Test prop Sekope Kepu has credited his wife with helping him back to form after an indifferent start to the domestic rugby campaign.

Kepu, a key member of both the NSW and Australian front row, wasn’t at his damaging best early in the season.

He had to cool his heels on the Waratahs bench for their first three Super games until coach Michael Cheika gave both him and fellow Wallaby Paddy Ryan chances to start as the Waratahs gathered momentum in the second half of their campaign.

Kepu started all three of the Wallabies Tests against France and the Waratahs two games since the Super competition resumed.

He capped a rampaging performance in Sunday’s win over the Highlanders with a try – the first he could recall scoring in three years and only his second in more than 70 Super games.

Cheika’s advice apart, he attributed his from turnaround to conversations with his wife Anna.

“I’ve taken a lot of things on board and gone back and spoke about it with my wife,” Kepu said.

“She’s really been great support not only when I was not getting the (playing) time, and at the moment as well.

“As much as the footy is important, the off-the-field stuff is just as important, if not more.”

While the Waratahs scrum shoved the Highlanders about late in Sunday’s game, Kepu said it could still improve.

NSW started the game with a Test-strength pack containing seven Wallabies and Springbok Jacques Potgieter.

They also brought two Test forwards off the bench in Ryan and lock Will Skelton, plus Wallabies tourist Mitchell Chapman.