With next-to-no media coverage of Israel Folau’s hearing in Pretoria, the Waratahs have been been free to focus their energy on solving a more immediate problem - finding a way to score tries.
The issues are somewhat linked, it must be said, but with Folau’s suspension added to the absence of giant winger Taqele Naiyaravoro, the Waratahs have slumped from being one of Super Rugby’s most prolific try-scoring teams to middle-table battlers.
In the 2018 season, the Waratahs scored 81 tries in 18 games at an average of 4.5 tries per game. That was the third-highest tally in the competition.
This year, the Waratahs are down to 11th with only 26 tries in nine games, at an average of 2.9 tries per game.
Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson identified in the pre-season the need to replace Naiyavoro’s 15 tries, but with Folau (who scored 11) gone too, the Tahs say they have to make sure their teamwork is flawless to compensate.
"We can’t rely as much on individuals to break the game up and score those one-off tries,” Waratahs no.10 Bernard Foley said.
"What we are, we have to be a more engaged and connected unit. We really have to be nailing the details and nailing the execution when we get the opportunity because that’s probably something we have missed a little bit.
"We have had a lot of opportunities and a lot of chances and failed to capitalise, either through ill-discipline, giving the ball up or a loose pass. For us it is more of a holistic game view now, and being able to build pressure and capitalise when opportunities arise.”
The Tahs take on the Bulls on Saturday night at Loftus Versfeld, and while Australia may be turning their gaze towards Folau’s code of conduct hearing on Saturday, his Waratahs teammates are happy to not be in the middle of it.
"It’s probably been a bit of a blessing being away,” Foley said.
"I know personally I haven’t been distracted by it all. I haven’t been up to date with it. As Daryl said, it has been a good time for us as a side to get away. The camaraderie this week has been great.
"Everyone is switched on to the task ahead and playing rugby. Everyone is tired about talking about stuff that hasn’t happened on the field. We want to make sure we are back to talking about the rugby and why we play the game.”
Playing at altitude, Foley said African sides have a tendency to lift the tempo even more than normal, presumably to burn their lungs of their sea level-dwelling rivals.
Wins by the Reds and the Brumbies in Africa this season have been cited as reasons for NSW confidence, but they’re also a reason why the Waratahs must now do likewise, given the tight nature of the Australian conference.
"Looking at results. It’s hard to gauge any sort of consistency or trends that are happening. But we have probably given up a couple of home games, which makes the importance of winning away even moreso,” Foley said.
"We have seen Aussie teams come over here and come away with victories so that’s definitely what we are looking to do. We know it’s a tough place to win and we know the game style changes a little bit but we’re definitely confident in how we’re prepped and the game plan.
"We will put the Bulls under a lot of pressure when we’re able to and get the win that other Aussie sides have done."
