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Nawaqanitawase's Rugby World Cup start fulfils promise to grandma

Australia's wing Mark Nawaqanitawase (R) celebrates with teammate Australia's full back Andrew Kellaway after scoring a try during the pre-World Cup rugby union international Test match between France and Australia at Stade de France in Saint Denis, on the outskirts of Paris on August 27, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Four years after a prophetic pledge to his grandmother, one-time schoolboys rugby reject Mark Nawaqanitawase will make a dream World Cup debut for the Wallabies.

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Coach Eddie Jones has opted for Nawaqanitawase and fellow excitement machine Marika Koroibete as his wingers for Australia’s tournament opener against Georgia in Paris on Sunday morning (AEST).

While his selection is no surprise after a series of eye-catching performances for Jones and his predecessor Dave Rennie since debuting on last year’s spring tour of Europe, Nawaqanitawase has recalled how he was almost lost to rugby.

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Overlooked for the first XV in his final year of high school in Sydney, Nawaqanitawase had planned to venture to New Zealand in 2019 to “see what that could lead to”.

“I went to Saint Pat’s and the highest I made there was seconds, a bit of a kick in the backside,” he told AAP.

“I was actually going to go overseas.”

But now-Australian sevens coach John Manenti was having none of it.

“John was actually a big part of my life,” Nawaqanitawase said.

“His son is one of my good mates from St Pats – we were in the same year – so John’s been watching me all my life.

“He heard I was going to New Zealand and was like, ‘No mate, just stay’.

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“So he managed to hook me up with a trial with Shannon Fraser at the (NSW) Waratahs Academy.

“It was just after the HSE.”

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The classy back performed so well in the trial he was not only recruited by the Waratahs but also made the under-20s Junior World Cup team in 2019. The rest, as they say, is history.

It was also four years ago, when Nawaqanitawase was only 18 and watching the Wallabies at the last World Cup in Japan, that he told his ‘nonna’ Lorraine he would be representing Australia at the 2023 global showpiece in France.

“It’s funny that she remembers me saying to her that I’ll get to a World Cup, the next World Cup,” he said.

“It’s pretty crazy to think that four years ago now I said that. It’s been a pretty crazy ride.”

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RedWarrior 41 minutes ago
'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

I think Italy were always targetting this match and intended to win. They needed to exorcise the 2023 RWC. I think they could have done with a bit more help from other 6Ns particularly from Ireland to knock more holes in NZ and their confidence.

Mentioned before the Italy Argentina match was a virus that ripped through the Italy camp early that week. In general play Italy were competitive albeit with a high error count and crucial missed tackles.

Ive said it before the era of NZ turning up unprepared for all comers and triumphing is definitively over. If a Tier1 team target NZ and NZ do not prepare accordingly they are in with a major chance of losing. It used to occur the odd time in RWCs against France, now it can occur v any Tier1. The competition has improved. NZ can still be at the top but their talents must be deployed sufficiently into dismantling teams as with their attack then allowed to exploit.

They dismantled Ireland pretty well in Dublin which went largely unnoticed. That allowed them scoreboard advantage and attacking opportunities of which one was enough.

That Italian team beat Wales and significantly Scotland last year. They used the loss to NZ in the most positive way possible. No doubt NZ prepared but I would assume it was similar to versus Argentina: 3/4 arsed at best. These test matches are rare and this was another chance to practice dismantling a determined and prepared opponent which was lost. If Italy had scored a 7 pointer at 17-6....an Italian win was on.

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