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WARATAHS coach Michael Cheika says an absence of "big heads" will prevent a championship hangover in 2015 but his players are conscious of another trophy's influence in their title defence: the World Cup.
Already the hunted side of the new Super Rugby season — which kicks off this week — the reigning champion Waratahs are conscious of the extra lift in intensity expected in the Australian conference alone, given their coach is now also the Wallabies coach.
Put simply, every local derby involving NSW will double as an audition; there will be not only be points up for grabs but coveted spots in Cheika's World Cup squad as well.
"Every Australian team loves playing derbys because of the rivalry and intensity but we have (also) have the Australian coach, who is our coach, so every player will want to play well in front of him too. So there's that added," Horne said yesterday.
Michael Cheika's key to winning another title is to dial down to ultra-small focus. Source: News Limited
"So that's another aspect to it. But yeah, of course, I guess everyone is going to try and knock you off."
Seated next to Horne, Cheika offered a "sorry mate" but the newly promoted Australia coach otherwise is unconcerned about the events of 2014 impacting the new season which begins for NSW on Sunday against the Western Force.
Where summers past have been spent trying to dampen down expectation of a Waratahs breakthrough title, this year the Tahs are dealing with unchartered territory: potential complacency after winning one.
A typically brutal pre-season has seemingly killed off any hints of laurel resting but Cheika believes the team's psychology is now sufficiently strong to not only match their form of last year, but improve on it.
Michael Cheika oversees some scrummaging drills during Waratahs training at Moore Park. Source: News Limited
"It is not complicated. You either have a big head because you won, or you haven't: "Oh, we're good, we won"," Cheika said.
"I certainly don't feel like that. I feel like we still have so much to prove, to show that I can actually do this job really well and improve on a day-to-day basis. To make us better this season than last season.
"I don't see it as being complicated about dealing with those mental heebie-jeebies. Here is the game, let's play."
Cheika, who wants his side to pick up where they left off at ANZ Stadium last August, indicated the success of 2014 had come ahead of schedule after only turned the first sods of a club rebuild a year earlier.
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"What we are banking on is having, with a relatively settled squad, is our cohesion and the knowledge we have had from changing our game should just be starting to kick in now. To change the way totally the way you are playing, we probably needed a couple of years … to do it over a whole season consistently. Last year we had several games off where we didn't perform," Cheika said.
Cheika's mind the key to winning another title is to dial down to ultra-small focus, and not even contemplate more silverware.
"That comes down to just zeroing in on what we need to do next. Not getting caught up with all the other stuff. The end game is irrelevant. It is a mere consequence of what we do on Sunday. If we get good at doing that we might be some chance of making the finals. If we don't get any good at that, we won't even make the finals," Cheika said.
Israel Folau shovels the ball on his outside during Waratahs training at Moore Park. Source: News Limited
"We just have to be zeroed in on doing this job, this week. I think the team as a whole, since I have seen them return, have genuinely …. I haven't heard any of that sort of hangover.
"I don't think has been faked. They've probably been too tired from training to talk about it."
Cheika has delayed naming his side for the opening clash with the Force but, pending Mitch Chapman's recovery from a head knock, have a full squad to pick from.
Though Peter Betham is fit, Cheika indicated Taqele Naiyavaroro will win a wing spot and new locking recruit Sam Lousi is a chance to make his debut.
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