Waratahs to bring 'humble confidence' into latest NZ clash

In coach speak, the NSW Waratahs will carry “a humble confidence” into Saturday night’s Super Rugby Pacific crunch match with the Hurricanes in Sydney.

In layman’s terms, after years of regular trans-Tasman beatings, the Waratahs finally feel back on level terms against their more-fancied New Zealand opponents.

Or at least close to level pegging following a stirring victory over the benchmark Crusaders and six other wins so far in a resurgent 2022 that has Darren Coleman’s side suddenly challenging for a top-four finish and home quarter-final.

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We chat to La Rochelle’s South Africa international Dillyn Leyds ahead of the all-French Champions Cup quarter-final against Montpellier to find out about Ronan O’Gara’s spikiness, how he ended up in the west of France instead of South West London and his chances of a Springbok recall. Plus, we look at the madness of the Top 14 where still nobody is guaranteed a play-off place with two rounds to go, look ahead to all of the Champions Cup quarter-finals and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week…
Use the code FRENCHPOD20 at checkout for 20% off any full price item at Meater.com
Head over to daysbrewing.com and use the code RUGBYPASS15 to get 15% off a case of their 0.0% beers

“It’s a confidence that if we turn up and do our job then we’re in with a fight,” said Waratahs assistant coach Pauli Taumoepeau.

“It’s not like the rule of inertia where what’s happening is always going to happen. We understand that we have to work hard for it, but there’s evidence that if we play hard and play tough that we can swing a result.”

Coleman’s appointment, following last year’s mid-se ason sacking of Rob Penney, is proving somewhat of a masterstroke by the NSW board.

Taumoepeau said there was no chance of Coleman allowing his team of surprise packets to get carried away by their unexpected success so far in his first season.

“A humble confidence is sewn in what DC’s about,” the forwards coach said.

“We’ve still got to work hard. We get nothing on Mondays. When we won against the Crusaders, we came in and told them every single fault from within that game.

“It wasn’t like ‘come on boys, come in a bit later’ or ‘let’s go out on Saturday night’.

“There’s no free rides. That’s just how we operate.”

Driven by the despair of last year’s winless campaign, the Waratahs are chasing a fourth straight victory for the first time since 2018.

But they’re also facing a possible fifth consecutive loss to the Hurricanes, who fired a timely warning of their attacking potency with a 67-5 slaying of Fijian Drua on Sund ay.

The Tahs must beat the seventh-plac ed Hurricanes to at least hold down fifth spot and keep their 2022 ultimate redemption dream alive.

“Last year’s not a distant memory,” Taumoepeau said.

“As much as you try, we can’t go past it. Even the headlines, we can’t win a game without someone saying they lost 17 in a row last year.

“The boys still hurt from that. We’re humans so you remember those things. No one’s gloating.”