Hold the phone, the Wallabies-laden Waratahs are not the star-studded outfit they're hyped up to be - and success-starved NSW fans need to stay patient.
That is the blunt message from hard-nosed coach Dan McKellar after watching his Waratahs leak 102 points in back-to-back losses in New Zealand to the Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika.
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The sobering defeats, after winning four of their first five games in the best start to a campaign since 2009, have sent the Tahs back to sixth on the ladder ahead of Friday night's hosting of the table-topping Chiefs in Sydney.
Leaking 16 tries in two matches also has McKellar expecting a bounce back, at least in the physicality and intensity stakes, as the Tahs return to their Allianz Stadium fortress where they are unbeaten in 2025.
"We haven't been good enough for the last two weeks, and we're aware of that," McKellar said his side's captain's run on Thursday.
"But also we're aware of where we're heading on this journey together as a group, and we knew there was going to be some bumps along the road, and we've had some bumps along the road.
"As much as you guys and others like to talk about it being a superstar side and all that sort of carry on, the reality is there's not a whole lot of cohesion amongst the group, the staff and everything.
"So we're getting there slowly but we want to see a response on Friday."
A repeat of their defensive lapses won't cut it against the benchmark and razzle-dazzle Chiefs, led by the mercurial playmaker Damian McKenzie and classy outside back Shaun Stevenson.
"They love turnover attack," McKellar said.
"When it gets loose, it plays into their hands and they're very good decision makers.
"McKenzie, Stevenson, a number of them just make the right decision at the right time. That's why McKenzie's a world-class player.
"But you've got to defend well and, if you get loose and give them turnover ball, then they'll hurt you.
"So it starts and stops up front against any New Zealand side."
Despite the two hiccups in Wellington and Auckland, the Waratahs aren't hitting the panic button.
With three try assists to genuine superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, the visitors enjoyed a healthy lead last start before Moana piled on 38 second-half points to run them down.
"We've had some success against New Zealand sides in the past and, if you can match them up front and physically, then you give yourself a chance," McKellar said.
"Last week, we got loose. That's the reality. We turned over ball at set piece.
"So how you attack impacts how you defend and that's what happened last week. It wasn't like all of a sudden we became a poor team defensively. We were very good for that first 50 minutes.
"But when you're turning over the ball and you've got big men coming at you, it's like a tsunami of pressure and we struggle to change momentum."
