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Corey Toole doesn’t do things slowly. The flyer was the breakout star during last year’s World Series Sevens and the winger grabbed his opportunity against the Waratahs in Griffith, scoring twice to lead the Brumbies to a 31-26 victory.
The 22-year-old Australian Sevens star scored a try in each half and looked a threat every time he touched the ball out wide.
A late try to Ben Dowling, who scored from a beautiful ball from Jack Bowen, gave the Waratahs a late sniff but the Brumbies held on.
While the victory itself counts for little and both sides made mass changes throughout the 80 minutes, the match gave a number of little pointers to what is to come in 2023.
Bad boy Tolu Latu pulled on the Waratahs shirt for the time since 2019 and on the evidence of his second-half showing will have impressed not only Darren Coleman but Eddie Jones, who was a notable onlooker from the sidelines. The Wallabies coach was seen sitting on the sidelines alongside rested Test stars Tom Wright and Len Ikitau.
Latu scored a try from a maul, but his presence over the ball stood out while his throw hit the mark at the lineout.
Tolu Latu had a strong return off the bench for the Waratahs. Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
Earlier in the week Waratahs assistant coach Jason Gilmore said he expected Latu to continue to get better as the season progresses after missing much of 2022 because of suspension, which saw the 2019 World Cup star return from Paris.
“He’s getting better,” Gilmore said. “So I think he came in at 121 kilo and we just saw it this morning he’s 114 kilos, so he’s moving a lot better, a lot more mobile around the field. Now he’s just got to get used to the game speed of playing back down in the Southern Hemisphere again, so is he where he needs to be? No, but he’s not far off and he’s better than what he was pre-Christmas.”
Another man returning to Super Rugby, Jack Debreczeni, showed his experience and class at No.10 for the Brumbies.
The former Melbourne Rebels playmaker spent plenty of time in the driver’s seat for the Brumbies, while Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed and Bowen all shared minutes in the role for the Waratahs. Harrison Goddard played the entire match at halfback for the Waratahs.
Young gun Max Jorgensen dropped one ball in contact midway through the opening half, but the teenage schoolboy star built into the game.
His excellent take under a difficult ball in the 46th minute was followed by a promising run a minute later.
However, he will need to impose himself more against the Reds if he is to make the side to take on the Brumbies on the opening night of Super Rugby on February 24.
Indeed, the incumbent Wallabies No.10 Donaldson finished the match at fullback after being taken off at the half-hour mark and his experience, and Coleman’s desire to burst out of the blocks, could tip the scales on the selection front.
The Waratahs lost Dylan Pietsch early to a quad injury.
The winger, who re-signed with the Waratahs earlier in the week, leapt into the air for an intercept and set off down the field. But the athletic winger puled up lame and left soon after.
The Waratahs scored through outside Harry Wilson, before the Brumbies returned to their pet play rolling maul and hit back to take the lead.
Toole then showed off his wheels by managing to score from a neat Declan Meredith grubber on the opposition’s tryline.
Te Tera Faulkner evened things up when he crashed over after a nice ball from hooker Mahe Vailanu.
Toole scored his second soon after half-time after a top ball from Ollie Sapsford.
Debreczeni’s chip near his own tryline worked out well when the Brumbies regathered. Soon after they crossed when Luke Reimer scored the first of two tries in quick succession.
Latu and Dowling managed to give the Waratahs a chance of pulling off a late win, but the Brumbies held on.
The Waratahs are expected to welcome back the majority of their big guns next week against the Queensland Reds, while the Brumbies will take on the Rebels in Wagga Wagga.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.