Giant winger Ratu Nasiganiyavi has starred in the Australian Under-20 rugby side’s 81-12 victory over Canada in their opening match of the junior world championship in Wales.
The game was effectively over as a contest in the opening 20 minutes with the Australians running in four converted tries through captain David Pocock, Ben McCalman, Rob Horne and James Hanson.
Western Force fullback Dane Haylett-Petty scored four tries in the 13 tries to two rout while Nasiganiyavi claimed man of the match honours for his menacing performance – which included two five-pointers.
Nasiganiyavi, the cousin of Lote Tuqiri, signed a two-year deal with the NSW Waratahs for the next two Super 14 seasons following his barnstorming performances for Sydney grade side Randwick this season.
Australian coach Brian Melrose was happy with the performance.
“It was a good start and good to come away without any bad injuries as we had a bad week losing a couple of backs,” he said.
“It’s good to get off the mark and we’ve got a line in the sand now but we do need to make improvements in some areas.”
© AAP 2012Australia 81 (Dane Haylett-Petty 4, Ratu Nasiganiyavi 2, Junior Sovala 2, Ben McCalman 2, Rob Horne, David Pocock, James Hanson; Quade Cooper 5 cons; Jeremy Sua 3 cons) defeated Canada 12 (Matt Evans, Sean White tries; Nathan Hirayama con) at Rodney Parade, Newport, Wales.
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stillmissit said | June 8th 2008 @ 10:50am | Report comment
So your a Foxtel exec are you? Get off your arse and show us some of this! Every Australian rugby supporter wants to see these youngsters. They are nearly all bound for the Wallabies in the next 2-3 years.
Spiro Zavos said | June 8th 2008 @ 5:06pm | Report comment
Brian Melrose the coach of this excellent Junior Wallaby side was let go by Ewen McKenzie in 2007 as the attack coach of the Waratahs, for reasons so far unexplained. The Waratahs after a successful 2006 went on to have a most unsuccessful 2007 Super 14 campaign when they couldn’t score tries. It would be a good thing for NSW rugby if the new Waratahs coach, Chris Hickey, offered Brian Melrose his old job again at the Waratahs, and Melrose was able to accept it.
Sledgeandhammer said | June 8th 2008 @ 6:46pm | Report comment
The interesting thing about this competition is that the IRB is developing some very good representative pathways for players around the world. The junior world championships are a combination of last year’s under 19 and under 21 competitions. The second tier version of this competition was played in Chile last month, and drew last enthusiastic crowds to the home team games, Uruguay won the final against Chile, which bodes well for South American rugby and I think sees Uruguay elevated next year.
Would be great to see on television, especially when you see some of the talent involved. I would also like to able to view the pacific cup in which Australia A is competing, and also the european nations cup to be held in Romania – guess we’ll just get to read the results.
Number3 said | June 9th 2008 @ 8:09am | Report comment
Well said Spiro, Brian Melrose must be brought back into the senior ranks asap.
stillmissit said | June 9th 2008 @ 9:45am | Report comment
Spiro – Totally agree but I would like to see him coach a side in S14 as I thought he did a great job with the Western Rams. Maybe we have spent too much of our time on player talent recognition and too little on coaching talent recognition?
Chris Hickey and Brian Melrose are cases in point where in any normal, less political, world they would have risen up the ranks due to their successes at lower levels. Wonder who else is being overlooked in the coach world?
Maybe we should make it less subjective and more on results? having said that I wish to contradict myself and say Phil Mooney has my vote (at the moment) for next Australian coach after R. Deans.
Ain’t easy is it?
matta said | June 9th 2008 @ 4:54pm | Report comment
Stillamiss.
Its going to be on Fox but after round 3 from memory.
stillmissit said | June 9th 2008 @ 5:06pm | Report comment
Matta thanks for that I will look out for it.
matta said | June 10th 2008 @ 11:45am | Report comment
but yes, your point is valid.. i bet they play it at 2pm on a wednesday or something stupid..