Twelve years ago, Lachlan McCaffrey found himself charging over the tryline against the British & Irish Lions in front of a packed Perth crowd as part of the Western Force.
Today, he has swapped the boots for the clipboard; and with a defence coach’s eye, he is tasked with ensuring the NSW Waratahs not only enjoy the occasion of facing the Lions at Allianz Stadium in Moore Park, Sydney on Saturday night, but make a statement.
McCaffrey knows the blockbuster game carries more than just historical weight.
“The whole rugby world in general is excited,” McCaffrey said on Monday afternoon after the NSW Waratahs’ morning training session at their base in Daceyville, Sydney.
“There is a real buzz about the place …. Hopefully, we make sure all the loyal NSW fans who come out, that we give them a night to remember.”
McCaffrey speaks with the calm resolve of someone who has not only faced this level of intensity before but thrived in it.
Scoring a try against the Lions in 2013 when he played for the Western Force and came off the bench to score a try in their 69-17 loss has given him a rare player’s perspective.
His is a perspective shared with NSW Waratahs Director of Athletic Performance Tom Carter, who famously bagged two tries against the tourists in Sydney that same year.
Carter addressed the team on Monday morning about the magnitude of the occasion and the energy players can expect when stepping out of the tunnel to face a sea of red.
While impressed by the Lions’ support play and off-the-cuff brilliance, particularly off turnover ball, McCaffrey is focused on ensuring the NSW Waratahs dictate the terms.
“You can’t spend all week previewing their threats because they have a lot of them, but we’ll focus on what we do really well,” he explained.
“We are also a heavy line speed team. We want to put pressure on them. We want to force errors.
“We don’t want to let them play on a platter, otherwise they have too much skill and they will hurt you.
“We want to pressure their attack … defensively get in their face and be aggressive.”
Preparation, he says, has been top-notch. The NSW Waratahs exited Super Rugby Pacific a few weeks ago by missing the finals after their Round 16 loss to the Blues.
But they have had time to reset, refocus, and refine their identity, particularly in defence.
“Sometimes when you are playing each week you have to review and preview and that takes a lot of time out of your week,” McCaffrey said.
“The blessing of the last three weeks without any games on, was that we went back to what we do well, and that is in attack and defence.
“As a result, the boys have been putting some good sessions together on the grass.
“The last weeks have been some of our best training weeks over the last nine months.”
McCaffrey is also buoyed by the return from the Wallabies of powerhouse prop Taniela Tupou, whose scrummaging strength and infectious energy have lifted the group.
“It is not just what he adds in the scrum … it is his energy and enthusiasm around the place ... He loves playing for the Waratahs, and the boys love playing with him.”
McCaffrey’s time in the northern hemisphere — including a stint living with England prop Ellis Genge in Leicester — adds a personal flavour to Saturday’s clash.
“He’s told me going to give me his jersey if he plays,” McCaffrey laughed.
“I also used to sit next to [Canberra-born winger] Mack Hansen in the team at the Brumbies. We shared a lot of good times together.
“I’m excited to see Mack and ‘Gengey’ and hopefully we don’t give them too much time with the ball and too much space.”
The Lions have started the tour strongly, accounting the Western Force, but McCaffrey believes the NSW Waratahs can cause problems if they bring pressure and physicality.
“It’s about making life uncomfortable … take away their time and space … Disrupt their decision-making.
"If we do that, we’re in with a real shot. If not, we’ll be chasing our tail.”
For McCaffrey, Saturday night isn’t only about nostalgia or spectacle. It is about setting a tone — for his team, his state, and the wider rugby public.
“It’s celebration of how good rugby is and have just a little part in that,” McCaffrey said.
Where: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park, Sydney
When: Saturday, 5 July, 2025
Kick-off: 8pm (AEST)
Limited Tickets available. To purchase, click HERE
The game will be televised LIVE on Stan Sport - The Home of Rugby
