Belief as Tahs size up finals

GOOD timing counts as much as skill at the business end of Super Rugby and the Waratahs reckon they might just have timed their run to perfection as they head into the finals brimming with confidence after turning around their muddling season.

It wasn’t that long ago that the Waratahs were treading water in the middle of the ladder and wondering whether they would even make the playoffs but all of a sudden they are one of the hottest teams in the competition and on a roll that could take them deep into the post- season.

They’ve won their last three games on the trot and will end the regular season in second spot if they can complete a clean sweep of their Australian conference rivals by beating the Brumbies tonight.

“When it comes to footy and finals footy, it’s the team with momentum who can stand up in the middle of those big games when things are under pressure and deliver,” Waratahs five- eighth Bernard Foley said.

“That’s what I think this team has been doing over the last couple of rounds and now that belief is building and growing.”

Foley knows a thing or two about getting it right at the pointy end of the campaign. In 2014, the Waratahs were in eighth place after 13 rounds but made the big strides when it counted and went on to win the title, beating the Brumbies in the semis then the Crusaders in the final.

For Foley, the timing of the match with the Brumbies is also a sign that perhaps things are falling into place.

“It’s a huge test for us and a huge occasion for us as a squad to finish this regular season well and to play against the likes of the Brumbies in the week before you play finals is a really good challenge for us,” he said.