The Waratahs are determined to end their rollercoaster run of 2019 results but they’ll have to break a decade-long drought to do that in their two weeks on tour.
NSW have not been able to string together consecutive wins this season, sitting with a 5-5 record after 11 rounds.
While they have been able to notch some upset wins, including a grinding victory over the Crusaders earlier this month, their back-up efforts have fallen short.
Sitting second in the Australian conference, a win behind the Rebels, with seven matches to go, the Waratahs need to buck that trend to keep themselves in the finals mix.
The equation is not an easy one, though, with their next two matches in Pretoria and Johannesburg, places they haven’t won at since 2002 and 2009, respecitvely.
Australian teams have had success in South Africa this year with the Reds and Brumbies taking a win each but none has managed to win two games on tour yet this season.
The Waratahs haven’t won back-to-back tour games in Africa since 2009, when they beat the Cheetahs, Sharks and Lions on a three-week tour.
“It’s definitely something that’s pretty disappointing, not getting those back to back wins,” he said.
“I guess we have to go to South Africa and we need two wins there. Obviously we will focus on the first one first but it’s something we need to address as a group, I think. And make sure we are rocking up each week with a clear focus, getting through our training week as best as we can and preparing perfectly for each game.
Clark said the side would embrace the chance to get away on tour.
“I guess most importantly we are just going to get tight as a group and really attack these next two games,” he said.
“It’s a great place to go on tour and spend a lot of time together over there.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to turn our season and fire home. All the guys are excited to get there.”
The Waratahs are without their two most prolific 2018 scorers in Taqele Naiyaravoro (Premiership) and Israel Folau (stood down), who scored 26 of NSW’s 59 tries last season.
Naiyaravoro scored 15 tries for the Waratahs last year and signed with UK side Northampton at the end of last year, leaving NSW with a need to fill a try-scoring hole.
Folau’s absence came just a week after he broke the all-time Super Rugby try-scoring record, passing Doug Howlett’s mark of 59 tries.
With seven rounds of Super Rugby to go, the Waratahs have scored 26 tries and Clark said he was confident the Waratahs still had the cattle to finish without that duo.
“I don’t think we are feeling any more pressure on our attack,” he said.
“We are confident in our attack systems and we know if we do it well, we can score points.
“That’s the biggest thing for us, sticking to our systems and making sure we are all executing.
“There were a lot of errors out there (against the Sharks), that’s not the way we want to play and obviously it hurts our attack.
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“We are confident if stick to our structures we can score enough points to win games.”
While Clark hasn’t found the line that often, he put his mark on the weekend’s game with a bone-crunching hit on Sharks winger Makazole Mapimpi.
“I guess as a winger you are put in a position sometimes where you have to snap on balls and make tough reads,” he said.
“I guess I am lucky that one came off otherwise our defensive coach wouldn’t be too happy with me. They might have gone the length.
“I guess it’s nice to put yourself in a position to put shots on and do things for the team, I guess that was one positive to take out of the game.”
The Waratahs take on the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday May 4, kicking off at 3:05pm local, 11:05pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and Kayo Sports.