ligaments.

The Waratahs are Australia's great Super Rugby under-achievers, given the large number of Wallabies in their squad, and Michael Cheika has the task as the incoming head coach from Leinster to realise glory for the Sydney-based team.

The Waratahs have added emerging flanker Michael Hooper and former rugby league international back Israel Folau to their ranks, to be led this season by blindside flanker Dave Dennis.

The Waratahs won only four games out of 16 last season, leading to the departure of Michael Foley who is now coach of Western Force.

If Cheika can turn it around, the 'Tahs have the attacking players in Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Rob Horne, Israel Folau, Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner to match any backline in Super Rugby. The trick will be to realise it.sand. The waves quiet on the wide beach. I walk. I feel no other human footprints on the dark sand but, from time to time tracks, shaped like those which might be left by a small earthmover, a backhoe. Follow them to the waves and they disappear. Follow them to the dunes, a sea turtle may be found digging her nest, laying her eggs. Some tracks lead from the water, to the dunes and back – a turtle having entered the air and exited again, leaving her eggs behind.

Still, there are no signs of people. No light, no print, no sound. I remove my shorts and walk. Walk. The world is naked to me and I to it, with no thing between me and nature that is not