Waratahs veteran Jed Holloway believes that the Australian outfit have benefitted from the arrival of young players and they are aiming to challenge for the title this season.
The franchise have suffered several blows over the past few months with experienced players such as Sekope Kepu, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Curtis Rona and Tolu Latu all heading for the exit door.
Despite their Wallabies exodus the team still contains several internationals including Michael Hooper, Kurtley Beale, Jack Dempsey and Rob Simmons and Holloway thinks that players are trying to put themselves forward to fill the holes of the departed.
“I think all the senior, more capped guys have really found themselves stepping up like Ned, Jake, Lalakai (Foketi) Tom (Staniforth). 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,” he said.
Holloway, who has recently returned from a short stint in Ireland with Munster, has confirmed that the current crop of players believe that they can win the title come the end of the season and wants the team to show they are capable.
“Internally our vision is to win a Super Rugby title every year, so we feel like we’re doing the right thing at training. Hopefully we get to show that to the crowd and the public come round one,” he added.
With all of the players leaving the Tahs received a massive boost last week when they signed exciting young back Jack Maddocks, who is a sevens star as well as carving a growing reputation in union.
Holloway is confident and according to him the rest of the camp are too, but if they are to become contenders for the title they will have to hit the ground running with a trip to defending three-time champions, Crusaders, up first on February 1st.
With games against the Highlanders and Queensland Reds to follow in what is a tough start, but we will have to see how things unfold.
