Ahead of a new season, the expectations have been raised significantly for the Waratahs given their fleet of frontline Wallabies recruited from the wreckage of the Melbourne Rebels. They also have a new coach in Dan McKellar who used his final trial game in Bowral to showcase his strongest side against his former club the Brumbies.
The 4,000 fans that packed into Eridge Park had mostly arrived to see the debut of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at fullback for the Waratahs, but the main attraction was at home icing a knee injury. Despite the absence of Suaalii, the Waratahs have completed their final rehearsal. It was far from perfect, but there were positives. What exactly did we learn from the final hit-out?
Edmed will make a difference
There are few more expressive footballers than Tane Edmed. He provides sports photographers with potential back page shots as he grimaces or celebrates depending on the outcome of the game. In round three last year against the Highlanders, the five-eighth had an opportunity to win the game after the siren with a penalty. He missed, the team lost 21-23 and unfairly, Edmed felt he’d let down everyone. He carried a weight he had no reason to shoulder.
At the end of the season, Edmed went to the New Zealand to play for North Harbour. He not only gained further game-time, but helped to rediscover his love for the game, earning him a call-up to the Wallabies spring tour.
In Bowral, Edmed was desperate for work, taking huge shots from the Brumbies defence and springing up unshaken. Edmed is the crucial pivot needed to unlock the Waratahs’ new riches in the backline and he had enough success against the Brumbies to show that he is ready to go to the next level as a playmaker.
Waratahs fullback Max Jorgensen makes a break against the Brumbies on Saturday.Credit: NSW Rugby
Winging it
Darby Lancaster was a late beneficiary of Suaalii’s late absence moving from the bench to start on the left wing and made the most of his opportunity, scoring a try either side of halftime with smart finishes.
Andrew Kellaway also got a try and showed his level of class against an extremely physical Brumbies team that were desperate to rattle their rivals. Last year, Triston Reilly temporarily dropped to the Shute Shield where he starred for Randwick and reminded McKellar of his abilities with a try in the second half when his team were in danger of chasing the game.
The Waratahs now enjoy an embarrassment of riches on the wings and Suaalii may even come into the equation for the first round in two weeks against the Highlanders given the extra workload needed to play fullback. If there is an injury, the Waratahs’ attack coach Mike Catt can rest easily, there is a player desperate for an opportunity in reserve.
The medical bay is almost empty
Suaalii played a full role in training on Friday, including staying behind to kick, so his absence was purely precautionary. With ice and rest, the Waratahs will be able to use their star man against the Highlanders in two weeks. Beyond Suaalii, there was a nervous moment in the trial when their captain and halfback Jake Gordon went off clutching his lower back just nine minutes into the game and stayed off, but again, it was precautionary, he will be ready for round one.
The physio’s nerves were further eased with the return of Wallabies hooker Dave Porecki who got through 52 minutes of work after missing the whole of last year to an Achilles injury. It was a physical performance where Porecki’s body was fully tested and he got through completely unscathed. Standing on the field after the game Porecki couldn’t stop smiling. And why not? Porecki revealed to this masthead that last year he feared that he developed a chronic injury.
Back-rower Fergus Lee-Warner remains the only doubt for round one, but given the Waratahs’ disastrous injury record from last year, leaving Bowral without an ambulance is a major positive.
The Waratahs Charlie Gamble makes a break in Bowral in the final trial against the BrumbiesCredit: NSW Rugby
Leaky defence
It was not all good news. The Waratahs struggled to hold down a Brumbies team that was shorn of their frontline talent. Their star Wallabies Len Ikitau, Tom Wright and Rob Valetini were happily signing autographs on the sideline.
It was the first time the Waratahs had played this Wallabies-filled line-up together. There was inevitable ring rust, particularly in defence with large holes evident, which the Brumbies ruthlessly exploited with six tries. There is a question that if the second-string Brumbies can cause defensive headaches, what will the Highlanders do in Sydney for round one?
No coach will expect a perfect performance from his team in a trial and the defence will be a priority work-on ahead of the new season. With another eighty minutes under their belt, the team can move forward with more confidence.
