The Waratahs need to find composure at crucial moments if they want to beat a Kiwi team, flyhalf Bernard Foley says.
NSW had 72 per cent territory against the Blues but weren’t able to make the most of their weight of position in a 24-21 loss.
They face a red-hot Crusaders outfit next Saturday and Foley the side needed to be on top of the games if they wanted to pull off the ‘unthinkable’.
“You know Kiwi sides are really dangerous in turnover and set piece they'll hurt you too, if you're not switched on,” he said.
“I suppose it's a great challenge for us, what we've learned now in the last two games is we've got to really rise to the challenge.
“We know what's ahead of us and we've got to do the unthinkable.”
Foley said they needed to keep the faith in their systems in the pivotal moments of games.
“I think the belief to stick to what we want to be doing, the belief to stick to the game plan and the execution and just trusting that it'll come,” he said.
“That's probably where we've lacked a little bit - we've just wavered in those really critical moments, rather than being really sure of ourselves.
“That's probably something that's just hard work. really instilling that belief in training, knowing guys are doing the work and then it'll happen in those big games.”
Foley said he didn’t feel there was a psychological barrier per se, when it came to Australian teams against Kiwis.
“I don't think so. I think it's more about the composure in the intense battle, being able to go back to what we know, rather than trying to solve it on your own, is sticking tight, backing the guys around you and backing what we've prepared,” he said.
“It's more about enjoying the ground, really enjoying (it) there and not feeling that pressure or anything.
“Going there and playing free, playing the style we want to play and doing that for 80 minutes.”
There’s plenty of X-Factor in the Waratahs backline but Foley said they couldn’t rely on one player to change the game.
“Teams are too good now in Super Rugby to allow individuals to go out there and win matches.
“You've got to back the guys around you, the 14 other teammates on the field and that's how we'll get the win.”
The Waratahs travel to New Zealand to take on the Crusaders next Saturday.
