Kurtley Beale says the Waratahs have steeled themselves against complacency heading into a vital highveld clash with the "dangerous" Lions in Johannesburg.
No Australian team has won back-to-back Super Rugby titles but a victory at Ellis Park on Saturday would give the Waratahs a fighting chance to pull it off this year by securing a top-two spot and an accompanying home final.
Standing in their way are the in-form surprise package of the South African conference. The Lions have no great reputation to speak of and are ranked seventh on the competition log, which makes them just the kind of team the Waratahs need to be wary about facing.
Beale, who will play his 100th game for NSW this weekend, says the defending champions are too focused to let old habits creep in. "I don't think it's going to be too much of a problem because the games are crucial and we want to go somewhere and do something special that no one's done before," he said.
"We've got a lot of senior players moving on and [coach Michael Cheika] is as well, so it's a great opportunity. With Cheik it's not always about winning but it is about playing the style of game we want to play, with the physicality, and the ball in hand style.
"If we can do that and we don't get the chocolates in the end, a lot of guys will still be very pleased with the result, because it leaves something for future generations. The flip side is if we do play our way, it gives us our best chance of winning anyway."
Despite the talk of leaving something for future Waratahs, Beale said he had no plans to leave Moore Park permanently. "It's all looking pretty good," he said of his contract negotiations. "Someone pointed out to me that I'm coming up to 100 games for NSW, that's a really proud moment for me and something I didn't think would happen ever in my lifetime. I owe it to a lot of people who've helped me along the way, a lot of my teammates now especially, and all the coaching staff, they're such wonderful people and make it such a wonderful place to play your rugby in." Beale and No.10 Bernard Foley are bracing for some targeted attention from the Lions, who have proved themselves strong and enthusiastic in attack, if not precise finishers, and abrasive in defence.
"They're very unpredictable, a dangerous, young, enthusiastic team who love to throw the ball around and play that running rugby," the NSW No.12 said.
"We know that and we've done our homework. I think we're ready for that. In no way or form should we be complacent or thinking it's going to be an easy game, because if we do that we'll be down 40 by half-time."
In their three visits to Johannesburg, the Waratahs have won twice. The last meeting between the teams was in Sydney last year which NSW won convincingly, 41-13.
Waratahs: Israel Folau, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Stephen Hoiles, Dave Dennis (c), Mitchell Chapman, Sekope Kepu, Hugh Roach, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Dave Porecki, Jeremy Tilse, Paddy Ryan, Jacques Potgieter, Dean Mumm, Pat McCutcheon, Brendan McKibbin, Matt Carraro.
