What Is 2019 New South Wales Waratahs season

Overview

The 2019 season marked the 23rd campaign for the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby, a professional competition featuring teams from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, and Japan. Competing under head coach Dave Rennie, the team showed flashes of form but ultimately fell short of playoff qualification.

Playing in the Australian conference, the Waratahs finished fifth among five teams, with a 7–7 win-loss record. Despite strong individual performances, inconsistent defense and injuries hampered their consistency across the 14-match regular season.

• Regular season record: The Waratahs won 7 matches and lost 7, placing them outside playoff contention in the Australian standings.
• Final standings: They finished 5th in the Australian conference, ahead only of the Western Force, who had a 5–9 record.
• Head coach:Dave Rennie led the team for the final season before departing to join Glasgow Warriors in Scotland.
• Notable victory: The Waratahs defeated the Sunwolves 40–14 in Tokyo in May, their highest-scoring win of the season.
• Home venue: Most home games were played at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, with average attendances around 18,000 per match.

Performance & Coaching Changes

The 2019 season was defined by transition, both on and off the field, as the Waratahs navigated a rebuilding phase amid coaching uncertainty and player turnover.

• Dave Rennie: Appointed in 2017, Rennie led a cultural reset but stepped down after 2019 to pursue opportunities overseas.
• Attack strategy: The team averaged 22.1 points per game, ranking mid-tier among Australian sides in offensive output.
• Defensive struggles: They conceded an average of 26.4 points per match, the worst among Australian teams.
• Key players:Ta'avao, Hooper, and Ikitua were standouts, with Hooper leading in tackles and linebreaks.
• Injuries: Key absences, including Bernard Foley’s mid-season injury, disrupted backline cohesion.
• Discipline: The Waratahs received 18 yellow cards during the season, the most in the Australian conference.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the Waratahs' 2019 performance compared to other Australian Super Rugby teams:

The Waratahs scored 309 points but conceded 369, highlighting a defensive deficit compared to rivals. While their offense was competitive, poor discipline and inconsistent tackling undermined their campaign. The Brumbies dominated the conference, while the Waratahs struggled to maintain momentum after narrow losses to top teams.

Why It Matters

The 2019 season was a turning point for the Waratahs, signaling the end of an era under Dave Rennie and the beginning of a new rebuild under incoming leadership.

• Leadership transition: Rennie’s departure opened the door for Robbie Deans, who took over in 2020 to stabilize the squad.
• Youth development: The season emphasized promoting younger players like Ikitua and Bell, preparing for long-term growth.
• Financial impact: Lower attendances and playoff absence affected revenue and sponsorship appeal.
• Competition parity: The gap between the Brumbies and other Australian teams widened, raising questions about national competitiveness.
• Player retention: Key players considered overseas moves due to lack of success and visibility.
• Future strategy: The season’s struggles led to a restructured high-performance program in 2020.

Ultimately, the 2019 campaign served as a cautionary chapter in Waratahs history, underscoring the need for sustained investment, coaching continuity, and player development to return to contention in Super Rugby.