‘Get Jorgo the ball’: NSW star redeployed for ‘Test intensity’ clash with Crusaders

Waratahs coach Dan McKellar predicts the sold-out clash with the Crusaders on Friday night, under the roof in the Christchurch’s new $625 million stadium, will have the intensity of a Test match.

And with that high-pressure atmosphere in mind, McKellar has made a key positional switch to unlock the potency of big-game player Max Jorgensen.

Jorgensen has been moved from wing to fullback, swapping places with rookie Sid Harvey, for NSW’s clash with the Crusaders in the opening game of Super Round, which has been revived this season in Christchurch after a year hiatus.

It was one of only a handful of changes made by McKellar for the Crusaders showdown, with a new starting front row also rotated in but Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii not included, as forecast.

Jorgensen began the season in spectacular fashion, scoring two tries in each of their opening three games. But the 21-year-old has struggled to provide the same impact in the Tahs’ past five outings, with no tries and reduced statistical output.

The superstar’s frustration at getting limited touches was clear to see in NSW’s win over Moana Pasifika, and McKellar responded by returning Jorgensen to the position he enjoys most: fullback.

“Long-term, Max is a fullback and I want to get the ball in his hands,” McKellar said.

“That’s the reality. I talk to Max all the time about let’s go and chase 15 touches. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible, but giving him that opportunity at 15, a position he’s played a lot of, he’s excited about.

“You get the same out of Sid on the left wing, with his left foot, and we can use him, no doubt, with his kicking game. It’s giving ‘Jorgo’ that chance to get him in the game more.”

Jorgensen played four of his past five Tests for the Wallabies in the No.15 jumper, and was also fullback for NSW in the majority of his first two seasons of Super Rugby.

“If Max is on my outside, I just want to give him the ball,” McKellar said. “We’ve got to have that mindset. At 15, he’ll get more opportunity through counter-attack and that sort of thing. He’s got to be smart and make good decisions and make sure we’re not overplaying, but I know he’ll be all over that. Certainly on a kick-chase, he’s a threat to any defensive line.”

McKellar said Suaalii was very close to returning from a hamstring injury suffered six weeks ago, but he needed the chance to get through a full training week.

“He’s trained exceptionally well yesterday,” McKellar said. “He’ll be ready for the following week [against the Force in Sydney], definitely.”

The Waratahs flew out for Christchurch on Wednesday ahead of a blockbuster clash with their old rivals, the Crusaders, on the opening night of Super Round.

The Magic Round-style concept was staged for three years in Melbourne between 2022 and 2024, with limited success, before being parked for 2025. It has been revived this year to mark the opening of Christchurch’s new roofed stadium.

The Crusaders’ former home ground, Lancaster Park, was demolished due to damage suffered in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and the Kiwi champions have been playing at the smaller Rugby League Park at Addington since.

The Waratahs have been given the honour of facing the home team in the new stadium’s opening game, and they are well aware of how big the occasion will be, with the 30,000-seat venue sold out. But added to the pressurised environment is a desperate Crusaders side, which lost to the Reds and the Force in the past two rounds.

“It’s a challenge that we’re really excited about,” McKellar said. “Players know that it’s certainly going to be played at a high intensity, and it’ll be as close to a Test match as we’ll get to play in at Super Rugby level. Sold out stadium, plenty of good players throughout both teams – what an occasion to be involved in.”

Given the Brumbies broke a 26-year drought to beat the Crusaders in Christchurch in round two, the Waratahs have the chance to complete an unprecedented four from four Aussie sweep of the Crusaders. NSW last won in Christchurch in 2004.

McKellar said the Tahs’ away form had dramatically improved this year – including a win in Canberra – and he challenged his side to make lifetime memories by beating the 2025 champions on home soil.

“Winning on the road against good opposition, they’re the memories that you have for life,” he said. “Some weeks are just different and you’ve got to lift the bar. This week we have to raise the bar, there’s absolutely no doubt. They’ll be pretty desperate, but we need to make sure that we’re desperate and at the same time we’re accurate and take the opportunities that we create.”

The Tahs will field a new front row of Isaac Kailea, Folau Faingaa and Siosifa Amone, after McKellar elected to rotate the well-performed Dan Botha, Ethan Dobbins and Tom Lambert, who have all played big minutes.

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