Winger Taqele Naiyaravoro staked a claim today for starting in his first Super Rugby game in two weeks’ time, against the Force.
He scored two tries and made two others with a Jonah Lomu-like performance as the the Waratahs had their first hit-out at the Parramatta Two Blues’ home ground at Granville Park.
The Waratahs took on the Randwick, Sydney University and Parramatta clubs who took turns in playing 30 minute sessions against the Super Rugby side.
Six Wallabies, or ex-Wallabies, played as did eight lads from either the Wider Training Group or the NSW Under 20s Gen Blue squad. For the non-contracted players it was a reward for the training effort they had made in the pre-season and also a sneaky opportunity to look at them in a matchday situation to assess them for the future.
Ten Waratahs who have worn the gold jersey before, including Michael Hooper, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, Sekope Kepu and Tatafu Polota-Nau, were in attendance but did not play, but nearly all of them should be available for the trial against the Chiefs in Campbelltown next week.
Randwick
Pat McCutcheon led the Waratahs in the first period against Randwick. Wycliff Palu was awarded two tries: one after a trademark rumble and another from a scrum pushover try when he actually dropped the ball. Between this pair of Palu tries Brendan McKibbin scored after winger Naiyaravoro [Big T] did the first of his several trademark assaults on tacklers and passed inside.
Mark Baldwin of the Galloping Greens was a constant pain for the Waratahs and had no mercy once for Randwick team mate David Horwitz. The fiery ranga got a yellow card for his efforts, but he wasn’t to be the only one to be sent to the bin on the day.
The Waratahs were leading 21-0 when Randwick’s 30 minutes were up.
Sydney University
The Students started their session with a hiss and a roar and sometimes looked like they were the professional side. After the Waratahs were pinged offside at a lineout, Uni tried another one and Mitch Whiteley scored soon afterwards.
It took a while to get ascendancy but the Waratahs probably had their best team of the day on the park at this time, After Uni prop Alasdair King got binned, the ball was switched from a scrum and Andrew Kellaway passed for Big T to get a one-on-one situation and score easily. After impressive youngster Jim Stewart scored, there was a similar “no contest” run by the big fella and he was in for his second.
But wait, there’s more: after Stewart set up Big T for another run he attracted defenders, and the big man passed inside for Jed Holloway to dot the ball down.
The Waratahs won that period 22-7 and were ahead 43-7 on the day.
Parramatta
There were wholesale changes for the last session against local team, Parramatta, and the Waratahs had many non-contracted players in the side at the time. It was a good contest and the Parramatta defence was first rate.
But after several charges attracted defenders Kurtley Beale scored a soft try and this was followed by “mad-eyed” flanker Jack Dempsey scoring in the corner. Folau scored next although it wasn’t Israel, but brother Eni, a prop.
The last try was a popular one when Parramatta fullback Chris Nay got a meat pie for the homies.
By my count, never a great indicator, the Waratahs won that segment 15-7 and tallied 58-14 for the afternoon. I am more confident that they scored ten tries to two.
Assessment
The Waratahs missed a few opportunities because of changing combinations, typical of trial matches, and they dropped too much ball also. They were far away from their clinical sharpness playing at their best.
Big T was outstanding today but another large man, a fit Will Skelton, threw his weight around to effect also. Jono Lance and Kurtley Beale stood out as good facilitators under-playing a good hand, and flanker Jed Holloway looked like a Super Rugby starter.
Of the new Waratahs: Jack Dempsey was a standout in the trial. Jim Stewart was the best of the Wider Training Group and all four of the Under 20s: Hanigan, Newsome, Yassmin and McCalman showed why they were picked for this gig.
The best result was that there were no injuries apart from the odd ding.
Jim Stewart
The affable Stewart who has been on a quick pathway from Scots College, Australian Schools and Under 20s must have gone very close to getting a Super Rugby contract this year, but he appreciated the chance to train with them.
It’s been tough but its been a terrific opportunity also to learn off guys like Kurtley [Beale] and others at the top—they’ve been awesome.
He didn’t look out of place playing with seasoned players at Granville Park and he enjoyed putting the things he had learnt in training into practice. But he also recognised that he had a lot to work on.
When asked what he thought his strengths were he said:
Ball carrying is one of my main aspects but I’ve been working hard on my ball playing as well for the 12 position and now I can do a bit of both. My goal is to be considered for either centre spot, depending on what the team wants.
He did show some soft hands today, but he should have mentioned his uncompromising defence as a strong point of his play also.
When asked whether it was true that Michael Cheika was not all that scary but a bit of a pussycat, he went wide-eyed and laughed: “No comment.”
It was his only nervous moment of the afternoon. Look after this lad Waratahs—he’s a keeper.
See gallery below – all photos by Lee Grant
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