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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.

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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.

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      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.

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      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.

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      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.

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      J
      JW 30 minutes ago
      Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

      Well there’s a couple of distinctions here that are important aren’t there?


      First though like I replied to Tk where does it say theres need to test vets, or proven reliable players? It is simply ‘test quality’.


      Now, I have created a list that I think is test quality, so all weve got to do is upskill the missing pieces right? No. Razor might not mean to have given every player half a dozen matchs but he will want to have identified and assured himself that each individual is indeed test quality. So yes, plays like Darry and Lord may still be included in a few squads and used so he’s happy to include them as say 5th and 6th ranked locks, but that doesn’t mean he needs to go to the same level to ensure for himself the 7th and 8th ranked locks.


      He might be happy basing performances off SR Finals, or organizing an AB XV match against a team like France or SA with similar locking depth (even organizing say Warner Dearns to be part of the Japan XV etc), and I’m sure they’re going to have a very large squad over in South Africa for two months.


      I don’t think he is quite in the same predicament as SA to have to rest top stars. And this is obviously just goal setting, they’re supposed to be hard. As you can see by the context around this series, arbitrary targets like everyone getting some minutes are made. That could also simply be how he ensures he has met the 4. So hookers would be ticked, as he’s already used 5 at test level. If you looked at the Baabaas SA game you’d see Beehre performing like an accomplished test player, that already makes 7 locks with more than 2 full seasons to go. You take the point BA was making about Marshalls previous remarks about Razor want players to be able to play 3/4/5 different positions, that would mean if Razor was really happy with Finau at lock last week he already has 8 test quality locks as well, etc, etc.


      TLDR sorry for the big reply, it’s just a goal, the teams not going to suddenly fail if he doesn’t reach it, I think theres many means and many players for him to be comfortable in getting 4 in each position. He’s obviously not going to be able to get 4 proven, hardened test players in each by then, no.

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