‘He’s beaten him in a phone booth’: McKellar hails another night of Jorgensen magic

The Waratahs have defeated the Fijian Drua 31-13 on a hot, humid evening that once again belonged to Max Jorgensen.

NSW had struggled in the opening quarters, with sloppy handling, with Charlie Gamble being an outstanding exception, opening the scoring with a try after 10 minutes.

The Drua thrived in the often chaotic structure of the game with Taniela Rukuro scoring and Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula five-eighth adding a conversion and a penalty. The Waratahs desperately needed a response and one came in the shape of Jorgensen.

With four minutes left of the first half, the Waratahs were struggling to dent a determined Drua team that were desperate to upset the odds in Sydney. The Drua were leading 12-10 and looking absolutely capable of extending it, before Jorgensen decided to take the game into his own hands.

With a mere five metres of space, Jorgensen somehow stepped past Drua winger Taniela Rukuro and then accelerated past fullback Ilaisa Droasese.

Jorgensen’s try applied the kindling for a rewakened Waratahs side turbo charged by coach Dan McKellar’s decision to empty his bench, with his replacement pack dominant.

Debut hooker Ioane Moananu got two tries, with second-rower Angus Blyth also coming off the bench to get his first try.

The final act had to belong to Jorgensen, with less than thirty seconds, he caught the ball and to score his second try of the night, and his fourth in two games.

The Waratahs have defeated the Fijian Drua 31-13 on a hot, humid evening that once again belonged to Max Jorgensen.

NSW had struggled in the opening quarters, with sloppy handling, with Charlie Gamble being an outstanding exception, opening the scoring with a try after 10 minutes.

The Drua thrived in the often chaotic structure of the game with Taniela Rukuro scoring and Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula five-eighth adding a conversion and a penalty. The Waratahs desperately needed a response and one came in the shape of Jorgensen.

With four minutes left of the first half, the Waratahs were struggling to dent a determined Drua team that were desperate to upset the odds in Sydney. The Drua were leading 12-10 and looking absolutely capable of extending it, before Jorgensen decided to take the game into his own hands.

With a mere five metres of space, Jorgensen somehow stepped past Drua winger Taniela Rukuro and then accelerated past fullback Ilaisa Droasese.

Jorgensen’s try applied the kindling for a rewakened Waratahs side turbo charged by coach Dan McKellar’s decision to empty his bench, with his replacement pack dominant.

Debut hooker Ioane Moananu got two tries, with second-rower Angus Blyth also coming off the bench to get his first try.

The final act had to belong to Jorgensen, with less than thirty seconds, he caught the ball and to score his second try of the night, and his fourth in two games.

It was written. Max Jorgensen gobbles up a beautiful kick from Jack Debreczeni in space and he runs over unopposed for his second try.

That’s his second try and four games and Rugby Australia’s five year contract is looking better by the day.

That is the game and the night belongs to Max Jorgensen.

Waratahs 36 Drua 13

Jake Gordon has been great tonight, a box kick comes off perfectly for replacement backrower Leafi Talataina, who has second-rower Angus Blyth to muscle over for his first Waratahs try.

Dan McKellar only had Teddy Wilson left on the bench, but so far his gamble on bringing on the cavalry has worked out well.

The Waratahs bench (and Max Jorgensen) have changed the game.

Waratahs 26 Drua 13

Waratahs coach Dan McKellar emptied his bench and one of the replacements debutant Ioane Moananu who scrambles over with a try with his first touch.

A great story, that just keep getting better. Moananu did score five tries in 12 games for the Crusaders so this is nothing new.

Leafi Talataina, Angus Blyth, Triston Reilly, Jack Debreczeni and Isaac Kailea are all on the field after coming off the bench. Their fresh legs are already making a difference.

Moananu almost gets a try assist with Waratahs No.8 Pete Samu getting over the tryline, but knocked on the ball.

Waratahs 21 Drua 13

Max Jorgensen is just an insane talent. We are running out of superlatives. He had less than five metres of space after a huge 25 metre cut out pass from Lawson Creighton, with two Fijian defenders on him, and somehow the winger used his footwork to get over, stepping Taniela Rakuro and scoring a stunning try. The crowd has woken up after seeing an absolute piece of magic.

It could be another try for Jorgensen, in less than a minute, but a forward pass is called from Waratahs fullback James Hendren for tipping on the ball to his No.8 Pete Samu in build up to Jorgensen running over for what would have been his fourth try in two games.

And that’s half time. What a player Jorgensen is. Madness.

Waratahs 14 Drua 10