Old Master returns to paint Waratahs in his own image

Galloping Green Alan Gaffney has been appointed senior assistant coach of the Waratahs for next season's Super Rugby competition and may tinge the Waratah's sky blue with myrtle green.

Long-suffering NSW Waratahs fans crying out for attacking rugby would have been pleased to hear Alan Gaffney had been appointed as the team's senior assistant coach. Raised on running rugby at Sydney club Randwick, Gaffney played more than 200 games for the Galloping Greens and later coached the Ella brothers, David Campese and George Gregan.

A master of the rehearsed move, Gaffney has enjoyed success within and outside Australia, most notably in Ireland where he helped the Irish win the Six Nations grand slam and Leinster claim the Heineken Cup, both in 2009.

While Gaffney will bring an attacking mindset to the Waratahs, it will not necessarily be with the ball in hand, at least not for the sake of it.

Gaffney, who was Ireland's backs coach at the World Cup in New Zealand, has embraced the strategy of new Waratahs coach Michael Foley, which is based on attacking kicking.

...It might sound like a misnomer, but it works.

Influenced by the Queensland Reds' success in Super Rugby last season, the Waratahs will attempt to maintain momentum not by holding on to the ball for long periods, but to employ contestable kicking. "I didn't know Foles," said Gaffney, whose shock of grey hair gives him a grandfatherly appearance. "I had met Michael maybe once in my life. After I was offered the position I spoke to Michael and it was very clear we were on the same wavelength.

"There was this penchant last year for holding on to the ball for long periods and while you were controlling the ball, you were not controlling the game necessarily.

"To use Michael's words, and the words I have now adopted, we have to maintain the momentum of the game for longer periods.

"You can only do three things with a rugby ball. You can kick it, run with it or pass it. Just to think you've got the ball in hand all the time is not necessarily the answer.

"The Reds showed that with attacking kicking, which is kicking to get the ball back again and pressure the opposition.

"Look at the attacking kicking demonstrated by Australia against France last year where they scored four, it might have been five, tries from direct kicks.

"Foles wants the Waratahs to maintain the momentum. Whether that be with an attacking kick or a defensive kick or whatever we do with the ball we have to have that frame of mind."

Gaffney's first job in professional rugby was as Matt Williams' assistant coach at the Waratahs from 1997-1999 when the coaching staff was sacked.

Gaffney has since held a number of notable positions, including coach of Irish province Munster, director of rugby at English club Saracens and Wallabies backs coach under Eddie Jones.

"It might not have been great at the time, but it gave me a great opportunity," Gaffney said of his departure from the Waratahs.

"It turned out to be a blessing.

"It was a great adventure. A fantastic part of my life. But now to come home . . . I didn't know how I would handle it . . . but it has been great."

Gaffney had already decided to return to Australia after Ireland's World Cup campaign in New Zealand, which included an upset win against the Wallabies in the pool round.

"It was a pretty simple game plan," Gaffney said of Ireland's 15-6 win. "We never intended to go into that game and be expansive.

"Our defence was strong, our forwards were outstanding and our scrum was good."

Gaffney has had a lot of titles in his long coaching career -- head coach, backs coach, director of rugby, technical consultant and assistant coach -- although senior assistant coach is a new one even for him.

"Titles have never worried me," he said. "Being the boss or being second or being third. I'm not into titles.

"I just want to work with people I want to work with and fortunately that's what's happened here.

"The role that Foles has said I'll have is working with Scotty Bowen (assistant coach) with the backs. Scotty was playing when I last coached at the Waratahs. I've always had a lot of respect for Scotty's ideas and opinions."

They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but this Old Master is sure to have a few tricks up his sleeve to keep the fans entertained.

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