Joseph-Aukuso Suoli to return to the Waratahs team to play Wellington Hurricanees
Attracted to Sydney from the possibility of a lifestyle changeCatt has six months in his new role with the Waratah.
He met the former colleague Andy Farrell when the British and Irish Lions coach was recently in the city on a reconnaissance trip in view of the July series, and although he has not been asked for any internal council on the Australian players, Catt is sure that the hosts will offer a strong challenge.
Catt said he was firmly concentrated at daily work to improve the Waratah. It is excited both by the potential of the franchise and by the dimensions and athleticism of the Australian players.
Mike Catt at the NSW Rugby headquartersCredit: Hugo Carr/NSW Waratahs
“Do you think you know a lot (on Australian rugby) until you are inside it … so you go out and you really experiment and seeing it, you have adequate athletes out there – some adequate and adequate athletes,” said Catt.
“Now they are just the nuances of the game. I think, especially from a northern hemisphere … there is a massive influence in the details of how you do things.
“While here, it is a little more free and a little more free flow. So, to introduce and obtain an excellent balance between the two, for me it is what it is. But we have a real factor x in the team and we have great men.
Jonny Sexton and Mike Catt who discuss Tactics in the field of Ireland.Credit: Sportsfile Via Getty Images
“They are young children, 20-21 years old, 22 years old. You don’t understand it in the northern hemisphere very often.
“So it was fantastic. And then you have your boys of factor X as, Suealii and” Jorgo “and those guys who are only exceptional football players. Only incredibly talented. So, those who get married to the great boys, if we can get a good cohesion between the two, we will be a good team in the years to come.”
Catt said that the Waratah are still an “ongoing work”, but they have made great strides in being “more courageous and smarter” in their attack against brumbie.
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After playing mainly at home so far, however, the TAH are aware of entering a toughest phase of the season. They play four of the next five games from Sydney, starting from the Wellington hurricanes (where they have not won since 2015).
Catt said that Sueali was in shape and available for selection, but where he plays it will be an interesting choice, since Andrew Kellaway was strong at number 15 in his absence.
