A Wallaby mere months ago, Langi Gleeson was filthy he didn’t start for the Waratahs in their opening match of the year against the Brumbies and made that clear during the week.
On Saturday night, in front of new Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, Gleeson drew comparisons to Toutai Kefu – the World Cup-winning No.8 – as the back-rower wearing red headgear – chosen he said so his mum can spot him on the field – shone above his more fancied teammates.
With the Waratahs feeling the pinch against a powerful Fijian Drua outfit, Gleeson scored once and was the only forward to regularly get over the gain line during a tough opening 50 minutes.
After trailing 17-10 early in the second half, his physicality and hard-running helped the Waratahs run over the Drua to post a 17-43 victory to get their season up and running.
“He was a juggernaut today,” Waratahs coach Darren Coleman said of his rising No.8.
“He showed that he can be a big minute player as well. That was our fear. He was a little underdone when he came back from Wallaby camp and he had a decent break, so it just took him a while to build into those bigger minutes.
“He’d be sore. Although he comes out the other side of the contacts, there’s a lot of heat coming on his body. He’s just an amazingly powerful athlete.”
While Morgan Turinui and Justin Harrison were quick to temper Andrew Mehrtens’ comparison between Gleeson and Kefu, Coleman said the 22-year-old, who was starting for just the second time for the Waratahs, could develop into something special in time.
“He’s probably a little different [to Kefu],” Coleman said.
“He’s probably faster than Toutai, he’s got more speed, but he hasn’t grown the craftiness that Toutai had later in his career. He’s got a bit of work to do there. And still confidence, you’ve got to keep telling him that he can be the best player on the field. He doesn’t believe it quite yet and, if you pump his tyres, you can do it.”
Either side of the main break there were genuine concerns of a boilover.
The passes weren’t sticking, the lineout wasn’t clicking and the discipline, particularly at the breakdown, was horrendous. It was just the concerning feeling that often linger over Waratahs and Wallabies performances.
“I think sometimes we’re getting a bit too happy to go wide and they bashed us in the last 10 minutes,” Waratahs forward Jed Holloway said as he made his way off at half-time.
“We just need to make better decisions.”
Drua captain Tevita Ikanivere, however, had other ideas as the hooker broke away from the back of a rolling maul to score early in the second half to give the Drua a 17-10 lead after first-half tries to Waratahs hooker Dave Porecki and Drua playmaker Caleb Muntz.
But after Waratahs enforcer Lachie Swinton copped some of his own medicine in the first half, the Waratahs managed to make some inroads the longer the second half went. The momentum came after Ikanivere was forced from the field.
Gleeson’s excellence was the major reason they finished over the top, but the introduction of Wallabies wildcard Tolu Latu, who came off the bench for his first Super Rugby match in 1360 days, helped power the Waratahs, too.
As did Tom Lambert, the ex-Scotland under-20s loose-head prop, who started in the No.1 jersey for the first time after Angus Bell’s devastating foot injury last week.
Lambert was replaced late in the match, but his 70-minute shift will not only give him confidence but Coleman too.
The quicker, cleaner ball allowed Michael Hooper to get more into the game, while Jake Gordon and his backs thrived against the tiring Fijian bodies.
Ben Donaldson was strong at fullback while wings Max Jorgensen and Mark Nawaqanitawase were quality, with all three backs crossing for second half tries. Although, there second half tries came against an injury-ravaged Drua side, who copped a double blow when they were forced to go down to 13 men after not being able to field a scrum following replacement hooker Zuriel Togiatama’s yellow card.
Tane Edmed also showed his poise in the No.10 jersey to steer the Waratahs around the field and also get on the scoresheet.
Coleman was thrilled by his side’s ability to come through a difficult, physical opening 50 minutes where the Fijian side fired plenty of shots at them.
“It was real crunch time for the season – I know it’s early talking about the season but we were in a bit of a dark place after last week emotionally and confidence always gets dented when you don’t do some things well,” Coleman told reporters.
“That first half off they really got into us and they scored again straight after halftime and I was really nervous.
