The NSW Waratahs are drawing inspiration from wheelchair-bound former Wallaby Richard Tombs as they strive to rise again.
The Waratahs host Australia's reigning champion Queensland Reds at Leichhardt Oval on Friday night intent on backing up last week's drought-breaking Super Rugby Pacific win over Fijian Drua.
After a winless campaign in 2021, the Waratahs are desperate to climb off the canvas and be a force again.
But they quickly learnt from a "confronting" appearance at Waratahs training on Thursday by Tombs that their struggles are nothing compared to what the NSW great and five-Test centre has endured over the past three and a half years.
Tombs was filling in as goalkeeper for his northern beaches soccer club in August 2018 when his world came crashing down in an accidental collision that resulted in a severed spinal cord at age 50.
"He's had some challenges that we haven't faced and it was an inspiration to hear him speak," said Waratahs captain Jake Gordon.
"Obviously it's a really good test for us (against the Reds) and it (Tombs' visit) works perfectly with what we've got coming. It was awesome."
First-year coach Darren Coleman said he hoped Tombs' visit resonated with the playing group as much as it did to him.
"There's some guys there that it resonated with. You've only got to look at him and it's confronting and it makes football players appreciate that any day things can change quick," Coleman said.
Gordon and Coleman said as much as the stoic manner in which Tombs deals with his adversities impressed the Waratahs, the fact he also featured in the winless NSW side that went through 1991 undefeated before dominating Australia's triumphant World Cup squad was equally relevant.
"He spoke a lot about his rugby journey, which was tangible for us," Gordon said.
"He'd been in teams that have struggled and which turned it around the year after. That was tangible.
"The other stuff was more inspirational for us, the way he's dealt with that."
Win or lose against the Reds, Coleman said leaning on "good people" like Tombs who have a connection with the Waratahs can only be a positive for his young team.
The coach has no doubt the Reds will provide a genuine litmus test after last week's 40-10 demolition job on the Drua debutants.
"This will be a real test to see where we're at," he said.
"We obviously had a good pre-season, a solid start against the Drua but this will be where we're measured."
