Consistent Bernard Foley becoming a top Waratahs No.10

BERNARD is not yet Bernie, but after an impressive first year in the hotseat, he's heading in the right direction.

BERNARD is not yet Bernie, but after an impressive first year in the hotseat, he's heading in the right direction.

That's the view of experienced Waratahs attack coach Alan Gaffney, who believes Waratahs five-eighth Bernard Foley has shown glimpses of Stephen Larkham in a successful maiden season shouldering the heavy weight of the NSW No.10 role.

Foley will tonight steer the Tahs around ANZ Stadium against Queensland, and it will be the rarest of occasions: the playmaker will become only the second Waratah to start and finish an entire Super Rugby season in the sky blue no.10.

Playing in his 16th straight Super game at five-eighth in 2013, Foley will equal the feat of Kurtley Beale, who filled the position in every game of the 2008 season; including the final.

After playing two games in the No.10 last year, Foley will have played 18 consecutive games - still three short of Beale's 2008-09 record (21) - by season's end. For all the encouraging building blocks put in place by Michael Cheika, that consistency is regarded as one of the keys for future success.

"He's been terrific Bernard, considering the fact last year this is his first full season playing five-eighth," Gaffney said.

"He had a lot of learning to do as a ten, particularly at this level, and he's done really well. He's definitely been one of our best and most consistent players this season."

The Waratah No.10 jersey has long been a problem child; with chopping and changing of personnel, and a failure to lock down one permanent solution.

Bernard Foley

According to figures of NSW Rugby stats guru Steve Johnson, the Tahs have used 16 different No.10s since 1996, with Daniel Halangahu tipping out Beale by one for most starts with a modest 32 games; spread across six seasons.

The first full season at No.10 by Foley, who previously played sevens rugby and fullback, has been a strong one. Going into the last round, he led Super Rugby for try-assists (10) ahead of Aaron Cruden (9), and was second on line-break assists (18) behind the Chiefs pivot (19).

Where Foley separates from Cruden, however, is his capacity to run, with figures of FoxSports Stats showing the Tah is eighth in the comp with 11 linebreaks, and an average of 61 metres a game. Cruden is 96th in the comp with three linebreaks, and only makes 40m per game.

Foley's sevens-honed attacking mentality has perfectly suited Cheika's relentless, ball-in-hand game.

"He likes to play that way, so it's helped him and its helped us. He likes to take the line on, and is getting much better at picking his times when to go, and when to hold back," Gaffney said.

"The opposition have to be worried about him at all times though, they can't leave him alone. He's picking his moments well."

Asked if he saw any of Larkham's famous ability to choose an unguarded moment to slip through the line, Gaffney said: "It does remind you a bit of Stephen."

"Bernard could pick a worse player to model his game on, that's for sure," Gaffney said.

"We wouldn't burden him with a direct comparison but Bernard is a guy who can play like Stephen did, for sure. He'll keep improving, too."

Foley was almost lost to the Rebels last month, when he agreed to head south on big money. But the ferocity with which Cheika fought to successfully keep Foley ultimately showed how important the is to the Tahs long-term.

"He's a cool customer, he's kept us on strategy this year, even when things don't seem to be going right and we're trailing," Gaffney said.

"Bernard is reading the play very, very well and providing the voice between him and the rest of the team in asserting where the attack is going to go. The players responded to it."

Foley, who was 23rd man for the Wallabies in June last year, will duel with Quade Cooper Saturday night at ANZ Stadium, and Gaffney is already excited.

"It'll be a game. You definitely have two tens who want to play," he said.

"We have the lowest kicking stats this year, and we know Cooper loves nothing more than taking the line on, so it should be a cracker to watch."