NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar’s Apple Watch was still showing a heart rate of 130 well after the game as he took in a thrilling one-point win.
There were nine lead changes in the 38-37 win over the Highlanders, including eight in the second half.
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But it was the ninth that was the most impactful as the Waratahs battled through phases into the Highlanders’ 22, with prop Siosifa Amone the hero with his second try in 13 minutes.
“We spoke pre-game about having belief in each other,” McKellar said afterwards.
“The boys were nervous. There's a lot of pressure on young blokes’ shoulders off the back of the last couple of years. As coaches, we're trying to release that pressure.
“We said, ‘Just believe in yourselves’ and we spoke about being a team that wants to fight for 80 minutes.
“The last passage of play there … we were far from perfect. But the nice thing is there's some harsh learnings that we can review off the back of a win.
“I am really proud of their belief in their fight in that last couple of minutes.”
The Waratahs head into the bye looking to fix up their effort areas after the hungry visitors constantly put them under pressure.
Six out of their eight penalties came at ruck time, four of which were not releasing on attack.
However, McKellar's sticking point came in the 64th minute when the side switched off after kicking the ball out on the full, allowing Caleb Tangitau to cross for his second try with relative ease.
“Some lazy moments within the game,” McKellar remarked on what he wasn’t happy with after the game.
“I thought we panicked a couple of times. We played a set play from set piece, got two really good carries and then we start popping the ball off the deck and panicking. We've just got to be calm there.
“Errors are going to happen. It’s the lazy ones that will knock on the head real quick and make sure that we change those habits.
“That try off the quick line out, that's just purely unacceptable at this level, you know, so we'll knock that on the head really quick.”
Desipte the lapses, it was a sign of growth from a Waratahs side that found themselves on the wrong end of several close losses in 2024.
The Waratahs lost five of their six games that finished within a converted try margin in 2024, including a two-point loss to the Highlanders last March.
“There's definitely relief,” captain Jake Gordon added .
“It wasn't perfect but it's your first hit out of the year. There's always a bit of that nervous energy but we were pretty deep in our half in that last five minutes and ended up getting a penalty…I thought the way we wore them down when we got into our pick and drive stuff.
“…I’m thrilled that we got a win. There’s plenty to review, but it’s a good start to the year.”
