DUBLIN – Mark Nawaqanitawase can hardly believe what is going on. Ten months ago, the 22-year-old was told he was the sixth best Waratahs winger and was loosely weighing up a potential switch of allegiance to join Fiji.
Loosely because within a matter of weeks Nawaqanitawase, having missed selection for the Tahs’ final trial game against Queensland that included 30 players, was back in the mix after earning an opportunity after injuries and form presented an opening.
Nawaqanitawase has not looked back.
On Sunday (7am AEDT), he will play his second straight Test after being one of the few to retain his place after the Italy disaster, where he will start on the wing against Ireland.
“I’m still to figure out what’s going on at the moment,” Nawaqanitawase said shortly after coming from the training paddock at the University College Dublin.
“It’s just crazy. It’s hard to think at the start of the year I wasn’t even getting picked; I just debuted on the weekend. You know what I mean? I’m still pretty lost with it all but hopefully I’ll come around and get a bit more comfortable with it.”
He will get a good reminder of what is going on this weekend, as the Wallabies take to the Aviva Stadium in front of a full house against the world No.1 side.
Nawaqanitawase was one of the few players to leave Florence with his stocks rising last weekend, where the Wallabies suffered a shock defeat to Italy.
The athletic winger, whose leaps resemble Israel Folau, has made a habit of shocking people.
In the years before entering high school, he was an exciting football player before showing huge promise as a basketball player.
While he made the XV at high school in year 10, the then crafty midfielder did not make any representative sides.
High school came and went and Nawaqanitawase missed selection for the Waratahs’ academy. A phone call from now-Australian sevens coach John Manenti to Tahs skills coach Shannon Fraser changed the trajectory for the rising outside back.
He was given a six-week training stint with New South Wales and halfway through Fraser knew Manenti was on the money with his tip.
Junior Wallabies selection followed. So too tries.
After several household stars left the Waratahs following the 2019 World Cup, Nawaqanitawase was given a crack against the Crusaders in their opening match of the Super Rugby season.
He scored a brace of tries and the world seemingly was at his feet. But physically Nawaqanitawase was far from ready for the rigours of professional rugby, as he was exposed physically and defensively.
After being in and out of the side for a year-and-a-half, Nawaqanitawase said he was “shocked” when new-Waratahs coach Darren Coleman told him where he was on the pecking order.
It left Nawaqanitawase with a decision to make: he could either leave, with the possibility of a route to the Fijian side, or work harder.
“I kind of was at the point where I was playing a few games and I was just getting happy with where I was,” he said.
“I just thought I’d stick at it.
“DC gave me the talk at the start of the year and I was doing quite well, I guess, trying to rebuild and I was kind of happy with the rebuild that I was doing.
“I didn’t feel like I was quitting, but in a good way just to see how far I could go with that kind of thing. Just personal, my personal growth, and I guess I kind of put it away and the decision to just keep chucking on over here and see if I can get a jersey here.”
Nawaqanitawase does, however, admit there was a temptation of pursuing a career with Fiji. “I obviously have that Fiji side to me,” he said. “It was definitely an option there.”
But it was only ever a flutter.
Having originally missed selection for the Australia A tour of Japan last month, Nawaqanitawase has pleasantly shocked Wallabies officials.
He now looms as a weapon on the wing for the Wallabies and, importantly, offers the national team a point of difference – size and potency in the air.
The sight of him soaring in the air at training was something to behold. He flies like an AFL player with his hands up to the sky.
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Before leaving Sydney last month, Nawaqanitawase said he idolised Folau and his aerial prowess, recalling when the dual-international leapt over two Scottish defenders to score from a Bernard Foley crossfield kick.
In Florence Nawaqanitawase thought his own Folau moment was presenting itself, as Waratahs teammate Ben Donaldson kicked for his towering figure on the sideline.
The ball sailed over his head, but Nawaqanitawase never doubted he would have scored had it been on a string.
“I was just thinking I was going to catch it and score it, but it didn’t work out eventually,” he said.
“It was on, and I’ve got a good connection with Donno. A bit of skill execution there, but I know next time he’ll hit it and I back myself to catch it.”
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
I love the way the Springboks play. Hard, tough physical rugby. And the various styles & strategies of the various nationalities keeps rugby interesting. Plus the Boks a really good at their own style of rugger. In fact I'm happy to see where the Boks are going right now. They looking like a very good bet for RWC23. In fact, I reckon its going to be an Ireland V Bok final. SA v France q final.
