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There are probably quite a few candidates that could be offered up as the holy trinity of the 2014 Waratahs. The coaching trio of Cheika, Gibson and Grey. The on-field trio of Hooper, Beale and Folau.
I wanted to post a bit of a tribute to the three that I think were the absolute keys. Three guys about whom you could honestly say that, but for their presence, the Waratahs would not be where they are.
1. Jaques Potgieter
I’m not sure the circumstances of Jacques Potgieter leaving South African shores but I’m mighty happy he did. While South Africa seemingly have an abundance of big, strong, fit and fast players – and New Zealand have their fair share too – we don’t seem to have as many in Australia. Perhaps they are being lost to AFL – who knows?
However the value of Potgieter is not just that he has the aforementioned physical characteristics. It is instead the relish – the sheer enthusiasm and joy he exudes on and off the field.
We’ve got guys in the West like Matt Hodgson and Angus Cottrell who will similarly charge into the fray but Potgieter is a guy who will pick himself up afterwards with a smile on his face. Not a dour grin but a genuine “that was fun, let’s do it again” smile that you’d normally expect to see on the face of a six year old after their first trip down a waterslide.
This enthusiasm is infectious. I wonder what the Waratah pack would look like without Potgieter. They would still have guys like Dennis, Douglas, Robinson and others but they are mostly dour individuals who aren’t prone to breaking a smile on the field.
Past players like Phil Waugh were of a similar ilk. While they may be just as committed, those dour looks can be interpreted as nervousness, worry or worse by opponents and that mental edge counts.
If we can find a few Potgieters in Australia then I will be a very happy man. I’m hoping he is an inspiration to some young, raw Australian players out there. You don’t have to be the biggest or the most skilful – you just have to be a mad bugger and surely Australia is full of them!
2. Michael Hooper
Some interesting “what if” scenarios could be played around Michael Hooper. What if David Pocock had stayed at the Force? Would Hooper have stayed at the Brumbies? What if Pocock hadn’t been injured? Would Hooper have made it into the Wallabies?
We heard earlier on in his career – hard to believe I’m writing that about a 22-year old! – that Hooper was too small for international rugby. There are some still saying this.
Like Potgieter, Hooper’s contribution cannot be measured by his size or even his speed. While his endurance and resilience are powerful attributes, it’s again his attitude which is what sets him apart.
My enduring memory of Michael Hooper will be not a tackle, tackle bust or try but of him popping straight back to his feet after being absolutely poleaxed (legally) by Ben Tameifuna in Round 16.
That single innocuous act, I think, made a huge difference to that game and perhaps the whole season. If he had laid low, curling on the ground, it would have said that this team can be hurt, can be put off their game.
Instead, Michael kept going like nothing had happened and even raised a smile when he met his tackler at the next scrum. That says to opponents that the Waratahs can take it. They can be knocked back, knocked down, but will keep on coming and stick to their guns.
Michael has played every minute of every match and given his ridiculously high intensity, workrate and the physical demands of his position, that’s incredible.
3. Michael Cheika
Too often I’ve heard professional coaches talk in post match interviews like they manage a call centre or freight company. After their forwards were monstered all game you’ll hear them talk about things like ‘accuracy at the breakdown’.
Michael Cheika is the first coach in a long time that seems to realise that you can be 100 per cent professional without needing to sound like you wear a suit. In fact he seems to disarmingly wear his trackies on just about every occasion – I can’t even imagine him in a suit!
This was just what the Waratahs needed – someone that was totally uninterested in the politics that seemed to continually mire rugby in NSW. Someone that would not just point to the elephants in the room but take them on with a golf club.
While results speak for themselves, a telling feature of the Waratahs this season is how many players have had their best season ever.
Beale had some wobbles mid season but has otherwise never looked better. Phipps as well. And Horne. And Palu. The Waratahs haven’t got where they are just from canny recruitment of new talent.
I always feel when you win a game by a point, it means every little thing that every player did on the day was important. And no doubt that’s the case for the season as a whole and the team as whole too – every little bit that everyone did counted – even guys in support staff we don’t know the names of.
However for me the three I’ve mentioned – this holy trinity of Potgieter, Hooper and Cheika – were the differences that needed to be made at the Waratahs.
As others have mentioned, the trick from here is to keep it going. I think they can do it. A lot of them are young players who I think can only get better. They will have self belief on their side now as well as I’m sure more vocal fans from next season.
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.