The 2020 Super Rugby season kicks off on Friday night and there are a lot of unanswered questions hanging over Australia’s teams before round one.
RUGBY.com.au is running the rule over each of the Aussie teams as the 2020 kick-off looms. Today, the Waratahs.
SQUAD
IN: Tetera Faulkner, Robbie Abel, Tom Horton, Charlie Gamble, Carlo Tizzano, Michael McDonald, Tepai Moeroa, Joey Walton, Jack Maddocks, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Siosifa Lasila
OUT: Sekope Kepu, Sham Vui, Tolu Latu, Le Roux Roets, Will Miller, Michael Wells, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, John Folau, Curtis Rona, Israel Folau
Forwards
Robbie Abel, Angus Bell, Jack Dempsey, Damien Fitzpatrick, Tetera Faulkner, Charlie Gamble, Ned Hanigan, Will Harris, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper, Tom Horton, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Ryan McCauley, Rory O'Connor, Tom Robertson, Rob Simmons, Hugh Sinclair, Tom Staniforth, Lachie Swinton, Pat Tafa, Chris Talakai, Carlo Tizzano, Andrew Tuala,
Backs
Kurtley Beale, Cam Clark, Lalakai Foketi, Jake Gordon, Will Harrison, Karmichael Hunt Mack Mason, Michael McDonald, Tepai Moeroa, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Alex Newsome, James Ramm, Mitch Short, Joey Walton,
Wider training squad
Darcy Breen, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Joe Cotton, Max Douglas, Henry Robertson, Triston Reilly, Ben Donaldson
Boom recruits
Jack Maddocks
The Waratahs haven’t gone out shopping for superstars to fill out their roster in 2020 but one Test player somewhat landed in their lap. After three years at the Rebels, Maddocks voiced a desire to return to Sydney to be closer to his family and hopefully play more often at fullback. His addition was confirmed in January and his finishing ability will be a handy boost for the Waratahs this year.
Mark Nawaqanitawase
Nawaqanitawase isn’t exactly a high-profile recruit lured to the Waratahs but the U20s rising star has been the standout in their preseason showings. Played as a wing in the Junior Wallabies campaign last year but shapes as a potential fullback competitor for Maddocks.
Burning Questions
Can the Waratahs find a consistent replacement for Bernard Foley?
Mack Mason and Will Harrison have both had chances to audition for the no. 10 in the 2020 preseason but as round one nears, there is still the possibility that it will be Kurtley Beale who suits up there in Saturday’s opener. Beale hasn’t started at 10 for the Waratahs since Foley injured his shoulder in the 2016 preseason and flyhalf certainly hasn’t been his preferred position in Super Rugby. Harrison has been the standout in the trials and it will be telling whether NSW opts for Beale in the early stages of the season and eases Harrison in or if they take the plunge in round one as they make the trip to New Zealand.The management of the side’s young 10s and Beale’s deployment will be pivotal for both this season and years to come.
Can a relative unknown handle the heat of coaching the Waratahs?
When Rob Penney was appointed Waratahs coach back in October his was not a name that many Australian rugby fans had heard before. The former Crusaders academy coach is in his first Super Rugby role and it will be a baptism of fire. Of all of the Australian franchises, the focus on the Waratahs is perhaps the most fierce and fans will be after instant signs of hope after some turbulence in recent years.
Can Michael Hooper lift his own standards after giving up captaincy?
Michael Hooper’s decision to relinquish the Waratahs captaincy was a surprise for many but it will take a major load off his shoulders. It’s not as though he’s ever slipped in form but with the responsibility of captaincy passed onto someone else, Hooper can focus almost entirely on his own individual form and whether he can continue to raise his own ceiling.
Will attacking fluidity unleash or undo the Waratahs?
Waratahs coach Rob Penney and assistant Chris Whitaker have both spoken about the need to let their players dictate attack in games and play more to their instincts. It's a line Australian fans have heard before but not always one that leads to the most successful outfits. The Waratahs could be incredibly dangerous if their playmakers are on song and they nail this approach but if they continue to turn over the ball as they did in their final trial against the Reds, things will look very different.
The Blue print
Strengths
Attacking potency
Despite losing Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps and Israel Folau from their backline in 2019, the Waratahs still have elements of threat in their backline. Nawaqanitawase has shown his potency in U20s and in Super Rugby trials and opponents know of the dangers of Beale in space as well.
Young talent emerging
One of the ingredients of a successful side is cohesion and the Waratahs have the chance to build that with the core of last year's U20s outfit making up a good chunk of the new faces in the Waratahs squad in 2020. Players like Harrison, Nawaqanitawase and forwards Angus Bell and Will Harris have all tasted junior success and they will bring that willing mentality, and the hunger from a runner-up World Rugby U20s finish in 2019, to Super Rugby.
The weak link
Forward consistency
There is still a major question mark over NSW’s forwards coming into 2020. The relatively inexperienced pack have managed to overperform in recent years but the absence of Sekope Kepu particularly will surely be felt heavily this season. If preseason was any guide, there is a huge amount of improvement required in their pack if they want to contend for the Australian conference championship and indeed go deep into the finals.
What they need to win Super Rugby
Everything to go right, really. The Waratahs are putting in place the building blocks of a new era this season, underpinned by the next generation of rising stars. If they can maintain a clean bill of health and Penney’s promised fluidity in attack flourishes, they could be contenders.
2019 Predictions
Most-carded player
Lachlan Swinton
Lachie Swinton will intimidate opponents in Super Rugby and has developed a reputation for being reckless with his body in training somewhat. The backrower could find himself in hot water if he doesn’t maintain that tightrope walk between aggression and ill-discipline.
Leading try scorer
Alex Newsome
It might be tempting to go for Mark Nawaqanitawase here but Newsome has proven himself to be a potent finisher in recent years. Stepped up after Israel Folau’s departure last year and finished some spectacular team efforts in 2019.
Headline you won't see
Veterans steer Waratahs to Super Rugby finals
What Netflix show are they most like?
Fuller House. A reboot of a successful franchise, bringing along the next generation and hoping for a slightly different recipe for success.
