The NSW Waratahs have revealed how a gloating tweet out of the triumphant Brumbies camp sparked sweet revenge for their first-round loss to their Super Rugby arch rivals.

NSW coach Michael Cheika and captain Dave Dennis admitted a tweet from former Brumbies strength and conditioning coach following the ACT side’s 28-23 victory in March left the Waratahs smarting.

“BRUMBIES ANOTHER case of hard work beating talent when talent WON’T work. hard#rugby,” was Dean Benton’s post that upset the Waratahs.

“That was something that really motivated us,” Cheika said after the Waratahs’ commanding 39-8 win at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.

“We certainly used that tonight – to say that’s a challenge on our integrity around if we’re hard workers and that’s something we want to be proud of this year.”

Dennis said the Waratahs pride themselves on their work ethic and “being a strong physical team that never gives in”.

“That’s probably the one thing we try to hang our hat on a bit, is working hard,” he said.

“Probably looking at that Canberra game, you could probably question us a little bit but I think the effort was there; we were just a bit off in a few areas.

“It gives the boys a bit of a spur along too. Our consistency around working hard has been a lot better than it was last year and in previous years.

“To get questioned in that regard, on something that we’ve talked about for a long time now, we felt was a bit harsh and it gave us good motiation for tonight.”

NSW’s bonus-point victory, followed by the Western Force’s 40-14 loss to the Blues later on Saturday night, guarantees the Waratahs first place in the Australian conference.