing on one-off incidents, is petty and out of place. His disciplinary record I think shows that he was not a spiteful or dirty player in general (Vs a Bakkies or Loe). I am suprised a freeborn kiwi would fall for such obvious rubbish.
Fog
Guest
Oh, so the fact that Richard Loe was an eye and bone specialist makes it right, eh? As for the Mealamu/Umaga UK media propaganda, I am surprised a freeborn Australian would fall for such obvious rubbish.
Amelia
Guest
I've never understood why people say Phil's ugly... Not in his younger days!. Look at pictures 12 and 13!: http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/rugby-union/union-news/phil-waugh-20110621-1gdc3.html
cookie
Guest
Thanks Phil youv'e played some great rugby over the years and been instrumental in building a winning culture at the tahs'. Frankly he has had more than his fair share of detractors particularly those who preferred smith, but i'd put him in my starting 15 over smith anyday. Perhaps the fact that he is not chasing the $ overseas which i imagine he could command a decent salary says more about the man. He plays rugby because he loves the game, not because he gets paid... something that can't be said about many players these days.
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Guest
just like Loe and Umaga/Mealamu eh?
Sherls
Guest
My fondest memory of Waugh was his Captaining Australia A vs the British Lions in Gosford and becoming the first team to defeat the Lions on that tour. What a match that was! Phil led by example on that occasion like no one I have ever seen before. Well done on a great career!
snowman
Guest
Mumm is not up to the captaincy, shouldn't be in the Wallabies either. Make Tatafu captain
p.Tah
Guest
Ha!! Love it!
ben
Guest
Phil Waugh was born to play rugby. During his prime he played so close to the breakdown that I wondered if his umbilical cord had been attached to the rugby ball.
Lorry
Guest
very true shore thing... It cant simply be Phil Waugh's doing that the Tahs play conservative rugby sometimes... And I agree with Twickenham that before Waugh and McKenzie era the Tahs were a rabble... remember Matt Dowling steaming onto the ball at a full pelt...and then knocking it on?! haha. They needed Phil's disclipline and lead-by-example style For a better article, more appreciative of Waugh's achievements read this: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/the-eyes-have-it-phil-waughs-story-coming-to-an-end/story-e6frg7o6-1226079518418
El Gamba
Guest
Using the booing crowd as the example of Waratahs game plan isn't a fair comparison either. This said far more about the supporters than about the Tah's. Every team has a bad game from time to time, a real supporter supports through thick and thin (my credentials for this statement - I'm a Force supporter!)
Twickenham
Roar Rookie
I'll argue with Spiro untill the cows come home about Phil Waugh's leadership. In the professional era the Waratahs were an underachieving rabble until Phil Waugh and Ewen McKenzie turned them in to a team that knew how to win. Other Australian Provinces would kill for a leader that players rally to like the Tahs do with Phil Waugh. I've heard Kurtley Beale talk about his repect for Phil Waugh and Spiro should be ashamed of himself for insuating KB is leaving becasue Phil did not encourage him. Good luck for this week-end Phil and hoepfully the next two games after that. You will be missed by real Tahs supporters. As a side note, when will the Roar editors actually ask Sprio to chek his facts before publishing. Last season, the Tahs made the finals whle socring the most tries in a season in Waratahs history.
Fog
Guest
Yeah, I remember that too. Couldn't beat him so he tried to injure him. Lote Tuquiri tried the same stunt with a spear tackle
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Phil Waugh did a lot of hard work for the Waratahs and the Wallabies when we were short (pun intended) of good breakaways. Because of him there are many shorter opensides who figure they can make it. Despite him not having either the stature or the natural skills he excelled by sheer hard work. Great man in my book. Gutsy, dedicated and a fanatical NSW man, if we had a few more in the pack like him we could have won a Super title. BTW - I thought Mumm was off to France? Why this talk of him as captain next year? He is the complete opposite of Phil Waugh.
Damo
Guest
Yes I'm with Lorry there Wall Nut. He was a fierce competitor who struck fear into opponents of any size. Waugh by name, War by nature. Look at forward discipline when he is on the field. They work like a 16 legged insect. He deserves better than insult this week. Again well played Phil.
B-Rock
Roar Guru
mattamkII - I would disagree with you on the point of him not being a great skipper - he is one of the most inspirational leaders you will see in this game. As Spiro says above, his leadership comes from his actions not his words. For several seasons he was neck and neck with Smith and McCaw - WBs could not afford to leave either out of the starting team for a period so had to play both Smith and Waugh in the backrow together - when this harmed the lineout they moved to a rotation policy between the two. And as you mention he played McCaw better than any. Agree that Waugh is not a great ball carrier but is this a core skill required for a 7? I would say that Smiths peak was longer than Waughs, not surprising given the beating he takes each game. Waugh is like a dinosaur compared to the current up and comers - you would never hear him talk about building his brand or making sure he looked after himself. He is a loyal, fearless leader which the Tahs will miss greatly. Unfortunately Dean Mumm is a terrible captain which provides little leadership on the park. Given this, and AACs arrival next year, I would say Phil Waugh will be a bigger loss to the Tahs than KB in 2012.
allblackfan
Guest
Whatever his faults, you could never fault his dedication or work ethic (NSWRU's answer to Nathan Hindmarsh?) A worthy opponent; he will be missed!
Parisien
Guest
Sorry and a little sad to hear the news, but probably a good time to go. Waugh was a very good scrapping tenacious irritating flanker who could put the opposition off their game. He always gave it his best, and I still remember his belting up of McCaw in one Bledisloe game. He got a lot of turnovers in his prime, got to the breakdown fast, supported well, and was pretty tough and effective given his very short height. I only met him once, here in Paris, but he was very friendly and articulate to boot, and also interested in non-rugby subjects. I wish him all the best for the future and thank him for what he gave to rugby.
Lorry
Guest
haha, I think he couldnt stand it, he'd want to pull the boots on and replace any injured player! What I want to know is how is Tana Umaga still going?!