“I was just really proud of how we stayed in the fight and stuck to our plan and didn’t lose patience in what our tactical keys were and we rolled over them – it was unreal.”
Drua head coach Mick Byrne, meanwhile, was proud of his side’s fight but livid at the law that meant they were reduced to 13 players despite only having one player in the sin bin.
“It’s an indictment on the game,” the former All Blacks and Wallabies assistant coach told reporters.
“You’ve got a law to stop coaches cheating. We go down to 13 men because we’ve got an injured hooker, we’ve got an injured prop; we can’t physically contest the scrum and we’ve got to go down to 13 men.”
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Yes wouldn’t mind seeing some rotation in the backline when we can. Walton and Tuipolotu is a handy back up centre pairing whilst Ben D getting a crack at 10 would be good for all involved. I prefer a bigger 15 personally so I can see Mark N filling that role too if/when Jorgensen gets rested. I don’t want Jorgensen over doing it physically too early on and breaking down ala Petaia had.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
I can just see Frost becoming the PSDT type 6 with ability to jump across to lock in a pinch. It’s an exciting prospect that opens the back row balance up. However, he is a very good out and out lock too.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Correct! Wilson does not make enough metres after contact, and at test level, he is not shifting bodies at the breakdown. Today he was immense - he had great running lines off the hip of the flyhalf and McReight and he ran riot. When he's running one off the scrumhalf he would do well use his feet to find the soft shoulder - running it straight into the teeth of the Boks or ABs just gets him smashed. I am a huge fan of Wilson and think he could be a longterm Wallaby Number 8, but other than his first test, I don't think he's performed well at that level, and I think he needs to do more.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Willie O didn't play at 13 either. Paisami was racking up the hits today though.... I'm prepared to admit I was wrong.
Jack68
Roar Rookie
Gamble is huge quality
Jack68
Roar Rookie
Gamble still needs considering for his strength and versatility
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yeah I can’t see why he couldn’t be now
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
Attitude is the difference. Which may sound silly. Particularly going into the contact. More Australian forwards should take note.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Excellent quote Sir, but I wonder if ‘carelessness’ is a tad euphemistic and understated tone applied to the Thornster?
Barry Smyth
Roar Rookie
Well, he’s a Manly boy, so I’d compare him with Willie O
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Misquoting Oscar Wilde: "To lose one
parent, Mr Worthing,top notch tight forward, Mr Other Leg, may be regarded as a misfortune; to losebotha whole pack of them looks like carelessness.”Big Dave
Roar Rookie
I do love Bell. I thought they trucked it up hard but didn't get over the advantage line much. Not sure soft is fair. Scrum was fine, their D was fine, I thought they did ok for a pair of backups.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Frost could become best lock in world so leave him there move Bobby to 6 . Skelton must start Gleeson 8 .Heavy hitters in that back row.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Happy for him but wish the Tahs could have poached him back!
Dean
Roar Rookie
Mark N has an excellent ability to get his upper body and ball carrying arm free in contact, he is a constant offload threat even when contained by the defender. Late in the game, Jorgenson was starting to trail him on a couple of the wide sweep plays particularly to the right. If the Tahs can get the ball to Mark N with space then positioning as a support runner should prove very rewarding.
Brett McKay
Expert
I'm almost certainly he's been upgraded to a full contract now Jez..
Butch
Guest
Agree - Tahs forwards did not as a pack give me confidence they could muscle up and overcome kiwi teams over 80 mins. Exceptions were Gleeson but he was instructed to play out in the open and Latu when he came on and the props. Thought Edmed was ok in second half. Donaldson has a habit of kicking down the throats of opposition players. Backline went ok and Marky M especially good. Ref was pretty terrible - very inconsistent. Tahs test as to how they will go this year is still to come.
Morsie
Roar Rookie
He certainly played like he had a point to prove last week.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Schoupp is a Wollongong lad, played his club rugby at Southern Districts. Made some Waratahs off-season training sessions but was never added to EPS (which is what he is at Brumbies). Caught Dan Palmer's eye when he came back to watch his old club play, hence Brumbies.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Agree. Aussie lock sticks a booming. Just need one or two to climb to World class in the next couple of years