Slice of Heaven!
11: Waratahs 7 Chiefs 0
The Waratahs have had all the early possession and territory, and after struggling to get through the Chiefs’ defence, finally cracked them.
Turning down a penalty goal, the Tahs went for a lineout and after it broke down, hooker Julian Heaven sprinted off the back and found himself with an angled run to score.
How good has this greenskeeper from Eastern Suburbs been this season?
Late shot rocks Edmed
There is plenty of niggle early in this one, and things haven’t been helped by yet another late, high shot from Chiefs flanker Samipeni Finau on Waratahs no.10 Tane Edmed.
Finau has made a habit of hitting five-eighths with late, high tackles this season – you’ll recall the ordinary shot on Tom Lynagh earlier in the year.
He keeps getting away with them, though. The refereeing team decided there was nothing in it.
The one he gets really wrong will hurt someone.
Not long after, however, the Chiefs’ obvious high-target hitting has hurt them. Etene Nanai-Seturo has been binned for a high shot on Nawaqanitawase.
Will the real Marky Mark please stand up?
The most interesting man in the Waratahs team tonight will be Mark Nawaqanitawase, who has been recalled to the starting side.
‘Marky Mark’ was one of the Wallabies’ best players last year and shocked everyone in the off-season by defecting to the NRL, and signing with the Roosters.
The big winger hasn’t set the world on fire in Super Rugby this year, however, and Tahs coach Darren Coleman dropped him for the Tahs’ clash with the Crusaders.
He must have liked what he saw from Nawaqanitawase since, because Coleman has given him the starting wing spot back, and rested Dylan Pietsch.
Coleman said he hopes being left out will spark Nawaqanitawase up. Let’s see.
Waratahs women are in the big dance
It’s been a tough year for the blokes but the Waratahs have been absolutely dominating the Super Rugby Women competition this year, and are undefeated heading into the Grand Final at Ballymore on Sunday.
They have pumped everyone, including their rival in the big dance: the Fijiana Drua.
The Drua only entered Super W in 2022 and immediately halted the Waratahs’ run of four straight titles (2018-21). Fijiana have won the last two titles, but haven’t been as impressive this year as they were in the last two.
That barely counts when it comes to Fiji rugby, though, and the Waratahs know well the pain attached to having a bad day against the dangerous Drua.
Here are a couple of preview articles from the past week about the Waratahs.
The first is about Emily Robinson’s call for Super Rugby Women to expand.
And secondly, don’t miss the story of the incredible teenage talent Waiara Ellis, who on the bench. She is 16 and weighs just 55 kilograms. That’s her below (pictured).
Waiaria Ellis posing ahead of the Grand Final.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
Welcome to the jungle
By Iain Payten
Good evening everyone, and welcome to our live coverage of the Waratahs’ clash with the Chiefs at Allianz Stadium.
The game is part of Super Rugby Pacific’s Anzac Weekend Round, and as seen already in other codes, the game will be preceded by the Ode of Remembrance and the Last Post.
The Waratahs will be wearing a jersey with a poppy and the flags of Australia and New Zealand on their shoulder.
Footy-wise, this is a huge clash for both teams. The Waratahs are coming off a bye, and before that a thrilling win over the Crusaders. But that was only their second win in eight games.
Through a run of close losses and five bonus points, the Tahs are remarkably only sitting one point out of eighth spot. But they need to get their skates on and start putting more wins on the board, because there are six teams all in the same space, hunting for the last two spots in the finals.
With Damian McKenzie running the show, the Chiefs were considered one of the favourites to win the comp but they’ve had a relatively lean stretch recently, with three wins from six games.
Whaddaya know? More front-row injuries for Waratahs
It’s a day that ends in ‘y’ so that means there must be another injury to report about a Waratahs front rower.
Starting loosehead prop Hayden Thompson-Stringer has been ruled out with a corked leg, meaning there’ll be yet more changes to the Tahs’ front row. Tom Ross has come up from the bench to start in no.3, and Harry Johnson-Holmes moves across to loose head.
Sydney Uni prop Brad Amituani has been called in to make his debut on the bench, meaning all three front-row reserves are Shute Shield calvary; with Lewis Panini and Jay Fonokalafi also on the pine.
This is getting pretty silly. There so many injuries in the front row, only two of the ten original Waratahs squad front rowers are fit: HJH and Ross. Dave Porecki, Mahe Vailanu, Theo Fourie, Daniel Botha, Archer Holz, Angus Bell, Thompson-Stringer, Tom Lambert are all out; most for the season.
Coach Darren Coleman said midweek they’d investigated whether there were any patterns to the injuries but said most are varied and not similar.
At least the Shute Shield pathway is getting a strong workout, and so far, it has to be said Julian Heaven and Panini are good finds.
Updated Waratahs team (1-15): Harry Johnson-Holmes, Julian Heaven, Tom Ross, Hugh Sinclair, Miles Amatosero, Lachlan Swinton, Charlie Gamble, Ned Hanigan, Jake Gordon (c), Tane Edmed, Triston Reilly, Lalakai Foketi, Joey Walton, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Max Jorgensen
RESERVES: Jay Fonokalafi, Lewis Ponini, Bradley Amituanai, Jed Holloway, Langi Gleeson, Jack Grant, Will Harrison, Izaia Perese
