You would be wrong if you believed that the change in the Waratahs in 2008 had anything to do with coaching decision made on April Fools Day this year.

Winning 8 games from 10 in this competition results from relevant training and preparation, alignment of purpose and direction and having a bunch of people willing and able to get it done.

Robbie Deans said as much during the week and he was sniffing these ingredients way back at the Rotomahana Challenge in early February. The Waratahs beat the Crusaders that day so something must have been going right.

The winning actually started in May last year. We discussed that the last game of 2007 against the Hurricanes would be the first for 2008. A record score and first win in Wellington was a good omen.

The squad gathered in early December to discuss this season. To a man the objectives and focus where nothing less that top four giving ourselves a shot at the title.

Be assured the team has been delivering against those targets consistently since that gathering. Not all of our games have been 80 minute efforts but what we are doing, and this was always part of the plan, is building momentum to peak at business end of the season.

We set the platform way back in round one with a tree tries to nil shutout of the Hurricanes. Tactically the team played it brilliantly and that execution continues to improve.

The introduction of youth brings enthusiasm but a lot of rawness too. We have advanced some youngsters earlier than expected but you have to sign them in the first place.

Robert Horne, targeted for a 2010 appearance, was signed up 18 months ago just as the school age recruitment of Kurtley Beale and Lachie Turner had also taken place.

Beale and Turner were supposed to debut this year but as well all know events transpired to bring that forward.

It’s part of the business that doesn’t get much attention when you’re out there meeting these kids and their parents. I have presented rugby achievement trophies to all three of boys while they were at school.

High Performance General Manger Tony D’Arcy has done the hard yards with me and that includes the recruitment of players who’ve had professional experience.

Recruits like Ben Mowen, Matt Carraro, Luke Burgess and Sekope Kepu to name but a few gave us depth.

Legend will have it that Burgess has more than taken his opportunity, Carraro is developing massive respect amongst teammates for his contributions and Kepu has already caught the eye of important Wallaby coaching staff.

People forget quickly that our coaches have tremendous experience. Les Kiss has coached one of the best defensive teams for years, Steve Tuynman has had more Wallaby forwards emerge from his pack than any other province and even Waratah reserve forwards make the Wallabies.

Todd Louden joined the team with the difficult job of changing the least performing area of our team – the attack.

Armed with a Super 14 trophy he has taken on this challenge with one of the youngest and least experienced backlines in the competition and is making it work

Many hours have been put into goal kicking to replace Peter Hewat. Shannon Fraser, from Fiji RWC fame was given the task of whittling this down.

Kurtley has stepped up and added this to his pressure portfolio. Lote Tuqiri’s 50 metre kick last week was part of this program. He was kicking them at Campbelltown before the first trial of the season.

The logistics have been long in the making. The senior players throughout their RWC lead-up availed themselves through the excellent leadership of Phil Waugh and collaborative and more importantly “owned approaches” to the season were put in place.

As we wait to play the Bulls tonight be assured that we expected to be in the position we are in. We also understand what it will take to go further. Many in this team have already tasted semis and finals. We also understand about up short. Common belief and purpose can be powerful combination – It’s a concept that Robbie Deans can relate to better than most.