Before they find a new coach, the Waratahs need to find an identity

August 1, 2026 — 9:33am

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The last time the Waratahs were a rugby team with a crystal-clear sense of who they were was May 2014, far from the bright lights of Sydney.

In New Plymouth, New Zealand, the Waratahs turned up and physically dominated the Dave Rennie-coached Chiefs.

They were too big, too strong, and filled with too many power athletes for the Chiefs to handle. They won the match 33-17.

There and then, the Waratahs knew what they were about, and the rest of the competition got the message as well – they weren’t soft touches coming out of the Eastern Suburbs.

Twelve years later, does anyone have a clue what the Waratahs stand for? Can you describe Waratahs rugby in a sentence?

Everyone knows what Brumbies rugby is. The Reds have a much more identifiable style after the Les Kiss years, and the Force are developing their own thing in Perth under Simon Cron: fighters, technically well-drilled, with a........

© The Age