The Waratahs need to make the most of their possessions against the Highlanders, if they want to break through for a ‘huge’ win, halfback Jake Gordon says.
Gordon has returned to the starting side, rotating with Nick Phipps, for the clash and said the Waratahs just needed to be better under pressure to finally clinch a trans-Tasman win.
“That's huge. That's been our aim (to break the drought)," he said.
"The last two weeks, we haven't had as many errors but the little analogy (is) just to keep knocking the nail.
“For us, at the moment, it's in those pressure situations, it's holding onto the ball and not giving the ball over easy.”
Though the Waratahs have fallen short in the past two weeks, they have been painfully close to victories and Gordon said they could take positives from their fighting display.
“Yeah, we kept fighting (against the Crusaders),” he said.
“I think it was maybe 10 phases into that last two minutes in the game and I felt like we put ourselves in a position to win that game.”
With Wallabies season not far away either - the June squad will be named on May 30 - there is plenty at stake on every level, with Will Genia’s Test backup not set in stone.
Gordon made the June Series squad in 2017 and said a strong performance against an opponent like the Highlanders would only be good for himself and the other Test contenders at NSW.
“Yeah, more importantly the team,” he said.
“We're against another Kiwi opposition and personally, (it’s) just keep playing good footy.
“For me, it's working on those little things that I've been doing in training and bringing them out on the paddock.”
Gordon will have a good benchmark on Saturday night, going head-to-head with All Blacks star Aaron Smith and said he’d be keeping watch on his opposite number.
“You always match up against the opposition,” he said.
“I think a big key for us, 1-15, to play better than your opposition.
“So, you've got to keep an eye on him but I won't be too focused on what he's doing throughout the game.”
The Waratahs take on the Highlanders on Saturday night, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.
