Superstar wing Mark Nawaqanitawase finished off a stunning try that he played a key role in setting up as the Waratahs beat the Fijian Drua 32-18 in Sydney.
The move started with young talent Max Jorgensen doing well to occupy two defenders before shovelling it out to Nawaqanitawase, who sprinted into space.
Drawing in the last defender, the wing then threw a wonderful blind pass out to Joey Walton, who was forced toward the touchline.
As the centre was about to leave the field of play, he flung it back into Nawaqanitawase, who dived over for a beautiful team effort.
🔥 Absolutely electric. 'Tahs showing off! #WARvDRUpic.twitter.com/z5m0wvLCXV
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) May 20, 2023
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Nawaqanitawase was on the scoresheet long before that in the 11th minute. Only Drua star Caleb Muntz had featured on the scoreboard prior to that with an eighth-minute penalty. The fly-half added another for the visitors at the quarter-hour mark to take the lead again.
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Waratahs fly-half Ben Donaldson would snatch the lead back in the 23rd minute with a penalty of his own. The scores would not change much until wing Dylan Pietsch scored a momentum-swinging score on the stroke of half-time.
The Drua were the first to cross in the second period with a converted Tevita Ikanivere try on the hour mark before the Waratahs scored the team effort through Nawaqanitawase, with Donaldson converting.
The game opened up, and both sides started finding opportunities, Joseva Tamani going over next in the 70th minute. In-form Waratahs number Langi Gleeson followed only three minutes later with a try.
It was the hosts who had the last say through Mahe Vailanu’s converted try. The win is the Waratahs’ fourth on the bounce as they look to be finding form at the back end of the season.
Video credit: Super Rugby Pacific