By Sam Ryan

A string of four straight matches against New Zealand sides in May will likely decide the fate of the Waratahs 2018 Super Rugby campaign.

Under the revamped Super Rugby format, each side plays two matches against their four conference rivals, then four matches against sides from each of the other two pools.

While the Waratahs performances against their Australasian rivals will be crucial, fans will need to wait until May to watch NSW play a New Zealand team.

Daryl Gibson’s side then plays the Blues, Crusaders, Highlanders and Chiefs in consecutive weeks, with two matches in Sydney and two matches in New Zealand.

It’s the perfect opportunity to win back the support of Waratahs fans and the wider rugby community in NSW, but it will be no easy task.

The Waratahs begin their 2018 campaign against the Stormers in Sydney next Saturday night. They then travel to play the Sharks and Jaguares before hosting the Rebels back in Sydney ahead of a round six bye.

Following a week off, the Tahs play the Brumbies and Sunwolves away and the Reds and Lions at home.

It’s by no means an easy start to the season, but it could be a hell of a lot worse and it the Tahs can win five or six of their first eight matches, they’ll reach the halfway point of the regular season in fairly good shape.

But then things really heat up.

Australia’s woes against New Zealand sides have been well published over the past 18 months and the month of May presents the Waratahs with the ideal opportunity to turn things around.

It’s not only important for the Tahs, but also for the psyche of the Wallabies. Bernard Foley, Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau all have a mortgage on their gold jerseys at the moment and if they can find a way to beat New Zealand at a provincial level, it will give them a massive boost ahead of the Bledisloe Cup and next year’s World Cup.

So how do they do it?

Far smarter minds than mine have been working long and hard to try and work that out but if I was to narrow it down to two things, it’d be physicality and pressure.

If the Waratahs, the Wallabies and Australia’s other Super Rugby sides can’t get over the advantage line, then it’s game over.

Australian rugby prides itself, at times to its own detriment, on our ability to score points by playing expansive, running rugby. That simply can’t be done on the back foot.

At the same time, it’s near impossible to stop a New Zealand side when their forwards are rolling through defenders and creating space for their backs.

The other point is pressure. It seems New Zealand sides always find a way to win the key moments in matches. Sure, you could argue that fitness and even luck plays a part it that, but it usually has more to do with the consistent pressure they build over 80 minutes.

Australian sides need to build pressure, hold onto the ball and play as much rugby as possible outside of their half. If they can do that and keep the scoreboard ticking over, then they give the Kiwis less time and space with ball in hand.

So while I’ll be watching with interest as the Waratahs begin their 2018 Super Rugby campaign, I’ll be eagerly awaiting round 12.

If we want to turn things around at a provincial and international level, the Waratahs need to turn up and win in May.