“Yeah nah, she was a bit stressful up there. There was a period there in the second half where they got a roll on and we were going error to error, and it felt like the momentum had swung and it might have left us. But I am proud the boys showed ticker and stuck in it and the composure at the end to score that try was pretty special.

“In such a tight season, you’re going to have games where felt you could have won, you’re in it and you lost. And then they can go the other way and we win. So it’ll even out. But we will definitely take that one.”

The willpower shown by the Waratahs to get home in the final stages was on display in abundance in an impressive first half in which NSW defended as well as they’ve done all season. With Dave Porecki leading the way, the Tahs’ defence often had the Highlanders going backwards. And the Tahs scored two tries after turning the ball over with defence.

Neither was run-of-the mill, however. Izaia Perese continued his return to form with an incredible solo try that saw him shrug off four defenders, and with Aaron Smith still hanging onto his ankle, he refused to yield and scored.

The second try to Gordon came after a breakdown turnover that saw Michael Hooper pick the ball up and kick a 50-22, from which the Tahs scored soon after.

The second half saw the Waratahs implode, however. The NSW scrum began to get beaten up, and after conceding a scrum penalty, Harry Johnson-Holmes missed a tackle that led to a Highlanders five-metre lineout, and a mauled try. More unforced errors in attack gifted the Highlanders another try soon after.

To make matters worse, a frustrated Foketi was binned for a tip tackle and the Tahs looked in massive trouble, with senior players like Gordon even sighted berating teammates.

This was a crossroads in the Waratahs season, even with a congested ladder meaning they could still make the finals with another loss.

But the form and confidence required to make finals and win finals are different things, and the Waratahs maintained belief, and after being forced to keep it simple with 14 men, they re-righted the ship just in time.

“The momentum swung their way and I probably lost my cool a little bit,” Gordon said.

“What I was proud of was how we bounced back because it did seem at one point the momentum was gone and we were going to struggle to get it back. I thought it was great for our club and everyone involved because we are not shirking it – we are trying everything at the moment.”

Coleman said the Waratahs are still not playing their best rugby, but the belief gained by a gritty fightback, and win, is immense.

“You are never going to play pretty every week. We have played ugly more than we have played pretty this year, there’s no doubt,” Coleman said.

“You just need those [wins] in your season. You are not going to win every close game, and if you have a good season, you win more than you lose. To date, we have lost more of those close games than we have won. To get that, it’s belief, and its relief.”

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