Beefa
Roar Rookie
Apologies " one " cross field kick to Folau in 5 years.
TiredOldGit
Roar Rookie
Mark N made some physical runs but Gordon was looking for him to do it from halfway and it just ended in isolation or going over the sideline. When his good is part of team play and actually makes sense, that would be good. It was like he was doing the role of Perese at 13 but on the wing with forwards ages away from him. I would judge Campbell based on the French game, better team than Italy and the entire team didn't fail in front of him. Full backs get beaten in defence everywhere for every team.
Crusher_13
Roar Rookie
It’s not even based on current form. It’s from one game a year ago, or one moment in one game in super rugby against their team that gets in the way. It also goes the other way, flash in the pan brilliance is far better than a bloke that does it week in week out, but makes a mistake once in a while.
Crusher_13
Roar Rookie
Have you lost it yet?
Crusher_13
Roar Rookie
When will my steak knives arrive?
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
He is bigger than you think Swede. He's 6 foot 3.
pm
Roar Rookie
Also you need good 10-12 to maximise the flashes of brilliance JP or Wright can have. But we haven't got that. Either would look much better on a better team
cs
Roar Guru
Campbell had a poor outing against Italy, but this stat hype is cherry picking nonsense. Stuart Hogg missed 3 tackles last week in a team that nearly beat the ABs. I don’t know Hogg, but it’s a solid point. Tackle stats are a good starting point in any decent evaluation, not the finish. When a team gets flogged, the missed tackle count is bound to be big in the backs by definition, but the cause of the loss is a usually a much more complicated story. A valiant miss might well tell you more about a player than an easy smash, but the stats will show otherwise. I was very impressed with Jock for Aus A, but he looked distinctly outclassed last week, whatever the stats. Marky is of a different and physically substantially bigger make-up. I’m not familiar with his early days, but have seen all his games for the Tahs and doubt that his miss rate will stand out against his other outside backs. There’s no lacking in commitment and ticker, as an ill-advised frontal approach showed on one Italian occasion. But he has more, including an effective attacking tackle in following kicks, and heaven help anyone he gets a chance to put a well-timed hit on.
Banjo Kelly
Roar Rookie
Hodge and Kelleway are the most complete players. Jordy and Wright have a few too many rocks and not enough diamonds for Banjo.
BackInBlack
Guest
It really can be a beautiful game Winston, but the Springboks don’t play that way. I could only shake my head watching the match vs Ireland. The Irish produced some dazzling passages of passing, always looking to create overlaps or holes in the Bok defence. South Africa on the other hand were ‘Rush defence, maul, kick and repeat’ the whole match. It is a sound knockout strategy but not pretty viewing and it’s the only way they know how to play.
Banjo Kelly
Guest
Good chat. I think we will see that Kurtley’s best days are behind him. I reckon we might see Wilson emerge at scrum half, Bowen at fly half and Jorgensen at fullback and 3 will go round the others in the pecking order. Bold prediction indeed but Wilson, Bowen, Markey (wing) Foketi, Walton, Perese, Jorgensen in 2023 is the future. Jake Gordon is probably the exception but the other guys just haven’t quite got it.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Interesting.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
What’s that got to do with how the 2022 Boks play. Maybe you’re stuck in the past is more the issue and not understand how SA structure their attack and gameplan.
TiredOldGit
Roar Rookie
If being a beaten team is a valid excuse, then Jock should have no problem after the Italy game. If Kellaway can't play out of position, why are people wanting him to fullback for the wallabies?
Chufortah
Guest
Banks baaaaaa hahaha very funny. He’s an absolutely liability in defence and mediocre in attack :)
Chufortah
Guest
How many Tahs players played against Italy? Baaaaa hahaha not many, how many, not many…
Chufortah
Guest
He has the potential to be much much better than Folau without the stupidity.. let’s hope he gets that confidence going, keeps it simple… there is such talent around in our backs still we chase NRL mercenaries. Go well Marky Mark - time for Wallabies to win, you know it’s going to happen.
jeznez
Roar Guru
My thinking is that playing him from the bench is just trying to keep close and have him win it for you late. I’d rather the strongest team on early. Try to build a lead with Tupou and Skelton, then close it out with AAA and Neville.
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
For much of the season Kellaway played in the centres, not in his natural position. Oh and in a team that was constantly beaten. Maybe check the stats for Kelleway for a season playing wing.