Mere weeks after being unveiled as the captain, the NSW Waratahs got an early season fright after Test halfback Jake Gordon was forced off in the early stages of his side’s entertaining 36-36 pre-season hit out against the Brumbies in Bowral.
The 31-year-old was forced off less than ten minutes into the match to leave Waratahs fans crossing their fingers.
Gordon’s early departure came not long after sighs and boos echoed around Eridge Oval in the Southern Highlanders after the ground announcer revealed that high-profile recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was a late scratching after knee soreness.
But new Waratahs coach Dan McKellar alleviated the fears of a nation when he said both men would be fit for their round one opener against the Highlanders on February 14 in Sydney.
“It’s a minor issue [for Suaalii],” McKellar told reporters. “He just pulled up a little bit sore and it’s a trial game, so I let him stay at home and ice it up.
“Rest, recovery, physio treatment, and we’re hoping he’ll train Wednesday.”
Wallabies recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii missed the Waratahs’ pre-season hit out against the Brumbies. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
There was similar good news for Gordon.
“He just jammed up his back, so nothing major,” McKellar said. “That’ll turn around quickly.”
The experienced coach will be hoping his side can quickly clean up their early season fumbles after a scratchy performance.
“It’s just good to get a hit out,” McKellar said.
“The reality is most of the boys have only been with us for two weeks and we were always going to be a little bit rusty and clunky and you could see that.
“We’ll take some match fitness on board and it was good to get through. The positive is there was some transfer.”
Dan McKellar says Wallabies Jake Gordon (L) and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will be fit for round one. Photo: Waratahs Media
While there was nothing tangible to be gained by the game, McKellar named close to his strongest side for the hit out to try and iron out the kinks that naturally arise when there’s a new coaching staff and several fresh additions to the squad.
McKellar will have been relieved there were no further setbacks and acutely aware that his side has a long way to go to climb up the Super Rugby standings. But nor was Rome built overnight either.
Indeed, the Waratahs had ten Wallabies in their starting side compared to Stephen Larkham’s inexperienced Brumbies outfit, who were missing the majority of his Test stars. Not that you would not have known it judging by the scoreline and the standard of play across the 80 minutes.
Rising Brumbies talent Declan Meredith delivered another eye-catching performance and could well play a greater role in 2025 despite Larkham having Test playmaker Noah Lolesio and fullback Tom Wright up his sleeve to bring back into the fold.
Starved of opportunities in recent years, the 25-year-old was sprightly and made an early linebreak as he ran off Rebels recruit David Feliuai. He later scored one try and set up several others.
He wasn’t alone either, with Ollie Sapsford, Corey Toole and Andy Murihead running strongly out wide.
Despite being rocked early by a stampeding Langi Gleeson, Rory Scott was busy and showed that he’ll play a big role for the Brumbies this season.
For the Waratahs, Darby Lancaster scored a couple of tries, Max Jorgensen ran freely and looked dangerous with every touch, and Gleeson rolled up the sleeves and showed the physicality of a Wallaby.
Former Wallabies captain Dave Porecki made a successful return from a lingering Achilles injury, while Taniela Tupou won a couple of penalties after coming on in the second half.
After Wallabies rookie Luke Reimer scored for the Brumbies in tight early, the Waratahs quickly responded as their backline turned it on as Lancaster finished well before replacement halfback Jack Grant scored following Gleeson’s bullocking run and Jorgensen’s outrageous flick pass from out wide.
But the Brumbies responded midway through the first half through their formidable rolling maul as rising Waratahs lock Miles Amatosero got taught a lesson.
A series of offloads saw the Waratahs break the Brumbies open as Andrew Kellaway scored running a fine line off Lalakai Foketi.
The Brumbies however refused to go away as Sapsford finished off a fine team try to narrow the margin to 19-21 at half-time.
A rocket from Tane Edmed in the minutes after half-time saw Lancaster score his second, before Meredith ensured the Brumbies stayed within touching distance.
Triston Reilly gave McKellar a reminder that he’s got plenty to offer when he scored for the Waratahs.
The Brumbies then scored two quick tries, including one to Ryan Lonergan as Jack Debreczeni straightened the line and got some reward from it.
The Waratahs scored with a couple of minutes to go to lock up the score at 36-36, before blowing a couple of late opportunities to leave Bowral with the win.
Asked where the biggest areas of improvement were, McKellar pointed to his side’s inability to slow the Brumbies – a fact all the more concerning given Larkham kept Lolesio, Len Ikitau and Wright in cotton wool.
“I think defensively we were exposed quite easily at times and that’ll need a tidy up, and just a little bit of confidence in attack,” McKellar said.
“We looked and played like a team that was full of energy and effort but a little bit clunky.”
The Waratahs now head to Gloucester for a brief camp.
“It’s just more about coming together as a group,” McKellar said. “We’ve worked hard, so a couple of down days off the training field won’t hurt us.”
Larkham was thrilled with his young side’s showing and, in particular, their work at the set-piece.
“The program has been a really good one leading into this game,” the World Cup-winner said. “We learnt a lot from last year and put it into this pre-season block.
“Our set-piece was miles ahead of where it was last year. Defensively, we were also much better than last year at this time. And then our attack has definitely gone to a new level. There’s a lot to be happy about.
“We’ll still look at our defence. You’ve still got to look at that and say, why did we leak 36 points? And there’ll be some individual errors there that we can assist with and things that we can fix.
“We had some young guys who’d come out of the academy get on the field there for at least 20 minutes and they really put their hand up. Jack Condon, Judah Saumaisue and Eli Langi, just to name those guys. I thought they were outstanding when they were on the field.
“They were involved in all the set-pieces and I thought their detail and their execution was outstanding.”
