The unanswered questions that will cost the Waratahs dearly in 2020

There are several questions to be answered by the New South Wales Waratahs of 2020.

What change will new head coach Rob Penney effect upon the squad? Who will play fly half? And where will the points come from? Make no doubt about it 2020 will be an exceptionally challenging, transitional year for the New South Welshman and their supporters.

Taking over from his fellow Cantabrian Daryl Gibson, Penney has accepted arguably the toughest coaching role in Australian provincial rugby.

He has the unenviable task of implementing his playing style and regime in a decidedly politicised organisation, operating in an exceedingly competitive professional sports market that subsequently demands success yesterday.

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Penney, and his fellow coaches in former Wallabies Matt Cockbain, Mark Bell and Chris Whittaker, find themselves is in a transitional period for Waratahs rugby, and the transition is not a word immediately synonymous with instant success.

Penney must learn to play the politics while also balancing the head coaching role if he is to see out his three-year contract as he has no history or power base to draw support from if the Waratahs falter early in his tenure.

The pressure is on from day one.

That being said, Penney is a well-credentialled coach, achieving stunning success with Canterbury in the ITM Cup, winning the title four times in a row between 2008 and 2011.

Although not as successful during his two-year stint at Irish province Munster, he received the PRO12 coach of the season award in 2014 for his efforts. Evidently, Penney knows his way around professional rugby, but what will we see from him in 2020?

He will, at the very least in year one, have the Waratahs fit and have a forward pack that can secure set piece as that is where the strength in his squad is found.

Despite the loss of experienced Wallabies such as Sekope Kepu and Tolu Latu, Penney can build a platform off the likes of Wallabies Harry Johnson-Homes, Tom Robertson, Tetera Faulkner, Rob Simmons, Jack Dempsey and Michael Hooper.

Coupled with emerging names like Carlo Tizzano, who is an exciting openside talent out of Western Australia, and powerhouse blindside flanker Lachlan Swinton, who could tour the northern hemisphere with the Wallabies this year, the Waratahs look to have the makings of a very decent forward pack in 2020.

That being said, what about the backs who should enjoy the benefit of the possession provided by these forwards?

That is where Penney has his work cut out.

While Jake Gordon should be the pick of the halfbacks, the key issue for the Waratahs is who will fill the vacancy in the fly-half role left by veteran Bernard Foley?

The two main contenders appear to be Mack Mason and Will Harrison. The youthful Harrison has promise but is suspect on defence and is simply too young to be thrown into the rigours of starting fly-half for the Waratahs at this time.