Gaffney tactics include ball in hand training...Galloping Green style

Teamwork paying off says newcomer Gaffney

A month into pre-season training, HSBC Waratahs' senior assistant coach Alan Gaffney has praised his fellow coaches, believing their team working is already paying off.

"The players look forward to training because they are constantly challenged," said Gaffney, who joined the set up last month.

Under the direction of Head Coach Michael Foley, Scott Bowen and Greg Mumm have worked alongside Athletic Development Manager Haydn Masters to put together a pre-season program that challenges players, physically and mentally.

"There is fantastic variety in training and the players are enjoying themselves and it shows in their work ethic. Although the focus is on conditioning, there is a lot of skills work incorporated into our sessions, through small-sided training games like tag and gridiron touch," said Gaffney.

"I remember a time ten years ago when there were often no balls in sight for the first 10 weeks of training. Always at training, we should be working with ball in hand: you play with a ball so you should train with a ball.

"Everyone has to be a decision maker in their own right and already, Foles [Michael Foley] has done a great job at ensuring everyone knows their role when it comes to leadership and decision making.

"Our attacking sessions are designed to work on the players' communication and are always played at pace. We make them progressively more challenging by reducing the space the players have to work with and increasing the defensive pressure on them.

"Although the wet and windy conditions have made it difficult, the players have worked very hard to make sure there's no noticeable drop off in quality after the conditioning work and that's impressed me."
Waratahs Rugby Media Release
Thursday November 24, 2011