By Mark Cashman

This article originally appeared in Tah Time, the Waratahs official matchday programme. 

We caught up with departing Waratahs club captain Dave Dennis and asked him about two very special Tahs who are on the move.

TAH TIME: From 36 degrees in Tokyo to a chilly Sydney! How have you coped with the extremes this week as you prepare for the big match against the Hurricanes?

DAVE DENNIS: Everyone in Sydney has been complaining about how cold it has been here but it’s been a nice adjustment from those conditions up in Tokyo which were like mid January here – very hot and humid.

TT: Rugby seems to be in a good place up there in Japan doesn’t it? The enthusiasm for the game is great to see.

DD: That was the one thing that I enjoyed about our time up there. They love their Rugby and even though we had such a big win their enthusiasm for the game was great. We had people keen for autographs and selfies in our hotel lobby all the time and at the same time they were very respectful and polite. The Rugby World Cup is on its way there in 2019 and from what I saw it’s going to be a pretty special moment. Yeah it’s in a good space up there.

TT: One of the last times that you will play here at Allianz Stadium with that blue jersey on. How have the emotions been leading into the game?

DD: Yeah, I’ve have been thinking about that a bit more in recent times when things get towards the pointy end of the season. Hopefully it’s not the final time that I get to play here and we get a finals game. I’ve been 10 years here at the Tahs and running out on to Allianz has always been something special.

TT: Your most cherished memory in your time here – there must have been a few?

DD: Hard to go past that win in the final in 2014 even though I wasn’t on the field. Just to be a part of squad and see the joy on the faces of a lot of the senior guys was certainly something special. My debut in 2007 against the Crusaders at Allianz was also up there. I was just a kid from Kurrajong in the far west of Sydney and to have my first game with guys like ‘Waughy’ (Phil Waugh), David Lyons and Lote Tuqiri was special. I also rate as the change that has happened around the club in the past few years with the guys committing to making the club a winning club as a great memory.

TT: It’s a chance to say goodbye to a couple of special Tahs in Benn Robinson and Kurtley Beale. Can you deal some dirt on ‘Fat Cat’ for us?

DD: There’s thousand of them, thousands of them. I remember one time in 2008 in Cape Town when he invited me out to a restaurant with a few of the senior guys. I thought that was pretty nice until the bill came and being on a development contract at that time I had to shell a fair whack of my wages from that week. He’s always passionate about his food and it’s been good to be able to be around him so much over the past decade or so.

TT: The suddenness of Cat’s retirement must have hit the guys pretty hard at the time and I see Tatafu Polota-Nau reflecting on that earlier this week?

DD: I’ve also tried to be a player who has appreciated every moment and we’re all very aware of the way that things can go at times. In some ways you don’t realise how lucky you are until it ends in these situations. It’s been tough for Benny in the way that it ended but in a glass half full sort of way you could say he’s had a pretty outstanding career. When he looks back in a year or so I’m sure he will be proud of what he has done here and at the Wallabies.

TT: You must have a good story or two about ‘KB’ as well?

DD: I’ve always had this image of Kurtley coming straight out of Joeys with his little head gear on and trying to chip and chase every second play. But what sticks out for me is the way that he has gone from this pretty raw indigenous kid from Mount Druitt to the mature footballer that we see today. It’s a shame he won’t be on the field tonight but he’s a credit to himself and the Waratahs because we have been there supporting him along the way on that journey.

TT: What sort of effect do you think his style will have on his club Wasps in the UK?

DD: I won’t be looking forward to marking him in the wider channels when we (Exeter) play them that’s for sure. Kurtley’s such a natural footballer as a lot of the indigenous guys are and I am sure it will take his teammates at Wasps time to come to terms with the way that he plays. They have a reputation as being a heavily structured team and I’m sure it will take time for everyone to get on the same page but they were obviously looking for someone with X Factor and that’s what you get with Kurtley.

TT: You’re off to Exeter yourself in the Aviva Premiership and the place here is in pretty good shape, but are we ready for this turnover of experience that happens from time to time?

DD: We’ve been very lucky to have that base of experience over the past couple of seasons but all things things come to an end and I’m one of those guys off on to another experience. The way Daryl (Gibson) likes to coach he has the players driving the program and guys like Michael Hooper, Rob Horne, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, Izzy Folau will all be there so there’s going to be some key guys there next year. It’s an opportunity for the younger guys like Jed Holloway and Jack Dempsey and other around the forward pack to step up and take on some of the leadership. That’s what all professional clubs are about it’s about growing your own stars and maintaining the standards that get results.

TT: All things considered the hitout against the Sunwolves after the Test break was pretty positive wasn’t it?

DD: We were really happy with it after three or four weeks off. It was good for all the Wallabies to get away into a foreign environment and get back into the flow of things too and after a tough first 20 minutes or so you could feel some things were coming back.

TT: Against the Hurricanes, you’ll get a ringside seat to one of the great head to heads in this game with Ardie Savea coming up against Michael Hooper?

DD: Yeah an amazing contest with Ardie getting a crack with the All Blacks earlier this year. They’re pretty similiar players in that they’re great ball carriers, they get across the ground well, they like the contact and they’ll be going at each other all night. But there’s a few more threats out there for us right across the park. Guys like Dane Coles at hooker and Beauden Barrett out the back.

TT: Thanks for your time Denno. Kinichiwa and go well!