Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Wallaby star spotted in new position as Tahs bag trial game bragging rights

Jordan Petaia (Photo by Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images)

The NSW Waratahs showed they’ll be a tougher Super Rugby Pacific prospect, while there was a Jordan Petaia sighting at fullback for the Queensland Reds in their trial game in Roma.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Waratahs leaked points in a historic, winless 2021 season but showed off some bruising, organised defence in a 21-14 win on Saturday night a week out from their season opener against Fijian Drua.

Izaia Perese sent fellow Wallabies backline contender Filipo Daugunu scrambling backwards with a huge hit to set the tone as Australian coach Dave Rennie watched on.

Video Spacer

ASX Sports Fantasy Rugby | A new generation of fantasy rugby is here with apps for iOS and Android!

Video Spacer

ASX Sports Fantasy Rugby | A new generation of fantasy rugby is here with apps for iOS and Android!

Petaia came on in the second half at fullback, moving Jock Campbell into five-eighth to replace Wallabies No.10 James O’Connor.

The move comes after calls for the prodigious backline talent to spend time in the No.15, with an eye to the 2023 World Cup.

Former Wales centre Jamie Roberts’ first outing for the Waratahs was shortlived, the British and Irish Lions star groggy as he limped off ahead of halftime.

Fo rmer rugby sevens talent Dylan Pietsch was powerful on the wing for the Waratahs, while Lachie Swinton dominated the middle.

ADVERTISEMENT

Waratahs five-eighth Ben Donaldson was sharp early, scoring off a neat flick pass from fullback Alex Newsome, who had crossed for the game’s first try.

The Reds were sloppy and the penalties piled up, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Dane Zander’s yellow cards leaving the Reds two men short for almost 10 minutes late in the first half.

That almost seemed to wake them up though, the hosts not conceding a point while either man was sidelined.

Wilson scored to begin the half, before NSW’s replacement No.10 Tane Edmed restored the 14-point buffer.

ADVERTISEMENT

Young Queensland halfback Spencer Jeans then had the ball knocked out of his hands as he streaked over the line.

He made up for that blooper soon after, darting over to make it 21-14 with 10 minutes to play.

Queensland had their chances in the final minutes but twice the Warata hs turned the ball over close to their line to seal t he win.

A city-wide blackout 25 minutes before kick-off almost cancelled the game, with power returning just as officials were considering pulling the pin on the 2,000-plus strong crowd.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

307 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING World Cup-winning halfback on Cam Roigard’s substitution in France loss World Cup-winning halfback on Cam Roigard’s substitution vs. France
Search