The Jekyll and Hyde Waratahs were back at Allianz Stadium on Sunday but a second-half blitz hotter than the Sydney scorcher they were playing in ensures their season isn't yet a spent force and the Australian conference is well and truly up for grabs.
NSW roared into life after a dreadful first half on Sunday afternoon, handing Melbourne Rebels their first defeat of the season with a blistering 41-point second half for a 51-27 victory.
The visitors' powerhouse pack seemed to wilter -- a fact coach Dave Wessels took responsibility for post match -- after a first half where they pounced on yet more Waratahs errors to score three tries and open up a 20-10 halftime lead. The impatient hosts were again their worst enemy in the first stanza, conceding 12 turnovers in an effort that must have had coach Daryl Gibson fuming.
But they spilled just two more balls after the break -- an incredible turnaround from a frustrating opening three weeks where they have averaged more turnovers than any other side -- and matched that with some breathtaking attacking rugby in a 15-minute onslaught to retain the Weary Dunlop Shield.
"We were far more patient with the ball," Gibson said. "Two of the Rebels' tries came directly of our error; we were making inroads into the Rebels but we were letting them off the hook with our own lack of ball control.
"Statistically, that was our best performance turnover-wise, we only turned over 14, whereas previously coming into to this game we were the highest turnover team in the competition."
The big talking point pregame had been Gibson's decision to shift star Wallabies fullback Israel Folau to the wing but it proved a masterstroke as the three-time John Eales medallist climbed high above the Rebels' back three, directly resulting in two Waratahs tries.
"I thought we were really smart in the second half in the way the Rebels kept kicking us the ball and the way we returned the ball in particular," Gibson said. "We had pressure, I think every time Israel went up for the ball he came back down with it. So it's really smart and as I've been saying all year, that's the tactic we want to employ."
Gibson went on to say he thought Folau could "play anywhere" but seemed to indicate he would continue playing the code-hopper on the right wing for the immediate future.
Stepping at fullback in place of Folau was Bryce Hegarty and the former Rebel didn't disappoint either. Hegarty scored one try himself and also provided the direction change that saw Rob Simmons cross to start the second-half attacking joy-ride.
Just before the break, a wayward Lalakai Foketi grubber gave the misfiring Waratahs the luck they needed as a deflection sat up perfectly for Kurtley Beale; the inside centre cutting through to find Damian Fitzpatrick who then offloaded back to Foketi.
But it was a brilliant sequence of catch-and-pass rugby that really had the crowd on its feet as a Kurtley Beale crosskick was picked off by Naiayarovo, setting in motion a rapid exchange that passed through Curtis Rona, Hegarty and No.8 Jed Holloway, leaving the Fijian powerhouse a 40-metre sprint to the line for the fourth and final try of the Waratahs' 15-minute flurry.
"For us, it's all about finding the right combination that works," Gibson said of his backline. "Naiyaravoro coming on and really providing that go-forward that we've been lacking, shows what we can do when we get the ball going forward."
The win means there is just five points between the Rebels, who lead the Australian conference, and Waratahs, with the Brumbies -- whom NSW face after the bye this week -- two points further back. Queensland Reds sit clear in second after a gutsy 18-7 win in Buenos Aires.
That Waratahs' trip to Canberra is also likely to see the return of Brumbies flanker David Pocock, giving the match blockbuster status in a season where Australian derbies have taken on extra significance with the addition of the lowly Sunwolves.
Gibson's side certainly have some attacking threats at their disposal but holding onto the ball, and making the most of Folau's remarkable skill set, will determine whether they are anything more than also-rans in 2018 and if the Kiwi can begin to contemplate another season in Sydney.