2014 New South Wales Waratahs season

The 2014 New South Wales Waratahs season was the club's 18th season since the inception of Super Rugby in 1996. The Waratahs defeated the Crusaders in the final at ANZ Stadium, Sydney to be crowned champions for the very first time.

New South Wales Waratahs

2014 season
Coach	Michael Cheika
Super Rugby	1st
Super Rugby Finals Series	Champions
Top try scorer	League: Israel Folau (12)
Top points scorer	League: Bernard Foley (252)
Highest home attendance	61,823 vs Crusaders 2 August 2014
Lowest home attendance	15,773 vs Bulls 19 April 2014
← 2013 2015 →

Players

Squad

The squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season[1]

Props Michael Alaalatoa Sekope Kepu Benn Robinson Paddy Ryan Jeremy Tilse Hookers Tolu Latu Tatafu Polota-Nau Dave Porecki Hugh Roach Locks Jed Holloway Sam Lousi Dean Mumm Will Skelton

Loose Forwards Mitchell Chapman Jack Dempsey Dave Dennis (c) Tala Gray Stephen Hoiles Michael Hooper (v/c) Pat McCutcheon Wycliff Palu Jacques Potgieter Scrum-halves Auvasa Faleali'i Brendan McKibbin Nick Phipps Fly-halves Bernard Foley David Horwitz Ben Volavola

Centres Adam Ashley-Cooper (v/c) Rob Horne Jono Lance Wingers Peter Betham Matthew Carraro Andrew Kellaway Taqele Naiyaravoro Fullbacks Kurtley Beale Israel Folau (v/c)

(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped.

Transfers

See also: List of 2013–14 Super Rugby transfers § Waratahs

Ins: Player Position Previous Club Notes Michael Alaalatoa Prop West Harbour RFC Short-term contract[2] Tolu Latu Hooker Sydney University [3] Hugo Roach Eastwood [4] Tala Gray Flanker Biarritz [5] Jacques Potgieter Bulls [6] Stephen Hoiles Number 8 Randwick Short-term contract[7] Nick Phipps Scrum-half Rebels [8] Matthew Carraro Centre Montpellier [9] Jono Lance Reds [10] Alofa Alofa Wing West Harbour [11] Taqele Naiyaravoro Wests Tigers (NRL) [12] Kurtley Beale Fullback Rebels [13]

Outs: Player Position Moving to Notes Richard Aho Prop Béziers [14] Damien Fitzpatrick Hooker Lyon [15] Luke Holmes Warringah [16] John Ulugia Bourg-en-Bresse [17] Ollie Atkins Lock Edinburgh [18] Adam Coleman Western Force (extended playing squad) [19] Greg Peterson (to extended playing squad) [20] Sitaleki Timani Montpellier [21] AJ Gilbert Flanker Northern Suburbs Lopeti Timani Rebels [22] Liam Winton Sydney University Grayson Hart Scrum-half Edinburgh [18] Matt Lucas (to extended playing squad) [20] Berrick Barnes Fly-half Panasonic Wild Knights [23] Tom Carter Centre Retired [24] Terrence Hepetema Wing Randwick Tom Kingston Rebels [25] Drew Mitchell Toulon [26] Lachlan Turner Reds [27]

