Wallaby set to return, rising star to start as Tahs name team for pre-season blockbuster
Rising star Max Jorgensen has been named to start in the NSW Waratahs’ first-preseason trial against the ACT Brumbies in Griffith on Saturday.
Heralded as a generational talent, the Waratahs fended off interested from both rugby league and union to sign the schoolboy sensation on a two-year deal last September.
Jorgensen hasn’t played a Super Rugby match for the Waratahs yet, but was named as a development player for Australia A’s tour of Japan last year.
Clearly, Rugby Australia see big things in the teenagers future.
After being toted as a schoolboy star, Jorgensen will have his first opportunity to star at Super Rugby level in this weekend’s trial against the Brumbies.
Jorgensen is one of four Waratahs debutants in the first-half team, including Taleni Seu, former LA Giltinis halfback Harrison Goddard, and former Crusaders winger Namani Nadolo.
The team boasts an exciting mix of potential and experience, which includes Mahe Vailau at hooker. Vailanu was sensational with the LA Giltinis in America.
Wallaby Ned Hanigan is set to pack down aloangside Taleni Seu in the second-row, while Charlie Gambel has been named at openside flanker.
Blindside flanker Lachie Swinton has also been named to return after missing almost all of last year’s campaign with an injury.
Moving onto the backs, the halves combinations is potentially one that could be seen for many years to come.
Goddard was sensational during his time in the United States, having won the Major League Rugby championship alongside Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Coper at the Giltinis.
The 24-year-old, who has played with the Rebels in the past, is set to pair up with Wallaby Ben Donaldson.
Playmaker Tane Edmed will start in the midfield alongside Harry Wilson, while Fijian international Nemani Nadolo is set to start on the ring wing.
Jorgensen will start out the back for the Tahs.
But it’s a game of two halves for the Waratahs, who have named a very different side for their second half against the Brumbies.
Wallabies Tolu Latu and Langi Gleeson will both don Sky Blue during the second-half.
Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman said the staff and players “are super excited” about “finally” playing some rugby after a long pre-season.
“After 13 solid training weeks, the staff and players are super excited to finally play some rugby,” Coleman said in a statement.
“I feel we’re in a different stage of our development that this trail alt year, we’ve had a lot more time together and the boys have greater clarity in how we want to play.
“These trials are a great opportunity to reward the boys who have worked hard through the pre-season, get them some game time, and allow them to compete for round one spots.
“The Brumbies as always will be a stern test and a great way to kick off our run of pre-season fixtures.”
WARATAHS 1st HALF TEAM
- Te Tera Faulkner
- Mahe Vailanu
- Archer Holz
- Ned Hanigan
- Taleni Seu
- Lachie Swinton
- Charlie Gamble
- Will Harris
- Harrison Goddard
- Ben Donaldson
- Dylan Pietsch
- Tane Edmed
- Harry Wilson
- Nemani Nadolo
- Max Jorgensen
WARATAHS 2nd HALF TEAM
- Tom Lambert
- Tolu Latu
- Tiaan Tauakipulu
- Zane Marolt
- Ola Tauelangi
- Michael Icely
- Hunter Ward
- Langi Gleeson
- Teddy Wilson
- Jack Bowen
- Harry Wilson
- Henry O’Donnell
- Mosese Tuipulotu
- James Hendren
- Ben Dowling
RESERVES
Sateki Latu, Thomas Maka, Fritz Jahnke-Tavana
Comments on RugbyPass
In the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
5 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
5 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to comments