Kurtley Beale is an earth-shattering loss for the Waratahs to overcome this Super Rugby season, and as a result all eyes will be on new fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper.
The Waratahs have gone to great lengths to deny Ashley-Cooper is replacing Beale, pointing out the versatile former Brumby is a Wallabies star in his own right.
This might be true, but the facts are Ashley-Cooper has plenty to prove at his new team in 2012.
Beale’s defection to Melbourne has robbed NSW of the best attacking player in Australian rugby and arguably the most lethal No.15 in the world.
No one expects Ashley-Cooper to play like Beale, but as the key signing at a well-equipped franchise starving for success, the 27-year-old needs immediate results.
New coach Michael Foley says Ashley-Cooper has embraced the challenge.
“I think it’s pretty natural for anybody joining a new team that they’re keen to earn their way,” Foley told AAP.
“He’s a world class 15.”
The ace up the sleeve for Foley and the Waratahs is five-eighth Berrick Barnes.
With Beale gone, there can be no doubt now that Barnes is the man in charge.
Only time will tell what physical shape he’s in after last year’s experiences with ‘footballer’s headache’.
But if his performance for Australia in the third-place play-off at the World Cup is any indication, Barnes is ready for a breakout year.
The No.10 has great polish and poise to his game and has future captain written all over him.
“There’s no reason for us to expect anything but Berrick at his best and that’s certainly what he’s aspiring to,” Foley said of Barnes who will skipper the Tahs in the early rounds while Rocky Elsom is recovering from a hamstring problem.
NSW have lost plenty of class and experience in the off-season, but in many ways they might be better for the freshen up.
Warhorses Phil Waugh and Al Baxter are gone, along with halfback Luke Burgess.
But Dan Vickerman will settle in for a full year after joining midway through last season, Elsom has returned to the edge of the scrum and South African Sarel Pretorius looks set to be a revelation at No.9.
The glass half full approach says the Waratahs have been a model of consistency over the past few years, but the hard reality is they’re perennial underachievers.
However, Foley believes the time he’s spent with his talented squad over recent seasons as their assistant means he’s well positioned to get NSW to rise to the next level and be title contenders.
At last year’s humbling ‘fans forum’, Waratahs supporters voiced their desire for the team to play a more attractive style of rugby.
Losing Beale will hardly help a team trying to forge a reputation as an attacking force, but Foley says he has a plan.
“The important thing for each and every one of our guys, particularly the new guys, is to play to their strengths and do the things they’re good at,” added Foley, who received a major setback in the trials with winger Lachie Turner ruled out for at least six months with a hamstring tear.
“It’s important to us that we’re effective on the field, and the things we do our fans need to be able to look at and be able to say they can make sense of it and they enjoyed watching us do it.”
NSW Waratahs Super Rugby 2012 Factbox
Finishes over the past three seasons: 2011 – qualifying-finalists; 2010 – semi-finalists; 2009 – 5th
Coach: Michael Foley
Captain: Rocky Elsom
Gains: Rocky Elsom (Brumbies), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies), Sarel Pretorius (Cheetahs, SA), Grayson Hart (Southern Districts)
Losses: Phil Waugh (retired), Al Baxter (retired), Kurtley Beale (Melbourne), Luke Burgess (Toulouse), Soseni Anesi (NTT Communications, Japan), Ryan Cross (Perpignan), Ben Mowen (Brumbies), Josh Holmes (France), Cam Jowitt
One to watch: Berrick Barnes – With Kurtley Beale out of the picture, it’s up to the No.10 to take charge of the Waratahs attack.
Best team: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tom Kingston, Rob Horne, Tom Carter, Drew Mitchell, Berrick Barnes, Sarel Pretorius, Wycliff Palu, Chris Alcock, Rocky Elsom, Dan Vickerman, Sitaleki Timani, Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sekope Kepu. Interchange: Dean Mumm, Dave Dennis, Damien Fitzpatrick, Jeremy Tilse, Daniel Halangahu, Atieli Pakalani, Brendan McKibbin.
Predicted Australian conference finish: 2nd.
rl
Guest
Jez, that's what I've been saying - that's a team of very promising youngsters, but not a finals candidate (this year) and not even sure it's a no.2 finsih in the Aus conference. Not that it's any consolation, but I doubt the Reds (let alone any of the other Aus S15 teams) could present a 2nd string team as strong as what you have listed.
jeznez
Guest
Looks like we have lost Vicks now as well. The fact that Palu and Robinson didn't play the first trial and Mitchell and Elsom are both set to miss the first match is not looking good - especially with the injury history of TPN, Kepu, Barnes and Horne. What chance this season the first team winds up looking like: 1. Tilse 2. Fitzpatrick 3. Ryan 4. Douglas 5. Timani 6. Mumm 7. Alcock 8. Dennis 9. Pretorius 10. Halangahu 11. Karauria-Henry 12. Carter 13. Kingston 14. Pakalani 15. Ashley-Cooper
rl
Guest
Gary, I agree with your comments about the halves, and the Tahs likely place in the table I differ from you in that I actually think the Tahs will stick solid behind Foley. There's some good young talent there and I reckon he deserves the chance to work with them for a year or two. But I'm going to call it now - with all the question marks over fitness and now Vicks gone, this year is officially a write-off for the Tahs. Good chance for some young blokes to put their hands up.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
Johnno, I agree with your summation, Vickerman is set to retire and IMO, Palo has not fired a shot for the last 2 seasons at number eight, Dennis looks to be there, so your second row looks to be Douglas, Mumm and Timani, a hand bag threesome. Still you might say Elsom can jump in the line out??? That will be when and if he gets back on the park. Gee I look at all the press and it's wall to wall Waratahs just like always, talking them up before the season. The only thing that I really like about the Tahs this season is the halves, with Barnes and Pretorious working together they will trouble the other franchise's. The Tahs to finish outside the finals this year, and the revolving door to the coaches box to be kept open.
