NSW Waratahs Head Coach Dan McKellar lauded his side’s courageous come from behind win over the Highlanders in their Super Rugby Pacific opener as one of “belief in each other.”
While conceding that there is much for the NSW Waratahs to work on as they go into a round two bye, McKellar said their 37-36 win that saw the game sealing try scored in the last minute reflected the heart and soul of the squad that is new look in players and coaches.
The game was also McKellar’s first as Head Coach of the NSW Waratahs.
The NSW Waratahs performance in humid conditions at Allianz Stadium in Moore Park, Sydney certainly rallied the cheer of their home crowd that numbered 16,034.
Their win was a die-hard effort that saw both sides score five tries and the lead change multiple times.
For the NSW Waratahs it will give supporters plenty to savour as the team rests during their round two Bye and then prepares to face the Fijian Drua at home in round three.
“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.”
McKellar had praise for all his charges but paid credit to his reserve bench.
“I thought our finishers off the bench were excellent,” McKellar said, citing tighthead prop Siosifa Amone who came on in the 55th minute to replace Taniela Tupou.
Amone scored two tries, the NSW Waratahs fourth that put the side up 30-29, and the match winning five-pointer in the last minute from a pick and drive in front of the posts.
“I’ve been asked about the players no-one knows about. Your Sifa Amones … two tries off the bench but good contributions in other areas apart from the ties,” McKellar said.
“He's dropped like twenty-four kilos [over pre-season training]. He didn't look like a Super Rugby player in September. Now he looks like a good one.
“[Half-back] Jack Grant was also good in that last period. His control and direction was excellent. There were a number of good performances. As a team we’ll be better for it.”
Captain and scrumhalf Jake Gordon who was replaced by Grant in the 66th minute, said: “There's definitely relief. It wasn't perfect. But it's your first hit out of the year.
“There's always a bit of that nervous energy. But I thought, 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. He’s bloody powerful ‘Sifa’.
“I'm thrilled that we got a win. There’s plenty to review, but it’s a good start to the year.”
Asked what areas of the game he was most happy with, McKellar cited defence, their kicking game and set piece.
“In patches, defensively, but it was in patches," McKellar said.
"There were a couple of sets just before half time where we were really physical and had that mindset around going to get the ball back.
"Obviously, there was some patches in the second half where we just clocked off. We'll knock that on the head really quick.
“I thought our kicking game certainly put them under pressure and are we better for it. I thought set piece was strong.
“We'll review the performance and take the result away from it and make sure we're better against Fiji [Drua in round three].”
McKellar was also pleased with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s overall game at fullback in which he played 66 minutes before coming off.
“I thought he was good. You'd like to see the ball in his hands more. But he got into space a couple of times and looked dangerous.
“So that'll come, the more he learns his role within our attack,
“But overall, his effort and positional play at fullback was mostly pretty good.”
Tries: Siosifa Amone (2), Max Jorgensen, David Porecki, Rob Leota
Conversions: Tane Edmed (2), Jack Bowen
Penalties: Tane Edmed (2)
Tries: Caleb Tangitau (2), Timoci Tavatavanawai, Veneni Lasaqa, Sefo Kautai
Conversions: Sam Gilbert (3), Cam Millar
Penalties: Sam Gilbert
