Two minutes of video footage is all the inspiration the NSW Waratahs need to deliver a season-defining Super Rugby triumph over the Blues on Saturday night.
With a bye next week and no opportunity for competition points, NSW captain Michael Hooper concedes the Waratahs' finals prospects will likely be dead and buried if they can't conquer the enterprising Aucklanders at Allianz Stadium.
Hooper, though, is adamant the Waratahs will come up trumps - and draw to within at least one point of Australian conference leaders the Brumbies - if they replicate the spirit shown in last Saturday night's gritty 29-26 win over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
The Tahs were forced to defend for their lives for some 27 phases after the full-time siren to save their season in enemy territory at Suncorp Stadium.
Now Hooper is calling on his troops to display the same spirit in front of loyal home fans in Sydney.
"To be honest with you, we showed (footage of the desperate last two minutes against the Reds) as a clip as a real strong point for us," Hooper said after Friday's captain's run.
"We've had large penalty counts throughout the year in different games and then to keep our penalty count down last week and then get the win on the back of our defence and not giving away a penalty was really positive.
"It shows we can do it and we've got to reinforce that we can do it against a different team with a different style of attack."
Hooper insists scoring successive wins for the first time this campaign - rather than being the first Australian franchise to topple New Zealand opposition in 2017 - is driving the Waratahs.
"Considering where our season's at, it's a chance to go back-to-back for wins here, which is probably the biggest thing that we need to do," the champion flanker said.
"And against two very different teams. For us to progress, it's going to be really important for us to do it against different teams.
"Every game's a must-win for us."
The Waratahs are chasing a seventh straight win over the Blues at Allianz Stadium.
"We haven't had a good year at home so far so we're excited to be back here and playing at Allianz," he said.
"Guys are feeling good, guys are starting to really physically feel happy and mentally ready to go right now.
"I've been really confident with how we've turned up. You ride a bit of the wave after those wins, you get such good highs out of that and then you've got to come back to reality and go back to what got you there in the first place.
"(We've) had to do that. That started with working hard come Monday and Tuesday."
Share
