NSW Waratahs Head Coach Dan McKellar is confident his tight five is on track to be a real force in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific.
His belief comes as pre-season training nears its end with Saturday’s trial game against the ACT Brumbies at Eridge Park in Bowral.
Speaking to the media after the NSW Waratahs trained in extreme heat at their base at Daceyville in Sydney this morning, McKellar paid credit to his medical and rehabilitation staff for there being as many as forty-two players on the field and available for selection.
On the strength of the NSW Waratahs set-piece, McKellar also lauded the input and impact of setpiece coach Dan Palmer.
“We had forty-two players out there available for training today,” McKellar said.
“The ‘S and C’ [Strength and Conditioning] and medical staff have done a great job with rehabbing players.
“When we turned up [for pre-season training] there were sixteen players in ‘rehab,’ a lot of long-term injuries.
“It was good to see the boys out there all competing and challenging each other.”
McKellar reiterated the importance of the tight five in a rugby game, saying: “If your scrum is under pressure, if your line outs are shabby, if your maul isn't where it needs to be … You can create so much innovation and creativity off the back of your maul.
“The tight five are a critical component to that.”
McKellar said the depth in his tight five had also grown during the pre-season program, where a number of his players had stepped up.
“I'm pleased with where we're at in terms of the development of guys like Sifa (Siosifa Amone), Brad Amituanani and Tom Lambert … They've worked really hard the last few months with myself and ‘Palms’ [Dan Palmer],” McKellar said.
“And the proof will be in the pudding over the next few weeks, once we start to get into games at the front there.”
Prop Angus Bell, one of the players who have returned to the NSW Waratahs from Wallabies duties, concurred with McKellar.
Bell said both McKellar and Palmer have brought much to help galvanise the NSW Waratahs tight five that is now under their wing.
Bell worked with McKellar when he was the Wallabies forwards coach.
“Dan was that person to teach me the fundamentals of rugby and how to be a good loose set prop which is not all the ball carrying and flashy stuff. It's more of the mauling and the set piece and breakdown work,” Bell said.
“It was awesome to have Dan at the Wallabies, and obviously, it's great to have him back here because he's helping a lot of the young guys to get to the standard that they need to get to in order to play Super Rugby in those set piece areas.”
Asked about Palmer’s influence, Bell wound the clock back to his school days at Newington College in Sydney.
“Palms was my first scrum coach when I was at school … I've known ‘Palms’ 40 kilos heavier, long hair, looked like a bikie member, like a Viking,” Bell said.
“He's a highly qualified, highly skilled scrum coach, and we've seen the benefits of that now."
Bell said the work in pre-season on the NSW Waratahs set piece was evident with the level of competition within it when he returned to the team.
“The competition at training is awesome because you know that you are getting better around yourself and getting better with other players. Then you can go out together on the weekend and get a result for your team,” Bell said.
“'Palms' has been awesome for this group … I think he's saved a lot of scrummaging careers because he’s a bit of a guru around it. “
NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies
When: at 3 pm Saturday, 1 February 2025
Where: Eridge Oval, Bowral
Saturday’s trial is a ticketed event for the public. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1327371
Parking is limited and can only be booked here: https://www.trybooking.com/CXNOT
