RUGBY.com.au will be running the rule over each of the four Australian teams' 2019 Super Rugby seasons.
Next up, the Waratahs.
It was a disappointing year for NSW and some inconsistency proved costly. After making the semi-finals in 2018, the Waratahs struggled to string strong performances together back-to-back. Even within games, the Waratahs found it hard to dominate from the first minute to the 80th, and the loss of try scoring weapon Taqele Naiyaravoro hurt them in a run of tight games.
This season turned out to be the end of an era for them as well with Daryl Gibson stepping down just a week after the regular season wrapped up.
Position
6 wins, 10 losses, 30 points
High point
20-12 win vs Crusaders, SCG
The Waratahs showed some of their grittiest rugby in an upset win over the Crusaders at the SCG this season. They were rank outsiders coming up against the reigning champions, who arrived in Sydney off a hugely emotional fortnight in Christchurch. Defence proved the difference as NSW outlasted the Crusaders in an outing that looked like it might spark some momentum for the Waratahs.
Low point
31-29 loss vs Sunwolves, Newcastle
The Waratahs were the victims of a huge upset in Newcastle in March, losing to the Sunwolves in Newcastle. Missing three Wallabies, including flyhalf Bernard Foley, was one talking point but those absences told only part of the story. Rookie 10 Mack Mason had a game to forget in just his second start in three seasons and the Waratahs made numerous errors that opened the door for the Japanese outfit to get the win.
Turning point
28-21 loss vs Sharks, Parramatta
The Waratahs let a chances for victory go begging against the Sharks. This was a match that they should have won but ill-discipline and some frustrating errors unwound that possibility. Not the way they wanted to go into a tough two-week tour of South Africa. The result arguable forced their hand when it came to the Wallabies' World Cup rotation plans as well, with coach Daryl Gibson opting to keep
Try of the season
Nick Phipps vs Bulls, Pretoria
Waratahs halfback Nick Phipps finished off a super Waratahs try in a hot start for NSW against the Bulls. Some slick skill on show in the lead-up to the scrumhalf's finish, with Ned Hanigan and Curtis Rona helping to keep the pill alive.
What they did well
Punching above their weight
The Waratahs' forward pack had a lot of pressure on their shoulders but they managed to claim some important victories throughout the season. Their scrum pushed a number of the South African outifts, including the powerful Sharks in Parramatta, and their lineout generally functioned well. For the second year in a row, the Waratahs were consistently outsized but managed to compete with their opponents.
Problem area
Finishing
In the preseason all the concern was directed towards the Waratahs' forwards but it was their backline that really failed to fire on a number of occasions in 2019. With try-scoring machine Taqele Naiyaravoro heading to Northampton and the mid-season sacking of Israel Folau, their two most potent finishers were lost to the squad. That lack of finishing ability proved telling with the Waratahs losing eight matches by single figures in 2019.
Player demanding a ticket to Japan
Michael Hooper
it might seem an obvious pick but you can't go past Waratahs skipper Michael Hooper as the most in-form player in the squad this season. Hooper led the competition in completed tackles for the season, with his 210 17 more than the next best. The 27-year-old throws everything into his performances and is hard to fault on form.
Rookie of the year
Harry Johnson-Holmes
This was Johnson-Holmes' first season as a regular starter, with Tom Robertson on his way back from a knee injury, and he was more than serviceable. Like many of his tight five teammates, came into the year under a heap of pressure but surpassed expectations. The next challenge for him will be to take the step up in 2020 with Sekope Kepu leaving the club.
Best recruit
Karmichael Hunt
Hunt had some injury issues in 2019 but when he played he was almost always one of the Waratahs' best. Ultra reliable and brought valuable experience with him as well.
What Netflix program they actually turned out to be:
In the preseason, the Crown was the pick and it still rings true for the Waratahs - a divisive empire struggling to stay on top and now with some rebuilding to do.
Burning Questions answered
RUGBY.com.au laid out some burning questions for each team at the start of the year. How do the answers look now?
Is giant South African import Le Roux Roets more Jacques Potgieter than Hendrik Roodt?
Roets did not make it into the matchday 23 once for the Waratahs this year and he agreed with the club not to take up a second-year option. Unfortunately for NSW this one was more Roodt than Potgieter.
Can John Folau play rugby?
Folau didn't really get a chance to prove his credentials in a tumultuous season with NSW. Was a late inclusion in the 23 in Newcastle but wasn't given any playing time off the bench. Is playing club rugby with Western Sydney but seems unlikely to be destined for a Super Rugby career.
Will a pecking order is settled between Jake Gordon and Nick Phipps, or will they keep swapping the no.9 jersey?
Neither of this pair had sensational seasons but it was Phipps that emerged still as the preferred no. 9. He finished with 10 starts to Gordon's six for the year, though both had some injury setbacks. Seems as though the Waratahs' overall performance could be hurting them at Test time as well.
Will Mack Mason finally get some minutes?
Yes, but not many is the answer. Mason was thrown into the deep end twice this season, despite not having started since 2017, with Foley rested under the Wallabies World Cup rotatiopolicy. Mason is highly-rated hasn't had enough opportunity to learn the level of Super Rugby.
Will a stint in the Aussie sevens team turns Michael Wells into more of a ballplayer?
Little really changed in Wells' game this season. The no. 8 was still a tackling machine but didn't take the line on more often than usual. Still a valuable asset for the Waratahs and seems likely to try and stay in XVs over Sevens in 2020.
Will a move away from Allianz Stadium hurt or help the Waratahs?
This is an interesting one. The nomadic nature of NSW's season wasn't ideal but they found success at the spectator-unfriendly SCG, ironically. Newcastle, Parramatta and Brookvale Oval proved to be less than happy hunting grounds but rotating home grounds could certainly not be blamed for the Waratahs' results. With the SFS reconstruction still underway, NSW will have to learn to adapt better in 2020.
Grade: D
On and off the field, this is probably a season the Waratahs will be happy to move on from.