Quick Summary

Rd Date and local time Opponent Score Venue Attendance Ref 1 Bye 2 Sunday, 23 February (4:05 pm) H Western Force 43–21 Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia 16,091 3 Saturday, 1 March (7:40 pm) H Queensland Reds 32–5 ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia 17,580 4 Bye 5 Saturday, 15 March (7:40 pm) A Brumbies 28–23 Canberra Stadium, Canberra, Australia 17,016 6 Friday, 21 March (7:40 pm) H Rebels 22–8 Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia 16,000 7 Saturday, 29 March (5:05 pm) A Sharks 32–10 Kings Park Stadium, Durban, South Africa 32,724 8 Saturday, 5 April (7:10 pm) A Stormers 11–22 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa 25,284 9 Saturday, 12 April (5:40 pm) A Western Force 28–16 nib Stadium, Perth, Australia 14,281 10 Saturday, 19 April (7:40 pm) H Bulls 19–12 Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia 15,773 11 Friday, 25 April (5:35 pm) A Blues 21–13 Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand 17,111 12 Saturday, 3 May (7:40 pm) H Hurricanes 39–30 Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia 17,221 13 Bye 14 Sunday, 18 May (4:05 pm) H Lions 41–13 Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia 19,639 15 Friday, 23 May (7:40 pm) A Rebels 19–41 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia 12,477 16 Saturday, 31 May (4:35 pm) A Chiefs 17–33 Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand 17 Saturday, 28 June (7:40 pm) H Brumbies 39–8 ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia 18 Sunday, 6 July (4:05 pm) H Highlanders 44–16 Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia 24,500 19 Saturday, 12 July (7:40 pm) A Reds 3–34 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia 36,205 SF Saturday, 26 July (7:40 pm) H Brumbies 26–8 Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia 38,800 F Saturday, 2 August (7:40 pm) H Crusaders 33–32 ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia 61,823 Standings 2014 Super Rugby standings Overall standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts 1 Waratahs 16 12 0 4 481 272 +209 55 24 9 1 58 2 Crusaders 16 11 0 5 445 322 +123 41 36 4 3 51 3 Sharks 16 11 0 5 406 293 +113 29 22 2 4 50 4 Brumbies 16 10 0 6 412 378 +34 49 35 4 1 45 5 Chiefs 16 8 2 6 384 378 +6 44 35 5 3 44 6 Highlanders 16 8 0 8 401 442 −41 39 52 5 5 42 7 Hurricanes 16 8 0 8 439 374 +65 49 36 6 3 41 8 Western Force 16 9 0 7 343 393 −50 37 40 3 1 40 9 Bulls 16 7 1 8 365 335 +30 28 29 3 5 38 10 Blues 16 7 0 9 419 395 +24 46 43 6 3 37 11 Stormers 16 7 0 9 290 326 −36 30 29 2 2 32 12 Lions 16 7 0 9 367 413 −46 31 46 2 1 31 13 Reds 16 5 0 11 374 493 −119 42 52 4 4 28 14 Cheetahs 16 4 1 11 372 527 −155 38 59 3 3 24 15 Rebels 16 4 0 12 303 460 −157 29 49 1 4 21 Australian Conference Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts 1 Waratahs 16 12 0 4 481 272 +209 55 24 9 1 58 2 Brumbies 16 10 0 6 412 378 +34 49 35 4 1 45 3 Western Force 16 9 0 7 343 393 −50 37 40 3 1 40 4 Reds 16 5 0 11 374 493 −119 42 52 4 4 28 5 Rebels 16 4 0 12 303 460 −157 29 49 1 4 21 Final standings.[28][29] Legend and Competition rules Legend: Conference leaders, qualify to finals. P = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, PD = Points Difference, TF = Tries For, TA = Tries Against, TB = Try Bonus Points, LB = Losing Bonus Points, Pts = Log Points Wildcard teams, qualify to finals. Competition rules: Qualification: The top six teams will qualify to the finals, with their final positions in the overall log determining their seedings in the finals. The third-placed team (i.e. the conference winners with the worst overall record) will host the sixth-placed team in the qualifiers, while the fourth-placed team will host the fifth-placed team. The top two teams (i.e. the two conference winners with the best overall record) will qualify directly to the semi-finals, where they will have home advantage against the two qualifier winners, with the top team hosting the qualifier winner with the lower seeding and the second-placed team hosting the qualifier winner with the higher seeding. The two semi-final winners will progress to the final, with the team with the higher seeding having home advantage. Points breakdown: * 4 points for a win * 2 points for a draw * 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match Classification: Teams standings are calculated as follows:[30] * Conference Leaders (i.e. conference leaders will always be ranked in the top three) * Log points * Number of games won * Overall points difference * Number of tries scored * Overall