This is the NSW Waratahs’ first season without their inspirational, some might say dictatorial leader of the past 5 seasons. Waugh racked up 134 caps for the Waratahs, 56 as captain.
It will be interesting to see how the NSW Waratahs fare this coming 2012 rugby season, their first since 2001 without Waugh as a part of the squad.
Perhaps this was the loss they had to have. Perhaps it is a chance for everybody to have a say, not one man leading the team but a team led by many.
In my view, Phil Waugh was an amazing player and contributed greatly to NSW rugby over the years. However, it is hard to ignore the screamingly obvious fact that the Waratahs have had a fog lifted from above their heads and the sun is shining down on them.
This is no more evident than the appointment of a new coach and a new leadership structure which appears to value input from all levels of the playing group.
This is in stark contrast to how the Waratahs have been managed and captained over the past few years.
Throughout Waugh’s reign the Waratahs were an extremely competitive unit, making two appearances in the Championship game in 2005 and 2008. Sadly, on both occasions they were unsuccessful.
There seemed to be an unwavering determination (bloody mindedness, some might say) from Waugh to get one thing and one thing only, a Super Rugby title.
It of course eluded him and this would have been made even more painful given the result the Queensland Reds achieved last year.
Insult may indeed have been added to injury by the fact that their success was guided by the former NSW coach, Ewen McKenzie. This fact would not only be hard for Waugh to fathom but for the Waratahs’ faithful supporters as well.
I myself still feel that the Reds’ success would have been ours if not for the inept Waratahs’ board getting rid of McKenzie too soon.
On a positive note, the playing ranks for 2012 look once again to be strong. Although the loss of key players Kurtley Beale and Luke Burgess will be felt, the return home for former Wallaby captain Rocky Elsom as well as the additions of current Wallaby utility Adam Ashley Cooper and South African Sarel Pretorius will provide much needed starch.
Sitaleki Timani and Chris Alcock will benefit from the game time they each had last year and hopes are also high that the perennially injured pair of Rob Horne and Wycliff Palu will be able to maintain their fitness for the duration of the season.
The return of Rocky is great for the Waratahs. Provided he is fit, he should prove a great replacement for the retiring Waugh. Although not a ‘like for like’ replacement, Rocky’s credentials are well established and need not be proven in this column.
Much has also been written about the Waugh v Elsom standoff but I personally do not know the inside facts. It is possible that Waugh realised that the only way Elsom would return to NSW was if he was gone.
A noble gesture in an effort to obtain that elusive crown for his beloved state? Whatever the reason, Waugh’s retirement has enabled the Tahs to clear the slate and enter into a new era without the burden of ‘what could have been’ or even ‘what should have been’.
So with a new season, a fresh attitude and carrying minimal baggage, hopes are high for a strong showing from the Waratahs in 2012 with the only reason to hold another fan forum being to discuss where to place the Trophy at Waratahs’ HQ.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
As far as Mr Foley goes I hope karma doesn't tap him on the shoulder and we all find out that the senior players develop a general contempt for him and his coaching and effectively undermine him JUST LIKE HE DID TO HIS COACH AT THE REDS WHEN HE WAS A PLAYER and be blessed :-)
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Just my attempt at Lord Peter Whimsey P.Tah I like blessing people :-)
Baldy from Manly
Guest
The Tahs have already made one mistake - taking on board ELSOM form the Brumbies and now they have made him Captain. FOLEY are you trying to derail the side before the first round - oh I forgot he is still injured. Probably a great bloke but his playing days are well behind him. DEANS woke up to him but due to circumstances and obvious interference from above took time to drop him. The Wallabies this year will make dramatic improvements on 2011 providing the coaching staff have no outside pressure or assistance from a bloke who spent time in the ACT and Auckland.
p.Tah
Guest
A genuine question I have to ask Matthew, what's with the sign off 'and be blessed :) ' ?
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Hey p.Tah , I'll be the first person to eat my hat (or in this case a beanie)if the Tahs actually prove to be something of substance rather than just of appearance -more power to you if this is the reality -miracles actually do happen :-) and be blessed :-)
p.Tah
Guest
Matthew if you don't believe the Tahs are serious and want to win the comp go and watch one of their training sessions. Talk to them and listen to them first hand. I'm sure you'll change your mind. Please don't judge them through media grabs.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
After 17 years of somewhat blindly supporting the Tahs I can honestly say that the team /organisational culture really isn't interested in winning the comp. I think that the overriding thinking is "as long as we LOOK like we're putting in some sort of effort it's all going to be ok -we can keep on doing this infinitum-we'll all still get paid and the gravy train will sail on unabated "-why is it that at the end of the previous season key players/coaches/officials will go on record as saying ...."the public is right to be dissappointed/upset/angry at our sub-standard performance this (any given year for the last 17 years) " and then miraculously they don a certain arrogance and perk up and say "... we don't really care what the supporters/public think/say , we'll just go on what we've always done " and so the inanely silly cycle begins again -well i'm awake to it now - I will support the rebels from now on at least they are aiming for something instead of nothing at all except a fat paycheck at the end .
