Playmaker Berrick Barnes says the NSW Waratahs are finally starting to find some consistent form after a slow start to their Super Rugby season under new coach Michael Cheika.
The Waratahs have won three successive games and turned around their round-three mauling at the hands of the Brumbies in March with an impressive 28-22 come-from-behind win over the ACT franchise last weekend.
Barnes’ introduction in the second half of Saturday’s match-up against the Australian conference leaders sparked the Waratahs attack and he said they were finally starting to hit their straps.
“It was always going to take time,” Barnes said on Monday.
“You don’t just come in and start up new structures and everything like that (and expect it to work) … not just as a team but across the whole organisation.
“Everyone has bought into that now and we are starting to see some flow on from that. But we are not getting ahead of ourselves because this is a massive game for us down in Melbourne on Friday night and a chance for us to keep this momentum building.”
The Waratahs face the Rebels in another vital game as they seek to keep their finals hopes alive. They sit in seventh place on the Super Rugby ladder, three points behind the Blues.
“We are going well but we are still not in the top six yet,” Barnes said.
“We are working hard to get things going but I’m sure the Rebels would like to keep up their good form, too.”
Barnes scored a try and had a hand in two others against the Brumbies in a performance which sealed his spot in the Wallabies 25-man squad for the three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions.
“I haven’t had a lot of game time so I feel fortunate to be given this honour,” he said.
“It’s a nice honour to be given but there is still a lot of work to do. I was lucky enough to play a few games last year and that was probably in my favour.
“Northern hemisphere rugby is at the peak of its powers in a lot of ways. There is a lot of competition for spots and a particularly good Wales side.
“But we face the All Blacks enough times to know what is required when you come up against the best sides in the world and we just have to get out there and do it.”