Humble Waratahs right on track to clinch maiden Super Rugby title

IT HAS taken an eternity but finding humility is a cornerstone of the NSW Waratahs eyeing a title and shedding their tag as big-noting imposters.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 08: Waratahs coach Michael Cheika speaks to players during a Waratahs Super Rugby training session at Kippax Lake on July 8, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

IT HAS taken an eternity but finding humility is a cornerstone of the NSW Waratahs eyeing a title and shedding their tag as big-noting imposters.

The most significant post-game reaction from the Waratahs after their 32-5 thumping of the Reds in Sydney on March 1 was the lack of crowing.

There was no “this is the year” chest-beating or digs at the Reds with a smug superiority complex.

Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has transformed the side on the field but the changes he has demanded off the field are more meaningful.

“Respect, humility … they are values you want to have when you are a team representing other people, fans and kids as we are,” Cheika said.

“Definitely we addressed having to change.

“We are still young in the cycle as a team so we haven’t earned the right to big note about anything.”

Only diehards will remember the sledge from then-NSW Rugby Union president Peter Crittle in 1994 after Queensland had won a mighty Super 10 final in Durban.

When the Waratahs won a post-tournament interstate game, Crittle demeaned the trophy win and claimed the Waratahs were the true “Super 9” champions.

It was reference to the Waratahs electing not to travel to play a regular season game in Durban because they feared trouble in post-apartheid South Africa.

It was for such cockiness that lock Rod McCall, now the Queensland Rugby chairman, jeered old Waratahs teams for always fielding a few “big-noting, pea-hearted imposters”.

This is a tight Waratahs team. Injured Israel Folau could have stayed in Sydney this weekend but told Cheika he wanted to fly to Brisbane to support his mates tonight at Suncorp Stadium.

Cheika has transformed the most frustratingly inconsistent team in Super Rugby into one of the most consistent. The Reds now face making that same flip.

Cheika isn’t planning to play flighty rugby on Saturday night. He’s going to take on the Reds at their one bankable strength, the slick lineout and scrum, in a pack fight.

“It’s what we do every week. To beat top sides you have to try and challenge where they are strong and play to your own strengths as well,” Cheika said.

No Folau will give a crowd of more than 33,000 a better chance to appreciate the player who has made as much difference to the Waratahs.

Flyhalf Bernard Foley is the cool organiser who can take the Waratahs all the way to a title.

Average No. 10s like Daniel Halangahu, Christian Warner, Shaun Berne, Duncan McRae and a host of others since 1996 had more warts than class for the Waratahs in big games.

Beating the humble Waratahs will taste just as sweet tonight make no mistake.