'Our vision is to win a Super Rugby title': Waratahs unfazed by exodus of high-profile stars
NSW Waratahs stalwart Jed Holloway says their new-look squad must build on the legacy left by a host of departing stars and drive new standards.
Among the players who left after last season includes Wallabies Bernard Foley, Sekope Kepu, Nick Phipps, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tolu Latu and Curtis Rona.
The Tahs have retained a nucleus of proven players including Wallabies captain Michael Hooper, utility back Kurtley Beale and lock Rob Simmons.
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They boast several other Wallabies in props Tom Robertson, Harry Johnson-Holmes and Tetera Faulkner.
Fellow forwards Jack Dempsey and Ned Hanigan, and backs Jake Gordon, Jack Maddocks and Karmichael Hunt, are also in the squad.
Holloway said other players are now becoming more vocal.
"I think all the senior, more capped guys have really found themselves stepping up like Ned, Jake, Lalakai (Foketi) Tom (Staniforth)," Holloway said on Monday.
"If we don't continue the legacy of Keps, and all those guys that have left, then we won't be much of a team.
"We need to continue to do that and continue to drive those standards and drive new standards as well and create our own path."
While external expectations of the Tahs' prospects under new coach Rob Penney may be lower than last year,.Holloway stressed they remained high within the group.
"Internally our vision is to win a Super Rugby title every year, so we feel like we're doing the right thing at training," Holloway said.
"Hopefully we get to show that to the crowd and the public come round one."
"I feel like I got a lot out of it and refreshed me mentally,"' Holloway said.
"I'm just really grateful that I got that opportunity and they allowed me to do that and I think it made me a better footy player as well,
"Hopefully that translates into Super Rugby and hopefully it can take me further."
AAP
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Now that made me laugh bull!
I tell you what though, the head knock from Kriel on Hugh jones in the wc that didn’t result in any card was a real mystery with the way things are now.
Also suspect the Boks will be pretty well motivated by glasgows antics in stellenbosch last week and loftus in June…
Should be a cracker hopefully!
Go to commentsThose words could come back to bite on Friday!!!
That said, six day turn around and BB missing ain’t the best…
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