Assistant coach Daryl Gibson reveals how Waratahs aim to stay on track for history

CONSISTENCY of performance, and 46 feet firmly planted on the ground, are the keys to the Waratahs forging new Super Rugby history.

Michael Cheika , coach, during NSW Waratahs training at lakeside Oval, Moore Park. pic mark evans

CONSISTENCY of performance, and 46 feet firmly planted on the ground, are the keys to the Waratahs forging new Super Rugby history — several times — over the next four weeks.

That’s the highly qualified view of the Waratahs’ most prolific Super Rugby title winner, assistant coach Daryl Gibson, who has an impressive five winners’ medals already tucked away in his sock drawer.

The New Zealander has more insight than anyone at Moore Park about how to go all the way in Super Rugby after claiming four titles between 1998 and 2002 as a centre for the Crusaders.

In the first season of his new career as a backs coach, Gibson also helped Robbie Deans steer the Crusaders to victory in 2008 over his current ­employers, the Waratahs.

A canny recruitment by Michael Cheika brought Gibson across the Tasman last season, and he now has the chance to not only add a sixth medal to his drawer but a drought-breaking first trophy to NSW’s ­cobweb-strewn cabinet.

Michael Hooper in action during a Waratahs training session at Moore Park.

History beckons before then, too, with the Highlanders clash on Sunday representing a chance for the Waratahs to win six consecutive games for the first time in 18 years of Super Rugby.

Should near-rivals the Sharks also fall to the Cheetahs, a Tahs victory could even see the club all but secure their first minor premiership; a vital step in any title run.

Asked what the Waratahs had to succeed from this critical stage, ­Gibson said the keys at the business end of a year were consistency and humility, not fancy tricks.

“All year, and from when we first took over here, we really wanted to improve our consistency as a team,” Gibson said.

“When I first joined the Waratahs, I thought they had plenty of potential.

“Everyone has been saying that for years. With that team sheet you should be doing much better. Our challenge was more around making sure that consistently we perform week in, week out.

Israel Folau is all smiles at Waratahs training.

“Since the Blues loss (in round 11), we refocused and got a bit more balance in our game, and we’ve shown a lot more consistency in our performance and our preparation.

“For us, that’s been a key thing. In finals football, you don’t necessarily have to do anything new or fancy, you just have to reset yourself around the things that are making you successful and deliver.

“If we can show that (consistency) over the next three to four weeks, we can certainly be a contender.”

With two rounds remaining before the finals, Gibson said the challenge for Waratahs coaches had been the opposite of complacency: dealing with too much excitement and enthusiasm.

“What we have is a really highly motivated group,” Gibson said.

“You have a combination of guys who’ve never been to the finals, and guys who’ve had a great deal of disappointment over eight years of not quite making it.

“In terms of our attitude and motivation, it’s very high and probably our challenge is to keep our guys’ feet on the ground.”

Originally published as Assistant coach Daryl Gibson reveals how Waratahs aim to stay on track for history