Greg Growden
Greg Growden is Chief Rugby Correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald
A Rocky start under Cheika
Greg Growden If, as expected, Michael Cheika is announced the new Waratahs coach in the next few days, don't be surprised if a former Wallabies captain is again sighted wandering around Moore Park.
Rugby union
Much more than pride on the line
Greg Growden Waratahs-Reds encounters - the longest rivalry in Australian rugby - revolve around personal pride.
Rugby
Passing comment sparks more unrest
Greg Growden At a time when the Waratahs are desperately trying to improve team morale, critical comments about their star import Sarel Pretorius have inflamed the situation.
White says salary cap and lack of depth hold back Australian teams
Greg Growden FORMER Springboks World Cup-winning coach Jake White has suddenly discovered why Australian teams have only occasionally won the Super Rugby tournament.
Rugby
Robinson in running to lead from the front
Greg Growden FRONT-ROWERS are rarely handed the captaincy reins, but Test prop Benn Robinson is suddenly in strong contention to be the Waratahs' skipper for the opening month of the Super Rugby tournament.
Foley's first test comes early as injury list grows
Greg Growden IT WAS a sight to strike dread into the heart of any Waratahs follower. At yesterday's training session at Victoria Barracks, the club's international winger Lachie Turner was standing under the goal...
Wallabies fear Scots could inflict Samoa mark II
Greg Growden Wallabies management are concerned there may be a repeat of the Samoa debacle if they are unable to prepare properly for their opening Test in June against Scotland.
Greg Growden
One slip-up and home side goes hungry
Greg Growden It doesn't get any more exasperating than this. The Waratahs dominate the match up front, were for most of the night the better team, should have won, but one indiscretion in the final seconds, one...
'Sore' Barnes ruled out as Elsom's rocky start persists
Greg Growden The NSW Waratahs have been dealt a fresh injury blow with Wallabies star Berrick Barnes ruled out of Friday’s Super Rugby clash with the Melbourne Rebels.
Ruck and Maul
Cheika could check in back home
Greg Growden The prospect of Heineken Cup-winning coach Michael Cheika being in charge of an Australian Super Rugby team has intensified.
This team needs strong leadership, so here's to you, Mr Robinson
Greg Growden Not surprisingly, Waratahs coach Michael Foley was talking tough after his team put up the white flag against the Western Force.
Worried Waratahs get boost in Barnes
Greg Growden BERRICK BARNES will at last appear in the Waratahs No.10 jersey, Tom Carter is in contention for a midfield spot and a new captain is in the offing as the Waratahs try to salvage their season by...
Rugby
Latest back-line switch may not last if Barnes struggles under pressure
Greg Growden THE Waratahs will field their fourth back-line combination in five matches when they play the Sharks, but the experimentation out wide is far from over.
Match report
Backs to the wall, with Giteau in frame as saviour
Greg Growden The Wallabies got to enjoy a rejuvenating 11-try scoring feast against the USA last night, but the win came at a cost - with midfielders Pat McCabe, Rob Horne and Anthony Faingaa all suffering...
Rugby
Which way will he go? Palu the key to recruiting puzzle
Greg Growden The make-up of next year's Waratahs squad won't be known for some weeks - but there's unlikely to be a spate of high-profile rugby league signings.
Vickerman comeback on the cards
Greg Growden THE WARATAHS have not lost hope of being able to play Test second-rower Dan Vickerman during the second half of the season, despite some recent concerns he would have to retire.
White approach makes surprise a winning factor for Brumbies
Greg Growden BRUMBIES coach Jake White has a pressing reason for repeatedly changing his starting line-up. Some would describe it as rotation, but it is more a situation of White wanting to know exactly how many...
Rugby
Pretorius has work cut out to regain his starting spot
Greg Growden WARATAHS marquee signing Sarel Pretorius appears resigned to playing off the bench for another week as Brendan McKibbin is scheduled to make his third starting appearance in a row against the Force...
ARU cutting back on long-term player deals
Greg Growden THE days of the long Wallabies' player contracts are over.
MONDAY MAUL
No bull: White's men have turned it around
Greg Growden It has taken a while, but the Brumbies have to be taken seriously. For weeks, many have been waiting for this young bunch of no-names to lose their way.
