NSW Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson is thriving on the tension generated by the pressure to transform his ailing Super Rugby side into winners.
Heading into Saturday's last round game against Western Force in Perth, the Tahs have a 4-10 record, making it one of their least successful Super seasons ever.
Gibson dismissed a Fairfax Media report of alleged player discontent with the coaching group as "whisper and rumour."
However, Gibson wasn't baulking at the external pressure and demands on him to turn the Tahs fortunes around in 2018, the final year of his contract.
"I'm thriving on that tension," Gibson said.
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"I know that I've got to really transform this team into a winning one and the players are feeling the same.
"They are sick of being a losing changing shed and we want to change."
He was adamant the roster would still be strong in 2018, despite losing three Wallabies in locks Dean Mumm and Will Skelton and centre Rob Horne.
Gibson pointed out NSW were losing a smaller quantity of experienced players than in each of the past two years.
"In the previous years we've lost a high, high number," he said.
"We're looking for three main positions now in tighthead prop, lock and centre to complete our roster, so we're stable.
"I can see that staying stable for the next two years, with the real change coming for this team post-2019 World Cup."
Gibson isn't considering bringing in overseas players as a short term fix and plans to develop local talent for that post-World Cup period,
"It's part of our strategy to to get in those young players that will form the spine of that team, post what I believe to be some fairly significant departures," he said.
Gibson said the Tahs had a number of injury issues with front rowers Tolu Latu (neck spasm) and Paddy Ryan (elbow) among those in doubt.
He said there was also a lot of illness among the group, with a number of players carrying gastro bugs and fever.
