New Waratahs coach Michael Cheika is taking a very hands-on role at NSW as he attempts to lift the struggling province out of the Super Rugby doldrums.

Cheika has been involving himself heavily during his side’s opposed training sessions since taking over the reins of NSW in September as he strives to create the expansive and free flowing brand of rugby union that fans are crying out for.

The former Leinster mentor can be seen at training primarily as a ball runner crashing into the teeth of the defence in various drills as his playmakers execute a chain of crisp passes on the edge of the ruck.

And Cheika said being a part of the action could reveal some things to him that couldn’t be seen from the sidelines.

“Sometimes you can see drills first hand you have done and you think `that’s rubbish’ but you aren’t sure why, but if you are out there you can feel the flow of the game and sometimes you can understand it differently,” he said.

“And you can see who is doing the talking out there and how they are talking.

“It’s just a bit of a way to get in there and it is a bit of fun too.”

The Heineken Cup winner has signalled his intentions for the Waratahs to return to the passing game upon which so much of Australian rugby’s success has rested and that is evident in their training.

“Like a carpenter has his tools, so do we and passing is one of our tools,” Cheika said.

“We want to be able to put the ball exactly where it is meant to be. If a ball is going behind a player and it is meant for somebody else he has to know that and it has to work like that every time.

“Obviously the greater test comes against opposition but the more you practise these things the better you will become.”

The 45-year-old Cheika was happy with the way his side was coming along but admitted he was having trouble keeping up with his young charges on the training paddock.

“Some of these guys I haven’t seen before and there are some very skilful footballers here, and they are good lads to play football with,” he said.

“As long as I am young enough I will keep at it I suppose and that is being tested to the limit at the moment just quietly, but I am enjoying it.