Waratahs backs coach Chris Whitaker says the determination of NSW’s players to take “ownership” of their fortunes unlocked their exciting win against the Lions.
The Waratahs piled on early points against the Lions in Parramatta with some of the most electric rugby they’ve played all season, showing a renewed confidence.
Coach Rob Penney sad post-match his leaders had been impressive in the way they stood up during the bye week and Whitaker echoed that idea on Monday.
The former NSW scrumhalf said the playing group was steely in its desire to turn their season around ahead of last week’s matchup and that paid off.
“I think probably we showed glimpses of it in the first game and then the next two games have probably lost a lot of confidence each game,” he said.
“I think it just came to a point where the boys got sick of it and they took control and they said, 'Let's go out and show what we can do’.
“Full credit to the players, they took a lot of ownership of the week and they handled the week really well, they backed themselves.”
A key element of their players stepping up came down to their willingness to embrace an instinctive style of attack.
Penney and Whitaker have been committed to encouraging their players to attack with a level of autonomy and freedom, something players like winger Jack Maddocks is relishing.
Maddocks said he felt that ability to express themselves was a key to winning against the Lions.
"After the three losses, confidence was probably a major thing in that game," he said.
"We talked about starting fast and our preparation last week was everything was short and sharp and high intensity.
"I think that worked really well, we got out of the gates really quickly and I think if we'd staggered through that first half a bit of doubt might have started to creep in but we really expressed ourselves early on and it took a lot of courage to do that so credit to all he boys to go out there and play our hand and stuff so i think that's what set up the win."
In the longer term as well, Maddocks said he felt the approach would create better players out of the current group.
“I think one of the great things about that is we're a young side and a big thing about when coaches do that is it helps you develop as a player,” he said.
“I think we're all really enjoying that. I've played in sides before where coaches take that freedom away from players, it might be the best thing for the next game coming up and the next game coming up but is it the best thing for developing players?
“I guess that's another question - I guess we're always trying to win every game every week but I think one thing the program's doing really well is developing players so that two, three, four years time we can all take ownership and not rely on the coaches and be able to step up, play what we see and take control.”
The Waratahs attack fired against the Lions and Maddocks said getting that result off the back of having faith in themselves would be a handy dose of confidence for this week.
“When you have a few losses you can start to question little things in the process,” he said.
“Not so much when you go out under the lights but Monday to Friday you start to question things and that's a challenge as a player is not having that doubt and having the confidence and belief.
“Getting wins removes any doubt and for us we're just trying to replicate everything we did last week in terms of our preparation, even take it up a notch.”.
The Waratahs will certainly have to take things up a notch against a Chiefs side that has had two weeks to ruminate on a drubbing at the hands of the Brumbies on their home turf.
“You always target the game after the bye because you get two weeks to prepare for it, you get a week off to freshen up and then you get the extra couple of days to prepare and get your game plan in place,” Whitaker said.
“They'll definitely be dangerous so we need to be on our game and need to up the intensity from where we were last week”
The Waratahs are still sweating on the fitness of captain Rob Simmons, halfback Jake Gordon and winger mark Nawaqanitawase after last weekend’s match.
Simmons was able to get rid of his moon boot on Monday but Whitaker still described he and Gordon as ‘touch and go” while Nawaqanitawase sat out training with a tight back.
The Waratahs take on the Chiefs on Friday March 6 at WIN Stadium, Wollongong, kicking off at 7:15pm AEDT, LIVE on Foxtel, Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. The Brumbies will take on the Sunwolves at the same ground earlier in the day, kicking off at 2;45pm AEDT. Buy tickets here.
