Coach Dan McKellar is demanding more even after the new-era, star-studded NSW Waratahs’ best opening to a season since capturing the club’s only Super Rugby title more than a decade ago.
A thrilling 29-24 victory over the Fijian Drua after a similarly hairy last-gasp 37-36 escape against the Highlanders in round one has given the Waratahs a two-from-two start for the first time since the triumphant 2014 campaign under Michael Cheika.
It’s happy days indeed for skipper Jake Gordon after the Wallabies halfback had to endure the despair of leading the Waratahs to a first-ever wooden spoon last season.
“We’ve done really well. Yeah, we haven’t been pretty, but I thought for the majority we’ve stuck to our game plan and we’ve done the stuff that the public probably won’t see,” Gordon said.
“Against a really dangerous Drua team, I thought defensively we were pretty sharp for a long part of the game and we knew they were going to get one on ones and get the ball free.
“Our tackle height to wrap up the ball, for example – Henry O’Donnell on the edge, they’re really hard tackles when guys get their hands free and, on reflection so far from the year, two wins from two.
“We just need to incrementally improve each week and, if we do that, we will be a tough team.”
Dan McKellar at training on Thursday alongside Wallabies Jake Gordon (L) and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. Photo: Waratahs Media
The Waratahs host the Western Force next Saturday night in Sydney chasing three straight wins to open a season for the first time since 2009, when Phil Waugh led the side instead of Rugby Australia as he does now.
With a raft of Wallabies joining in 2025, including Andrew Kellaway, Darby Lancaster, Rob Leota and Taniela Tupou, the Tahs even beat the Drua with their so-called “Ferrari” – $5-million man Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii – in the garage on Friday night.
McKellar doesn’t know if Suaalii will be fit to tackle the Force either.
The coach is more concerned about his side adding the polish to their attack after lamenting not putting the Drua to the sword after seizing the momentum and establishing a 10-point lead early in the second half on Friday night.
“The fighting effort that I spoke to you people about a couple of weeks ago was there, there in bucket loads, but we nearly beat ourselves,” McKellar said.
“That’s the disappointing part.
“I’m really pleased with getting four points and we sit here with two wins from two … really happy about that but, again, we’ll use the review to make sure that we turn up in better shape next week.
“Because at 22-12, with an opportunity five metres from their line, you’ve got to put that away and it’s a 17-point ball game and we’re probably having a completely different conversation.”
© AAP
