‘Waratahs Assert Their Dominance: Jorgensen Shines in Commanding Victory Over Force’

The revitalised NSW Waratahs are aiming to establish themselves as a “dominant force” in Super Rugby Pacific, following a dismal season where they ended up with the dreaded wooden spoon.

In a remarkable display, the Waratahs’ forward pack dominated the Western Force, securing a convincing 34-10 victory in Sydney on Saturday night, highlighted by a standout performance from two-try hero Max Jorgensen.

With new head coach Dan McKellar at the helm—a coach benefiting from an enhanced squad previously made up of Melbourne Rebels players— the Waratahs sit at 3-0 and are positioned second on the ladder, even after having experienced a bye week.

This marks a significant improvement in their win tally compared to last year’s injury-plagued NSW side, which only managed two wins out of fourteen matches.

“The exciting aspect is the potential we have in this squad to become a dominant force,” expressed Waratahs prop Angus Bell during an interview with Stan Sport. “Striving for that level of dominance is an enticing prospect. However, we are still a fair way from where we need to be, and we must improve.”

“We have spoken extensively about liberating ourselves. We felt restrained in the past few weeks. While we’ve achieved some strong wins, tonight we finally embraced an expansive style while being dominant in the forwards,” Bell added. “It was a world apart from the prior week, making for exciting times ahead.”

The Waratahs and Queensland Reds remain the only undefeated sides in the competition.

NEW PODCAST! The Inside Line team dives into the Wallabies’ departure policy for players at the season’s close, plus insights on the stellar start to the Super Rugby season.

The unbeaten Reds will take on the Crusaders in Christchurch on Sunday, wrapping up round four.

Although Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii remains out with a toe injury, fellow Wallabies sensation Jorgensen is more than compensating for his absence.

The 20-year-old secured his first try by outpacing Dylan Pietsch, intercepted a pass for his second, and had a hat-trick denied due to a forward pass.

In addition, Jorgensen was instrumental in setting up Darby Lancaster for his first try in Waratahs colours.

“Jorgo’s unbelievable, mate. We always knew he would be something special,” Bell said. “When you glance up and see he’s scored an intercept try in the corner right after a scrum, you can’t help but think, ‘wow.’ It’s incredible; Jorgo’s a phenomenon. His individual skill is fantastic to have in our squad. He’s a super humble guy, comes from a wonderful family, and he’s committed to his craft – full credit to Max, he gives everything he has.”

The contest had its scrappy moments, but McKellar, who values a straightforward approach, isn’t losing any sleep over it.

Following two narrow victories, he felt a bit more relaxed after Saturday’s performance.

“Our resolve was impressive, and that’s worth celebrating,” McKellar, who is a potential candidate to take over from Joe Schmidt as the Wallabies coach, shared with Stan Sport. “That’s what we expect, and we’re working to foster that mindset of consistency and good habits at all times.”

The Waratahs next face the Reds in what promises to be an exciting showdown in Brisbane next Saturday.

McKellar, a former prop from Queensland, is keeping a keen eye on the recovery status of Suaalii, Langi Gleeson, and Jake Gordon.

“I don’t believe there’s anything too serious,” he shared. “Let’s hope they recover well, bounce back, and that it’s nothing that would keep them from what promises to be an excellent match… Suualii is eager to get out there and showcase his skills, so I anticipate it’ll be sooner rather than later.”

“Rugby is starting to gain some momentum and positivity, which is keenly felt as people are talking about Super Rugby once again,” McKellar added. “The rivalry is crucial—Queensland versus New South Wales. Fans want to feel that excitement, and hopefully, it will be present next week.”

In the meantime, the Force experienced a heartbreaking loss, going down 26-21 to the defending champions Waratahs in the second round of the Super Rugby Women’s season.

Looking poised for their first-ever win against the Waratahs in Sydney, the Force led by two points with just a minute left, but they were unable to maintain their lead despite a valiant defensive effort. Adiana Talakai ultimately scored the winning try for the Waratahs following a well-executed rolling maul.