Waugh enjoying new lease of life

Johnny Watterson talks to a Wallaby who has brought an extra dimension to Connacht's attack

'To Hell or Connacht' is beginning to assume different connotations to what Oliver Cromwell meant back in the times when the province didn't have such a cosmopolitan reputation.

Now proving to be the star turn of this year's Celtic League, too many sides have been burnt by a Connacht team not supposed to be in the running and now threatening to stick its head above the parapet with five wins from five.

But for Connacht watchers, there has long been a vein of quality running through the most western team in the competition and with coach Steph Nel's organisation and enthusiasm in developing the talent, allied with forwards' coach John McKee's technical input, this year travelling to the Sportsground has been a little hellish for visiting sides.

Seeking more control for a whimsically running side, Nel this year acquired a few stabilising influences in former Scottish international back row Eric Peters and former Wallaby lock Warwick Waugh, a veteran of the 1995 World Cup.

Stitched into the existing fabric of experienced heads such as Eric Elwood, Tim Allnutt, Darren Yap and Wayne Munn, and emerging players such as Johnny O'Connor, Mark McHugh, Shane Moore, Ted Robinson and Gavin Duffy, Nel has constructed a team that in coming so far also realises how far it still has to go. The journey has been enlightening.

Waugh, 34 and now vice-captain, will probably lead Connacht more often than he thought with captain Tim Allnutt's cruciate injury ensuring that he will not play for some time. It doesn't faze the 28 times capped Australian.

"Not only am I pleased to be vice-captain on a personal level but I see it also as a challenge. It is a privilege to be asked to lead Connacht," he says.

"Steph has obviously gotten results before, but I think his and John's (McKee) styles complement each other. Steph is enthusiastic and brought together a great squad and got the best out of them while John is very conscious of the technical side of forward play. There is a chemistry there."

Living in Galway with his 12-month-old son Callum and wife Rebecca, a triathlete who will run the Dublin marathon later this month, Waugh has been receiving as much as he has been giving over the 10 weeks he's been in the country.

"The youthful side of the team has added to me. It has added to my enthusiasm and rubbed off on me. I'm enjoying these guys, enjoying their way of playing the game.

"Connacht pride themselves on defence, they're very gritty in that respect. What we try to do is get the simple things right and allow personalities to come through. It has been a good start but the team hasn't had any big wins and won't fall into the trap of being complacent. We've been winning but we are not that much better than the sides we're playing. It's very tight and the next two sides, Pontypridd and Glasgow, are the ones we expect to provide the biggest opposition."

Nel has also recognised what Waugh and Peters have brought to the squad - stability and a little considered direction during play.

"We've added experience and depth," he says. "Warwick and Eric returned us to the basics and brought a little more control in attack. They know not to panic and not to get frantic and what to do at the right time."

Waugh is looking only as far as Saturday's match where a win would guarantee a home quarter-final draw: "I played 'Ponty' in the European Shield when I was in France. They play a tough driving game and if you don't pressure them they won't make mistakes. Players know they have to step up. We could be the best side but we are not the best side now. The Irish play with passion and they are not dissimilar to the French but humility is part of our game too."