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NSW Waratahs captain Phil Waugh is adamant NSW can mount another strong Super 14 title challenge despite losing several big name forwards.
The Wallabies flanker, who is about to embark on his 10th Super campaign, also believes the cluster of promising backs will benefit from last year's run to the final.
The last handful of Wallabies to resume training returned to the Waratahs yesterday, with props Al Baxter and Benn Robinson subjected to some technical work on scrummaging by new Waratahs assistant coach and former Wallabies set-piece guru Michael Foley.
Winning a Super title remains a major goal for Waugh, despite the overseas departures of Test forwards Dan Vickerman, Rocky Elsom and David Lyons, plus the unavailability of prop Matt Dunning due to a season-ending achilles injury.
"Obviously (without) Vicks, Rocky and Lyno, we lose a bit of experience," Waugh said.
"But at the same time the backs have got a year under their belt and the experience of playing in the final last year and playing pressure games hopefully will hold us in good stead going into the end of games this year."
There are big raps on exciting youngsters Lachie Turner, 21, five-eighth Kurtley Beale, 20, and centre Rob Horne, 19.
Off-contract at the end of this year, Waugh will decide his future soon. He said he loved playing for NSW and Australia and living in Sydney, but would consider his options and decide what was best for his family and "for life in general".
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html