NSW players are carrying around golf balls in unique preparation for Super Rugby clash against Blues

WHEN they won the Super Rugby premiership in 2014 the Waratahs swung golf clubs. This week, they are carrying golf balls.

Bernard Foley reveals unusual training practice. Picture: Gregg Porteous

THEY got themselves out of the rough last weekend, now the Waratahs are looking to hit a hole-in-one against the Blues with the help of golf balls.

The NSW backs are walking around with golf balls in hand this week as part of a strategy to drive cohesion.

KIWI HOODOO: Winless record won’t cripple Tahs

Traditionally boasting a sizzling attack, the Tahs have yet to score a try-scoring bonus-point win after 10 rounds of Super Rugby this year, and they hope the golf ball trick will change that at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

Bernard Foley reveals unusual training practice. Picture: Gregg Porteous

NSW playmaker Bernard Foley, who was bouncing a golf ball around at Waratahs HQ on Monday, said the new motivational technique was different to that used by former coach Michael Cheika, who gave each player a golf club before the 2014 grand final which they won against the Crusaders.

“It’s nothing like Cheik’s analogy he used years ago, for us this is completely different,” Foley told the Daily Telegraph.

“He had the analogy of ‘swing the club and don’t think about the outcome’, you back your process.

SECRET TALK: Shrink inspired Tahs to victory

“Ours is more of a team-oriented goal and is backs specific.”

As for what a hole-in-one would mean in rugby terms, Foley said: “That everyone’s humming, everyone’s in position and we’re all trying to play a style that we want to play.

“We do have analogies about hole-in-one and fairways hit.

“It’s just about putting ourselves in good positions to attack, about being in play and threatening, having that attacking mindset that we want to be in position to play.”

The Tahs have scored 27 tries in nine games this year - an average of three per game. The Hurricanes, who boast the best attack in the competition, average an incredible seven tries a match.

Bernard Foley (R) and Dean Mumm celebrate downing Queensland. Picture: Darren England.

The Blues have scored 31 tries this season and have three bonus-points wins, including last Sunday’s 18-12 victory over the Brumbies during which they held the Canberra side tryless.

But Foley is confident that his side’s attack can fire after glimpses of brilliance in their 29-26 win over Queensland last Saturday.

“Our set-piece attack, off the back of a really good platform from the forwards, at times was really good,” Foley said.

“We made a number of linebreaks from first phase.

“Our starters [first-phase plays] worked well in that regard, and what we did off the back of that was probably a bit disappointing.

“Something we’ve addressed is not having that consistency in execution, and setting the platform for 80 minutes.”

With the Brumbies having a bye this weekend, NSW has the chance to equal them on points with a bonus-point win against the Blues.

“Our objective this season has always been to win the Aussie conference, we’ve made it tough on ourselves but that’s still something we can achieve,” Foley said.

Originally published as NSW players are carrying around golf balls in unique preparation for Super Rugby clash against Blues