Why trial wins over Brumbies and Reds might signal big shift for Waratahs

Winning away from home was a major problem for the Waratahs in their first season under McKellar last year. They were victorious in five from seven games at Allianz Stadium, but then lost six of seven on the road.

The split-personality Tahs missed the finals, and McKellar and staff will hope two wins over the top two Australian sides away from Sydney is a portent of things to come.

Like most trial results, however, the Waratahs’ win was tricky to confidently decipher for McKellar and Brumbies rival Stephen Larkham. Both sides had strong moments, and players helped the coaches nail down selection calls for round one next week but, equally, both sides have problem areas to work on.

The Waratahs looked strong and fluent in the opening half, when most of the first-choice side were on.

Showing exactly why he was re-signed for five years, Max Jorgensen picked up where he left off from the spring tour with a 70-metre run early, in which he beat five defenders and then laid on a try for Charlie Gamble.

Jorgensen scored a second try later – following a nice long kick from Jack Debreczeni and a defensive steal – but he was still pipped by rising Brumbies star Charlie Cale as best on ground.

Making his return from a stress fracture in his back that sidelined him most of last year, Cale was outstanding. The speedy 24-year-old scored a first-half hat-trick, laid on another and showed he’ll be a back row weapon for the Brumbies – and likely the Wallabies – again this year.

For the Waratahs, the performances of most of the recruits were heartening, and given their experience, unsurprisingly mature. Debreczeni was a composed game manager at No.10, with a brilliant kicking game, and Harry Potter turned in a typically busy and nomadic effort. Pete Samu scored a 55-metre try and new skipper Matt Philip was at the centre of a Waratahs pack that flexed its muscles at set-piece time.

As seen at Test level, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii did not get much attacking ball playing at outside centre, and not fullback, where he was stationed last year for NSW. Andrew Kellaway was solid at No.15, but the debate about whether Suaalii – or even Jorgensen – would be better off getting the extra touches at fullback won’t go away.

The pressure applied by the Waratahs’ defensive line speed has been a big success in the trials and will clearly be a key plank of their game for the new season.

Also picking up from last year’s tour games against the Lions, Gamble was again strong and will again be one to watch this year.

The Waratahs’ goal-line defence was mixed against a direct Brumbies attack, and perhaps predictably for a side that has lost Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou and Dave Porecki, the NSW scrum had some wobbly moments.

But the menace shown by Wallabies hooker Folau Fainga’a in the second half will also have put a smile on his coaches’ faces.

Ex-Waratah pivot Tane Edmed had a mixed day in his second game for the Brumbies, with a handful of nice touches and some errors, too. After finally making his Test debut last year, Ryan Lonergan was excellent at halfback and ran the show with typical confidence.

The Waratahs meet the Reds in Sydney next Friday in the season opener, and the Brumbies travel to Perth to play the Force on Saturday.