Getting a win is the only motivation the NSW Waratahs will be using to counter the emotion of a Western Force side making their return to top flight rugby on Saturday.
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After having a bye in last week's opening round of the five-team Super Rugby AU tournament, the Force make their debut against the Waratahs at the SCG.
The Force have been fired up an address from West Australian cricket great Justin Langer and will be primed to produce against the team they smashed 40-11 in Perth in their last Super Rugby match in 2017.
While former NSW rugby league captain Paul Gallen spoke to the Waratahs before their opening round loss to Queensland last week, they haven't revealed any fancy motivational triggers for this week's clash.
Last week's defeat added to a 1-5 record in the full Super Rugby competition before it was suspended in March, leaving the Waratahs even hungrier for victory.
"As a team we are searching for some wins, we don't need actual motivation or anything like that," Waratahs' captain Rob Simmons said on Friday.
"We had a narrow loss (last week), we weren't going well before COVID hit.
"We are working each week and I believe we are making some good inroads as we saw last weekend, but we are still searching for that win."
While the Force haven't played at Super level since 2017, Simmons dismissed any suggestion they would be easybeats.
"They are going to come out like every other time I have played them ... with a bit of a chip on their shoulder and they try and ruffle teams up," Simmons said.
"That's what we're expecting and we are going to have to counter that.
"They have got a very strong back-row. Their playmakers are going to be strong, they direct around the park real well and because they have spent so much time together they are very well drilled," the Wallabies lock said.
"They know how to play attack and they have got a very good defensive system, so around that contact area is where they will be looking to probably come for us."
Simmons believes playing last week might be an advantage for NSW, but said that could be countered by Force feeling fresher.
Meanwhile, while other locks have left Australia, the 31-year-old 100 Test veteran prefers to stay home ahead of hopefully a fourth World Cup campaign in France in 2023.
Australian Associated Press
