The NSW Waratahs showed strong promise in their first trial match of the year on Saturday, beating a passionate NSW Pasifica team in an eleven-try-to-one performance at Eric Tweedale Stadium in Granville, Sydney.
NSW Waratahs Head Coach Dan McKellar said he was "really pleased" by the performance from his side which led 40-0 at half-time and won 73-5.
While the NSW Waratahs got away to an early and convincing lead, the NSW Pasifica side rallied in the second half when they scored their try, making it difficult for McKellar’s side to continue the points spree as fast as they began.
However, McKellar recognised that for a first trial, the NSW Waratahs fared well; although, he said they will leave having learned there is still much to work on from the opposition that NSW Pasifica threw at them.
“There were some really good passages. I thought that in the first 20 minutes, we were really clinical,” McKellar said after the game.
“We got a bit loose there at times, but that is going to happen in trial games.
“We just have to be more ruthless there at times, but overall I am really pleased.
“It was great of the NSW Pasifica team for giving the hit out, and it looks like we've got through injury-free as well, which is always a bonus. “
McKellar was happy the game provided a large portion of his squad with game time, including Eamon Doyle and Joey Fowler who played off the bench after playing for the NSW Waratahs Under 20s who beat NSW Pasifica 109-5 earlier.
“It was good to see ‘Doyley’ and ‘Chook’ Fowler back up, and we got good minutes into most players,” McKellar said.
“We'll share the workload and get some more time into a few more players next week [in the second trial against the ACT Brumbies in Bowral on Saturday].”
Asked what he could take from today’s game to work on next week, McKellar said: “Too many turnovers would be the main thing. If you turn the ball over seventeen times, you are not going to win too many Super Rugby games.
“But again, it's just decision-making, a little bit of rust, a little bit around our breakdown. We'd be better for it after today.”
“There is certainly no lack of effort. There is no issue there which is pleasing.
"We just have to tidy up our decision-making around a couple of passes and off-loads.”
NSW Waratahs 73 defeat NSW Pasifica Under 5
Tries: Julian Heavan, Clem Halaholo, Teddy Wilson, Henry O'Donnell (2), Triston Reilly (2), James Hendren (2), Ethan Dobbins, Jackson Ropata
Conversions: Jack Bowen (6), Joey Fowler (2)
Tries: Damien Fleming
Conversions: Abel Magalogo
Ends ./.
