McKenzie's last 'Tahs' hurrah
May 29 2008
Ewen McKenzie's last game in charge of the Waratahs couldn't have been scripted better as they line out in the Super 14 Final against the Crusaders at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.
It's been a whirlwind season for the former Wallabies prop after he was told by the New South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU) that the final game the Waratahs play this season, will be his last as coach.
As it turned out, that final game will be a final against the same team at the same venue where McKenzie kick-started his coaching career four years ago with a 43-19 win - a result the Waratahs have failed to repeat ever since.
When there was all the talk earlier in the season about the Waratahs' lacklustre play, the focus was essentially on the performance of McKenzie who, unlike this year, had a dire 2007 season when his team finished second-last on the table.
This led to a sizeable fall in crowds - the Waratahs' boring style of play earlier in the year was also to blame - which meant a substantial loss of income for the franchise.
McKenzie's gameplan in the Waratahs' 2005 final defeat to the Crusaders seemed to have crumbled when it came to the crunch and his methods were also severally criticised by the union's top brass.
So the NSWRU decided not to renew McKenzie's contract - despite having stated that a new deal would be forthcoming if he took the Waratahs to the finals.
To make matters worse, the decision was made midway through the season and had Waratahs' fans, players and coaching staff alike in an uproar - how was the team expected to perform with thunder clouds over McKenzie's head?
But in a dramatic turn of events, McKenzie fulfilled his part of the bargain by leading the Waratahs to the Super 14 Final and now faces a chance to sign off as coach with a winner's medal.
In an exclusive interview with Planet Rugby, we asked the departing coach if the pressure is on to bring the elusive silverware home - an accomplishment never before achieved in the history of New South Wales rugby.
"I've been under pressure since last year and I don't feel any better or worse now," said McKenzie.
"But I think everyone has handled it (the pressure) pretty well considering all the contractual issues and last year's results.
"If anything, I'm very proud of the effort put in by the staff and players to get us this far.
"From my point of view, the ambition and the purpose of this year was to be exactly were we are now.
"I always believed in this side and knew this team had what it takes to make the top four and eventually the final.
"We never hit the straps last year for a number of reasons, but we were determined from Round One to make amends by bringing home the trophy this time round.
"So I'm pleased to say that all the preparation, decision-making and attention to getting the basics right have really paid off for us."
One of the consequences of rugby becoming a professional sport is that the status and success of the coach has become seemingly even more important than the performances produced by the players.
"My job is to coach the team," said McKenzie.
"The individual circumstances with players and staff are what they are. Under the circumstances, we as a team have done extremely well to just put it to one side and deal with it.
"There will always be players that have no control of their future in the team, the same goes with coaches. It's just the nature of sport.
"That doesn't make it any easier, but if you can manage your business separate to the personal happenings going on, you might end up alright."
McKenzie's managerial skills as coach certainly came to the fore in a positive way and left the team ending the season unbeaten at the Sydney Football Stadium as well as losing three and drawing one away from home - a remarkable feat under the circumstances.
"Well, there's plenty of reasons we could have come up with when we weren't playing well - me leaving being one of them," said McKenzie.
"We're not one for making unnecessary excuses and when the team take to the pitch, they don't take the issues off the field with them.
"The players know they have no say in what decision has been made about my future, instead they focus on what they can control and that's playing well and winning games.
"There's certain tests we are presented with week after week, and these next couple of days will be no different.
"We know how big this game is, the build-up is going to be good and we just glad to be a part of it."
Part of the build-up this week has been the much-anticipated battle at the breakdown between the Crusaders and Waratahs' loose trio.
Both side's have produced the tournament's most consistant back row partnerships with Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Mose Tuiali'i doing the business for the Crusaders from day one.
McKenzie remains defiant enough to believe the likes of Rocky Elsom, Phil Waugh and Wycliff Palu will enter the blockbuster final with a 50-50 chance of springing a boilover.
"I'm tremendously happy and confident in our back row. The balance of Waugh, Elsom and Palu is just terrific" he said.
"Obviously the contest at the breakdown will be very important in the result.
"We completely respect the Crusaders' history and what they've done and the fact they've led from the front the whole season.
"But they have lost a couple of games and they've had a couple of games where they've come from behind so that suggests if you can get it right on the night, you're a chance.
"So we'll go into the game thinking we're a chance."
Previous results aside, another hurdle facing the Waratahs is playing in front of a sold-out AMI Stadium crowd.
Though only 26,000 supporters will be able to cram into the stadium due to construction work taking place for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the task at beating the Crusaders in front of their home crowd is still a daunting one.
"Well, lets put it this way - if we play well, the crowd gets bored and becomes less vocal," said McKenzie.
"I mean, part of our job playing away from home is to silence the crowd. If we can pull it off, that's already at least one mission accomplished."
Win or lose, McKenzie can leave the Waratahs knowing that against all odds and with his back up against the wall - he's already met his side of the bargain...taking his team to the Super 14 Final.
To cap his last season off with a title will only be an added bonus to an exceptional 2008.
By Dave Morris