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‘Earn his position’: Eddie Jones’ message for Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase

By Finn Morton
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones insists winger Mark Nawaqanitawase will have to “earn his position back in the squad” after re-signing with Rugby Australia and the NSW Waratahs until the end of 2024.

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Nawaqanitawase entered the fray of international rugby during last year’s end-of-season tour, and proved to be a revelation for the Wallabies during his three Test matches.

The winger made his Test debut against Italy in Florence, before lacing up the boots for a second time as a Wallaby against World No. 1 Ireland in Dublin a week later.

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But, as rugby fans around the world may remember, Nawaqanitawase really made his name as a Wallaby during a thrilling comeback win over Wales at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

The Wallabies were down by 19-points in their final Test of the season, and appeared to be heading towards an historic defeat – it would’ve made 2022 their worst campaign since 1958.

But Nawaqanitawase had other plans. The rising star scored two tries in 10 minutes, which prompted an incredible resurgence from the Wallabies.

The men in gold won the Test 39-34, and Nawaqanitawase was named the player of the match. At that moment, many expected the winger to star in 2023 – predicting him to make the World Cup squad.

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On Thursday, Rugby Australia confirmed that Nawaqanitawase had signed a new deal with the organisation, which will see him remain Down Under until at least the end of the 2024 season.

Reflecting on the opportunity to remain in Australia, Nawaqanitawase said he’s “looking forward to playing my part” in any success at both Super Rugby Pacific and Test level.

“I’m really happy to re-sign with the Waratahs and Australian Rugby,” Nawaqanitawase said in a statement.

“This is where I started my rugby journey, and I’m proud to continue representing my state and the Wallabies.

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“We’ve got a great group of players and coaches both here and in the national set up, and I’m looking forward to playing my part in the success of both teams in the future.”

While last year’s heroics will go down in Australian Rugby history, Nawaqanitawase hasn’t exactly been promised a spot in the Wallabies’ World Cup squad to go to France later this year.

Nawaqanitawase has impressed on the wing for the Waratahs this season, and was included in Eddie Jones’ first Wallabies squad for a training camp on the Gold Coast last month.

But the job’s not finished. Nothing is guaranteed.

Jones said that while Nawaqanitawase was “impressive” for the Wallabies last year, the winger will still need to “earn” his spot in the squad.

“Mark was impressive in his games for the Wallabies in Europe, but it is a new season in 2023 and he has to earn his position back in the squad,” Jones said.

“He is fast and strong and he scores some spectacular tries, but he’s at his best when he’s doing the hard yards for his team and working off the ball.”

Nawaqanitawase grew up in Sydney and attended St Patricks College, before going on to play for the NSW Waratahs Academy and Eastwood.

The winger impressed for the Junior Wallabies during their World Rugby U20 Championships campaign in Argentina four years ago, having scored a try in the first minute of the decider.

After impressive at Super Rugby level with the Waratahs, the 22-year-old was included in the Australia A side for the Pacific Cup and tour of Japan.

After impressing for the Wallabies last year, Nawaqanitawase has continued his impressive run and form with the Waratahs in Super Rugby Pacific.

Nawaqanitawase currently leads the New South Wales outfit for tackle breaks, running metres, offloads and carries.

“Mark is an exceptional talent who has come through the NSW Rugby pathways and we’re thrilled that he has decided to continue his development with us,” Waratahs coach Darren Coleman added.

“He’s an electric attacking player who has already made a significant impact at the highest levels of the game. We’re excited to see what he can achieve in the future.”

The Waratahs host the Fijian Drua at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium at 7.35pm AEST on Saturday.

This is the second match of an unmissable double header, with the Wallaroos set to host Fijiana in the earlier match.

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Jon 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 10 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

39 Go to comments
A
Adrian 11 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

39 Go to comments
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