Johnno
Guest
Dan Vickerman is set to retire, he has a knee problem more will follow on this story, but Vickerman is almost certainly set to retire. Big loss as Timani is not back fro a while still in Japan. And Vickerman is better than Timani anyway, our 2nd row looks thin now. Elsom and Palu no set tme when they back, suddenly the tahs look a bi thin on troops and light in the forwards. Dean Mumm will profit no doubt. Not a good thing when Dean Mumm is profiting in your team getting big minutes.
Sam Starr
Guest
Should be a good season a few injury concerns to start of with but its a long enough season GO THE TAHS!.
p.Tah
Guest
I wish the season would start. Can't wait to see them play Tonga on Friday.
MikeM
Guest
Sigh. It happens every year at this time. The nights warm up. The kids go back to school. The cockies shred the Chinese pistachio. The Waratahs fans' hopes rise...
Jiggles
Roar Guru
The first 3 of those points start and end with Barnes. If the Tah’s pack gets under a tiny bit of pressure at the breakdown he starts to sit very deep in the pocket. He puts pressure on his outside runners when he does pass, but often his first instinct is to kick, and very aimlessly at that. He really needs to step up and address this in the up coming season if the Tah’s are going to get the maximum potential out of their good backline, and if he wants to be seriously considered at 10 over Cooper for Wallaby duties.
Jag man
Guest
McCutcheon actually was leading the comp in Pilfers at the point where he got injured last year and for about 6 weeks afterwards. That playing off the bench when Waugh was fit. He ended with ten and was still 3rd or so for the season.
rl
Guest
sorry Baz, Reds gazumped you again - that guy is too busy working with Quade! (perhaps in vain?)
Bigbaz
Guest
and maybe a tackling coach for TPN so they can keep him on the paddock.
Bigbaz
Guest
haha love it
rl
Guest
Smartest offseason move for the Tash would be to poach the Reds physios, strength & performance trainers. No hammys torn off the bone up here (so far, touch wood) Second smartest move - could Robinson or Kepu throw in at the lineouts instead. Gotta love TPN, but surely the joke is over now?
SAMURAI
Roar Pro
If the Waratahs can get through this Super 15 season without being booed by their own supporters, then I would consider it as a success.
jameswm
Guest
jeznez Turner is out for the season. Fair enough not to count him. At this stage Mitchell, Elsom and Vicks are due to play most of it.
jameswm
Guest
First point is surely based on last year, Pakalani starts ahead of Kingston. Not a big deal though. Kingston is young and maybe has improved. Next point is if McCutcheon starts the first game at 7, it'll show the coaching staff hasn't learnt a thing. Alcock has excelled every time I've seen him for the Tahs and was the standout club forward last year. McCutch is a plodder, I'm afraid. I think the big point of difference will be Pretorius at 9. If the bulk of that first string forward pack (and bear in mind for most of last season they had no Robinson, TPN, Vickerman, Palu or Elsom) stays fit, they have to be strong. As thers said - they need to play smart rugby and execute their basic skills consistently well.
Will Sinclair
Guest
And I reckon Dave Dennis - if he can capture the rampaging form of last year - could certainly challenge Rocky.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Completely agree that injuries is a monster if with this team - and with the smart rugby comments. I want my team to do well but I am very nervous for them.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Except it will be Paddy Ryan or John Ulugia on the bench instead of Tilse as those starting props mean you need a replacement tighthead not a replacement loosehead. Kane Douglas will be a chance of getting the spot ahead of Dean Mumm. The trial this weekend has McCutcheon in the 7 jumper ahead of Alcock which surprises me based on how the two played last year. McCutcheon is VC so obviously being looked on quite positively by Foley. I think Bernard Foley will be a great chance of overtaking Halangahu in the pecking order as back up 10 this year as well. Strangely named "Best 15" Not sure why Turner is ignored - I know he is undergoing surgery but if you are leaving out players who are injured then you cannot name: Mitchell, Elsom and Vickerman. On top of that Timani is still away. The named 15 as first choice for this weekend are: 1. Benn Robinson (Eastwood) 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (Parramatta) 3. Sekope Kepu (Randwick) 4. Dean Mumm (Sydney University) 5. Kane Douglas (Southern Districts) 6. Dave Dennis (Sydney University) 7. Pat McCutcheon (Sydney University), vice captain 8. Wycliff Palu (Manly) 9. Sarel Pretorius (N/A) 10. Berrick Barnes (Sydney University), captain 11. Brackin Karauria-Henry (Southern Districts) 12. Tom Carter (Sydney University) 13. Rob Horne (Southern Districts) 14. Tom Kingston (Sydney University) 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Northern Suburbs)