Nawaqanitawase back to wing as Waratahs prepare for historic game in Fiji
When the Waratahs welcome back teenage whiz Max Jorgensen for their match against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka, Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase will move back to the wing.
The 50th Super Rugby match for Nawaqanitawase is scheduled for this Saturday afternoon. In the devastating defeat to the Blues in their previous encounter, the outfield player displayed true potential.
However, Wallabies Rugby World Cup team member Jorgensen is back in the mix after recuperating from a hip problem, and he will start in the No. 15 jumper.
Mahe Vailanu, a former Major League Rugby hooker, is one of the two forwards who has been added to the starting lineup. He returns from injury and starts.
With the world-class Wallaby back at loosehead prop after coming off the pine against the Aucklanders in round four, Vailanu will pack down alongside Angus Bell.
The Waratahs are travelling to Fiji for the first time ever for a Super Rugby match, and it’s obvious that they’re “excited” about the chance to play the Drua at home.
“The crowd is expected to be hostile.” Both teams will feel the heat, but it will be a factor as well, according to captain Jake Gordon.
“Every time we’ve played Fiji, we’ve performed incredibly well; we’ve neutralised their threats. Although we’ve had some excellent results against them, we need to keep up the good effort.
“The risk there is that we don’t get looser with the ball when it gets a little bit wetter.”
We must play a clever kicking game. Proceed to the set-piece. It’s crucial for us to avoid playing like the Drua in Fiji this week.
After losing to New Zealand opponents twice in a row by two points over the past two weeks, the Waratahs are still looking for their second victory of the year.
New South Wales is now in ninth position, barely outside the top eight, but they are hungry to start climbing the ladder this weekend at Churchill Park with a road victory.
Waratahs team to take on Fijian Drua
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- Angus Bell
- Mahe Vailanu
- Harry Johnson-Holmes
- Jed Holloway
- Fergus Lee-Warner
- Ned Hanigan
- Charlie Gamble
- Langi Gleeson
- Jake Gordon (c)
- Tane Edmed
- Dylan Pietsch
- Joey Walton
- Izaia Perese
- Mark Nawaqanitawase
- Max Jorgensen
Reserves
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- Julian Heaven
- Hayden Thompson
- Tom Ross
- Miles Amatosero
- Hugh Sinclair
- Lachlan Swinton
- Jack Grant
- Triston Reilly
Players unavailable for selection: David Porecki (Achilles), Thomas Lambert (knee), Archer Holz (shoulder), Mesu Kunavula (knee), Lalakai Foketi (neck), Ned Slack-Smith (concussion), Daniel Botha (concussion and neck)
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