KEY POINTS:
New coach Tony Hanks believes Waikato have the goods to mount a serious challenge at the Air NZ Cup rugby title next year.
Hanks, 36, was yesterday named as successor to Warren Gatland, who has taken the Wales job. Hanks has been Gatland's assistant for the past six years, three at Waikato and three during a successful stint with English club Wasps.
He said he could see parallels between the 2007 Air NZ Cup campaign - in which Waikato, hit by injury and defections to the All Blacks' World Cup campaign, failed to make the semifinals - and two years ago.
In 2005, the province finished seventh in Gatland's first year in charge, but turned their fortunes around the following season to became national champions.
"In'05, we had a lot of rebuilding, and Warren and I brought maybe a bit of a different style, and we saw the fruits of that in'06," Hanks said. "In'07, we've gone through a similar rebuilding period. Going forward, we're in a nice position. We've got some young players who have got the experience they wouldn't otherwise have had."
While Waikato have lost the likes of Steven Bates and Marty Holah to overseas clubs, Hanks said players such as Liam Messam, Richard Kahui, Tom Willis and Stephen Donald formed the nucleus of a strong senior group.
He described his appointment as a case of "the right job at the right time".
His experience includes being skills coach for the Junior All Blacks, and skills coach and technical analyst for Super 14 side the Chiefs, for the past two years.
He has been named the Chiefs' assistant coach for next year.
Hanks will be assisted at Waikato by Chris Gibbes, who was assistant to Japan coach John Kirwan in this year's World Cup.
Gibbes is a development officer for the Waikato union and played for Waikato B, Hawkes Bay and the New Zealand Colts.
- NZPA
