Waratahs fullback Jack Maddocks says he feels like NSW's players are coming out of their shells on the field.
Maddocks said players had been empowered to take the game on and play more creative rugby and that was beginning to pay off.
Winger James Ramm scored a try for the Waratahs off a clever Will Harrison kick and Maddocks said that kind of play was something they had been empowered to do more of.
"A play like that is probably two or three months in the making," he said.
"The coaches are very big on us here taking ownership and trying to read the play and read the game.
"The first part of that is having your eyes up and reading that it’s on.
"The big part of that play is having the confidence to actually go and do it.
"That’s something which it takes from a while to instil from a coach’s perspective - that confidence and that no fear factor.
"I think the way we are in this environment that had that not come off, no one would have blown up.
"It’s a very small thing but there is a lot given into it - the player’s vision to see that and secondly the confidence to do it."
Maddocks also said he would welcome the end of a Super Rugby that requires teams to spend weeks on the road in South Africa and Argentina.
Both Australia and New Zealand have made it reasonably clear in recent weeks that, at least in 2021, they were looking more local for their main competition.
NZR went as far as to announce its preferred competition model for 2021 last Friday, an 8-10 team model that would involve five New Zealand teams, a possible Pasifika team and as few as two Australian sides.
It was an announcement that took some of its SANZAAR partners by surprise and Rugby Australia was quick to assuage any perception that it would be signing up to that contracted model.
Rugby AU has been adamant about maintaining at least four teams in any professional competition in 2021 and beyond.
Asked what he felt players' preferences on a competition were, Maddocks said a shift away from the Super Rugby format that involves so much travel would be a welcome one.
"I think it’s pretty clear it’s not going to be a worldwide competition like we had before with South Africa and Argentina and from my point of view that is welcomed," he said.
"Firstly the travel aspect but also the timezone aspect.
"I think it’s important we play teams in our own time zone and that makes it easier for people to follow and keep up with and fans to feel involved with it.
"There’s people who are a lot smarter than me making these decisions and a lot comes into it but I think as long as we’re in the right time zone and we’re playing good footy, that’s all that matters."
The Waratahs take on the Rebels on Friday July 24, kicking off at 7:15pm AEST, LIVE on Foxtel, Foxtel Now and Kayo Sports. Buy tickets here. Buy a Kayo subscription here.
