With the impending Super Rugby season now upon us, RUPA recently spoke to NSW Waratahs and Wallabies Scrumhalf, Nick Phipps to get his opinion and insights on the upcoming season, Waratahs rookies, Rugby World Cup and life off the field.
On the first Super Rugby hit out for 2015…
Phipps said he was excited about running out in the first game.
“Jacques Potgieter even said he was shedding a little tear when we all ran out together again as a full team during the trial.
“I’m looking forward to getting back home. Sunday afternoon footy is going to be awesome, the Sydney fans love that.
“It will be good to get our first hit out done and dusted and assess where we are and then build our season from a solid performance there.”
(The NSW Waratahs first Super Rugby game for 2015 is against the Western Force at Allianz Stadium on Sunday 15 February, 4pm).
On how the Waratahs players are feeling…
“It’s funny, we had such a good season last year but still the boys want more. Everyone seems to want more for the Club we’ve dedicated a good chunk of our lives to.
“With all the work that everyone’s put in, there’s no egos, there’s just one single-mindedness with a united goal for us to keep working hard and play our style of footy that everyone loves.”
On the Waratahs rookies….
“Sam Lousi is a big gentle giant, an awesome bloke and wants to learn so much.
“Andrew Kellaway has already become one of the “Club legends”. He’s a really great guy who wants to work hard. He has a lot of respect for everyone around him and is working his butt off until he gets a chance and that’s what you love to see.
“There’s a lot of young blokes out there who would take it for granted, but definitely not the new guys we’ve got, which is a testament to Cheik’s ability to secure those sorts of young players.”
On the impact of the Rugby World Cup …
Phipps believes the Super Rugby season will be further intensified this year with the prospect of the Rugby World Cup.
“Especially because Cheik is head Coach for the Tahs and the Wallabies. There’ll be many players trying to put in their best performance against the Tahs, which makes our job a little bit harder. But we relish the opportunity to have a go.
“We know it’s going to be big. Everyone keeps talking about the fact that we’ve got targets on our backs so it’ll probably be a tough year, but we’ve just got to keep our heads down and keep working hard.”
On work off the field…
“I’m doing my last two subjects at the moment as part of my Bachelor of Business at Swinburne (University). My last exam is on the 19th of February so I will hopefully graduate a couple of weeks after that. Then I plan to start my Masters of International Business at Sydney Uni.
“I do really enjoy having something away from footy to concentrate on. I think it provides a good balance between footy and work.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to graduate, which is something a lot of people didn’t think I could do when I was back in college, so that’s pretty satisfying.”