TimBezz
Roar Rookie
I don't know about the mental asylum part! I don't think I was too far from the mark given Link got us to two finals? Waugh certainly was an inspirational leader but I think the rest of the team became a little detached from the responsibility side of things due to his leadership style. I think Foley has got it right by having levels of leadership where everyone is accountable for the teams performance. We wait with baited breath to see how it works!
TimBezz
Roar Rookie
He certainly would have "died" for the cause but perhaps that and his dominant leadership led to the Tah's relying too heavily on him, especially when his powers were diminishing?
jameswm
Guest
Didn't Rocky play in the Aussie side against the ABs in Brisbane?
Crazy Horse
Guest
Sam Wykes would gave to be the unluckiest player in Super Rigby. He was a standout in every game he played last year, including Man of the Match performances but still didn't get a Wallaby call up. Unless the selectors are totally incompetent he has to be on the radar for his chance soon.
Lindommer
Guest
Pre 1980 too much for your old brain, fos?
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Rhino, Mario, Chris I agree that the difficulty of winning Super rugby, but not the impossibility, is a good thing. However I think something else winnable needs to be put on offer, and to this end it wouldbe good to have a conference final with a cup in each country.
benny
Guest
Any suggestion that Waugh retired as some kind of "noble gesture" to make way for Rocky is absolute crap. He has been ineffieicnt against quality opposition t the breakdown for the last five years, and held on too long in my opinion seeking his own self gatitude in search of a championship. As an aside, has anybody else noticed that every side Rocky has played for since returning from Ireland has been crap? Chicken or egg? I hope he breaks that pattern with the Tah's.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Only just yesterday I was reading where the Saffer's defence wasn't one of his strong points, and that had me thinking. Thankfully he acknowledges this and is working on it. One think I liked about Burgo was his defence.
Chris
Guest
I've always thought the good thing about Super Rugby was that not many teams won it. It makes a Premiership seem more valuable. There aren't many teams that can win this year. The Reds have run their race, Quade is a shattered player after the World Cup/Rice breakup and his career is going to head the same way as Eamon Sullivan. In any case the Reds were bloody lucky to win last year, I still reckon the Crusaders were the better team and would have won the comp aside from the extraordinary circumstances they were faced with (ie: their city being literally destroyed). The Waratahs can't win without Phil Waugh. Every time he hasn't been there the last few years they have been smashed. Their biggest signing is AAC who was a major reason for the Brumbies lack of form last year. Ditto for Elsom who is not a team player. The Force and Rebels are a joke. The only Australian team with a shot this year is the Brumbies. They were competitive in almost every game last year until their lack of fitness and mental toughness saw them capitulate in the second half, week in, week out. Jake White will have turned those two weaknesses into a strength. The Brumbies are traditionally a better underdog team. When they are written off they go well (witness their destruction of the Reds last year). When they are talked up (2010/11) they are useless.
Chris
Guest
Beale left for the cash, plain and simple. I don't blame him or hold it against him but it is the reason.
Peter Breckenridge
Roar Guru
Personally i think Waugh has been the reason the Tahs have not won a title. He can't play an expansive game and dictates that the team play conservatively. And I would have nearly thought that the Tah's would have a good chance this year until they: a: Recruitd Elsom, and b. made him captain. As a Brumbies fan, getting 1 game in a season was a bad investment. it was clear he wasn't interested in playing in Canberra. I also note he is still recovering from injury....
Mario
Guest
Agree with that, would say Blues, Bulls, Stormers, Crusaders, Reds, Waratahs, Sharks, Chiefs and Highlanders will all challenge the title. With the Force and Brumbies not being far behind. Rebels and Lions are the wildcards this season, expect one of them to get a mid table finish and be on the way upwards.
Mario
Guest
I second that, look at the backline: 9.Mathewson 10.Weepu/Anscombe 11.Rudi Wulf 12.Nonu 13,Benson Stanely 14.Ranger 15.Toeava If it gels together which will be hard considering Nonu and Weepu will be in a new environment we will be very hard to beat.