try difference Player statistics Player Caps Run on Tries Cons Pens DGs Pts Michael Alaalatoa 1 0 – – – – 0 Alofa Alofa 15 12 5 – – – 25 Adam Ashley-Cooper 18 18 4 – – – 20 Kurtley Beale 18 18 8 – 6 – 58 Peter Betham 7 6 2 – – – 10 Matt Carraro 13 2 1 – – – 5 Cam Crawford 5 4 – – – – 0 Dave Dennis 13 13 2 – – – 10 Kane Douglas 18 18 1 – – – 5 Israel Folau 14 14 12 – – – 60 Bernard Foley 18 18 6 45 44 – 252 Tala Gray 1 0 – – – – 0 Stephen Hoiles 16 5 1 – – – 5 Michael Hooper 18 18 2 – – – 10 Rob Horne 15 12 5 – – – 25 Sekope Kepu 18 11 1 – – – 5 Jono Lance 9 4 1 – – – 5 Tolo Latu 14 0 – – – – 0 Pat McHutcheon 8 0 – – – – 0 Brendan McKibbin 18 0 1 – – – 5 Taqele Naiyaravoro 5 0 1 – – – 5 Wycliff Palu 15 13 1 – – – 5 Nick Phipps 18 18 3 – – – 15 Tatafu Polota-Nau 18 18 – – – – 0 Jacques Potgieter 18 15 2 – – – 10 Hugo Roach 2 0 – – – – 0 Benn Robinson 18 17 1 – – – 5 Paddy Ryan 17 8 – – – – 0 Will Skelton 18 8 – – – – 0 Jeremy Tilse 14 0 – – – – 0 Source: 2014 Waratahs Team Statistics Home crowd attendances Round Opponent Venue Crowd 2 Western Force Allianz Stadium, Sydney 16,091 3 Reds ANZ Stadium, Sydney 17,580 6 Rebels Allianz Stadium, Sydney 16,000 10 Bulls Allianz Stadium, Sydney 15,773 12 Hurricanes Allianz Stadium, Sydney 17,221 14 Lions Allianz Stadium, Sydney 19,639 17 Brumbies ANZ Stadium, Sydney 18 Highlanders Allianz Stadium, Sydney 24,500 SF Brumbies Allianz Stadium, Sydney 38,800 F Crusaders ANZ Stadium, Sydney 61,823 Total Regular season* 126,804 Average Regular season* 18,115 Total (incl. finals)* 227,427 Average (incl. finals)* 25,270 *Does not include Round 17 v. 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"Nick Phipps confirms move to Waratahs" (Press release). Waratahs. Retrieved 16 March 2013. "Super-duper: Competition on grand scale, with up to five new clubs mooted to join". Age. Fairfax. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013. "Jono Lance joins NSW Waratahs". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013. "Waratahs prepared to test Alofa Alofa in Super Rugby opener against Western Force". Canberra Times. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014. Waratahs Media Unit (7 May 2014). "Tahs confirm signing of Taqele Naiyaravoro". Waratahs. Retrieved 8 May 2014. Waratahs Media Unit (22 August 2013). "Kurtley Beale to return to NSW in 2014" (Press release). Waratahs. Retrieved 22 August 2013. "Richard Aho, dernière recrue de Béziers". Midi Libre (in French). Midi Libre. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013. "Un Australien au LOU Rugby". Lyonmag (in French). Lyonmag. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013. "Shute Shield: Late Surge Sees Rats Hold Off West Harbour". Rugby News. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014. "John Ulugia a signé". USBPA Rugby (in French). Réalisation Ab6net. 9 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-07-01. Retrieved 9 July 2013. "Edinburgh sign up Atkins & Hart". BBC. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013. "Western Force bolster their ranks". Planet Rugby. 11 October 2013. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013. "2014 NSW Waratahs Squad". NSW Waratahs. Archived from the original on 25 March 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2013. Robinson, Georgina (5 April 2013). "Timani gets up to speed for Tahs before flight to France". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 5 April 2013. Rebels Media Unit (6 May 2013). "Rebels sign Lopeti Timani" (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2013. "Berrick Barnes still dreaming of Wallabies". ESPN Scrum. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013. "Carter retires from rugby". Planet Rugby. 23 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-07-26. Retrieved 23 July 2013. "Rebels sign out-of-favour winger for three years". Canberra Times. Fairfax. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013. "Mitchell says 'oui' to Toulon". Sport24. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013. "Speedster Lachie Turner defects to arch-rivals the Queensland Reds from the NSW Waratahs". News. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013. "SA Rugby Log – 2014 Vodacom Super Rugby". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 20 May 2016. "Super Rugby - Official SANZAR Site". SANZAR. Retrieved 25 February 2014. "Team with "Most Wins" will finish higher in Super Rugby". SANZAR. 12 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2011. External links Waratahs Official website Australia Super Rugby website SANZAR website