WARATAHS

Tuesday 30th January 2007

At the end of last year's competition the Sydney-based side must have thought that 2007 would surely be the year they would go all the way - not just make the play-offs or the Final, but actually win the tournament.

They now face a season without their two top try scorers from last year, Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers, and without their captain and stalwart Chris Whitaker.

Those are three massive names to have lost, and would have undoubtedly rocked Ewan McKenzie's plans of Super 14 glory.

The Waratahs should not lose heart, however, as they still have a young and dynamic side, and in Under-21 star Daniel Halangahu, Wallaby Morgan Turinui, as well as Stephan Larkham look alike and play-alike Sam Norton-Knight, they have a core of players perfectly suited to the attacking nature of Super Rugby.

Their pack also has the makings of a mobile, yet solid unit, and should serve their talented backline well.

Strengths: Organised, determined, professional. They have quality players all over the park and should be able to plug any whole that have or will appear.

Weakness: The scrum could be a weakness if the New Zealand and South African teams decide to take advantage of a proven Australian problem, though not one without a solution. And the injury-enforced absence of star Wallaby lock Daniel Vickerman may also leave a hole they could struggle to fill.

Noteworthy signings: Kurtley Beale (from schoolboy rugby), Ben Hand (injury replacement for Dan Vickerman), Sam Harris (from Wests Tigers Rugby League club), Josh Valentine (from the Reds).

Noteworthy losses: Shaun Berne (to Bath), Stephen Hoiles (to the Brumbies), Leroy Houston (quit professional rugby), Mat Rogers (to Gold Coast Titans, League), Wendell Sailor (drug related suspension), Daniel Vickerman (out injured), Chris Whitaker (to Leinster)

Coach: It seemed that the whole of Australia wanted Ewen McKenzie to coach the Wallabies in the wake of the 2005 disappointments but he decided to stick with the Waratahs, which must have earned the big, thoughtful ex-prop lots of warm feelings from his players. Clearly he is a great coach in progress.

Captain: Phil Waugh. He takes over from Chris Whitaker, who joined the growing queue of Souther Hemisphere players earning a pension in the Northern Hemisphere. Waugh is a well respected player worldwide and even though he is highly rated as a leader in Australia, he will be tested in the Super 14 cauldron.

Player(s) to watch: In the absence of Mat Rogers and Wendell Sailor, the creative backline spotlight may well fall on Sam Norton-Knight, a Stephen Larkham look-alike, who could become a trump card in his own lanky right. And will Peter Hewat be as much fun as he has been in recent seasons?

2006 Position: 3rd
Best finish: 2nd - losing finalists in 2005
Worst finish: 9th in Super 12 in 1997 and 2000.
Home Venue: Aussie Stadium (previously Sydney Football Stadium) (capacity 42,000)

2006 Prediction: They have enough class to be in the play-offs again and could be a good bet for overall honours. Prediction: Top 4

Waratahs squad: Alastair Baxter, Kurtley Beale, Aaron Broughton-Rouse, Will Caldwell, Tom Carter, Tim Davidson, Matt Dunning, Rocky Elsom, Adam Freier, Daniel Halangahu, Ben Hand, Sam Harris, Peter Hewat, Josh Holmes, Ben Jacobs, Alex Kanaar, David Lyons, Alfi Mafi, Al Manning, Dean Mumm, Sam Norton-Knight, Wycliff Palu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Beau Robinson, Benn Robinson, Brett Sheehan, Chris Siale, Jeremy Tilse, Lote Tuqiri, Morgan Turinui, Lachlan Turner, Josh Valentine, Daniel Vickerman, Phil Waugh.

Schedule:

2 February: v Lions, away
9 February: v Sharks, away
17 February: v Cheetahs, away
23/24 February: BYE
2 March: v Western Force, home
10 March: v Bulls, home
17 March: v Stormers, home
23 March: v Blues, away
31 March: v Crusaders, home
8 April: v Brumbies, away
14 April: v Reds, home
21 April: v Highlanders, home
27 April: v Chiefs, home
5 May: v Hurricanes, away

By James White