The Waratahs no.7 jersey proved an easy fit for Will Miller in Melbourne, but the flanker won't be soaking in any praise as the side prepares for the Sunwolves.
Miller stepped up to replace injured skipper Michael Hooper in Melbourne, the first man outside of Hooper to wear that jersey in close to six seasons.
The sky blue no.7 has had other famous owners in the past, too, like Phil Waugh and Simon Poidevin, but Miller took the responsibility in his stride.
The 25-year-old has been content playing blindside alongside Hooper this season but the shift to his natural seven that showed what Miller is really capable of in Super Rugby, and he admitted it felt like a seamless transition.
“I've been trying to get used to six a lot more (this season), seven's a bit easier for me, I've played it all my life,” he said.
“It's just something that's a bit more natural to me because I've played a lot of it.”
Miller was influential for the Waratahs in Melbourne, finishing off a spectacular try and sealing the game with a pivotal last-minute steal, but there’s little chance he will be satisfied with one good outing.
“You're always learning, you're never going to be perfect, you've got to keep trying to be better,” Miller said.
“You won't ever be as good as you dream to be, because you always want to be the best and be perfect, but that's something you strive for.”
Waratahs forwards coach Simon Cron coached Miller at Norths and said he always had faith in his talented charge.
“He's an outstanding loose forward and with Michael Hooper down, there's nobody in the world you'd want to go out there (other) than Will Miller,” he said.
“(He's) one of the toughest players I've seen in the last four or five years - uncompromising, huge workrate and takes a second-to-no-one attitude with everything he does.
“He's a big game player and you saw that in the game on the weekend, his impact around turnovers and pressure for us is a massive part of us winning the game.”
Hooper himself was not surprised by Miller’s performance either, praising his backrow mate earlier this week.
“It's stuff I believe he's been doing all year, he's been coming up with turnovers and some good runs throughout the course of the year,” he said.
“To me, it was no surprise that the guy's come out and had a great game.”
The Waratahs take on the Sunwolves at Allianz Stadium on Saturday June 7, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.
