This was the imposing display needed by the NSW Waratahs and winger Mark Nawaqanitawase to rev up confidence in the structure of the team's attack.
The score might have read 32-18 but this was hard earned from minute one to 80 against the dangerous Fijian Drua at Allianz Stadium.
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Entering the play-offs, momentum is king and four wins in a row is exactly that.
What did we learn from this Waratahs victory.
1 MAX JORGENSEN STEPS UP AT FULLBACK
This was a terrific display from Max Jorgensen to show that fullback, rather than wing, is definitely his No.1 position.
His ability to link from the back to bring out the best in wing mates Nawaqanitawase and Dylan Pietsch is exactly what a good fullback should be doing. He was oil for the slick patterns of attack run by the Tahs.
Wallaby great-cum-Stan Sport commentator Tim Horan was succinct on Jorgensen…”The best and most complete game I’ve seen from him.”
Twelve runs for 84m, try assists galore and four tackle busts…how to get involved.
2 FLICK PASS HEAVEN
To follow on…the second Nawaqanitawase try was one of the best counter-attack tries of the Waratahs’ season and a big crowd-pleaser.
Jorgensen started it by running the ball back. His backhanded pass to Nawaqanitawase was followed by one from the winger himself to centre Joey Walton.
Walton’s pass inside while falling forward at pace was superb and gave the winger a perfect seed. Try.
The Waratahs have been slow learners for much of the season but getting the ball in the winger’s hands more is a must so he can more often make eight gallops for 70m and a bunch of tackle busts.
Here's another case of sign a new contract-clear head-play a blinder. He must have had pep in his stride because charging down a kick at goal is a once-a-season rarity in any competition.
3 GLEESON ON THE PLANE
The only question to be answered about backrower Langi Gleeson regarding the World Cup is whether he’s going to be sitting in economy or business class to get to France.
Absolutely, you just need big boppers who can sit down defenders like he did when charging for his try.
We’re going to see plenty more of that coloured headgear in 2023.
4 GREAT FIJIAN SUPPORT
The inclusion of the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby Pacific and the Fijiana Drua in women’s rugby in this region have been massive winners.
The Drua have improved exponentially since their inaugural game against the Waratahs to open 2022.
They are super fun to watch, hit like trains and their off-loading skill in attack is sublime if you tackle less well than the Waratahs did.
Most of all the double-header of Fijian rugby on Saturday generated the crowd it deserved with islander roars all day.
You wonder why it took so long to properly embrace our Fijian cousins when they were a part of the original South Pacific Championship back in the 1980s.
5 SUPER SUB
It’s such an important role to have impact from the bench.
Hooker Mahe Vailanu provides it every game now.
Fast, explosive strides and his good steerage when it comes to the rolling maul (not too many, thanks) are big plusses.
