Jorgensen lit up the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday. Photo: AFP
SYDNEY:
NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar praised star Wallabies winger Max Jorgensen for rapidly “building a highlights reel” after his sensational try ensured the team continued their unbeaten start to the Super Rugby season.
The 21-year-old lit up the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday evening with a special solo effort that turned a frenetic match against Fijian Drua in the Waratahs’ favour just before half-time when they were trailing 10-7.
They went on to win 36-13 for their second bonus point win in a row, with Jorgensen adding another try to make it four in two games.
“Catty (assistant coach Mike Catt) turned around to me in the box and you just shake your head,” McKellar said of Jorgenson’s first-half try.
The winger had little room to move, but sidestepped the Drua’s Taniela Rakuro before out-pacing the defence to touch down in the left corner.
“Honestly, he’s beaten him in a phone booth. There aren’t many players that can score that try on the planet, it’s a great moment. He’s building a highlights reel quickly.”
The Waratahs are hoping for a better season than last year when they finished eighth and badly missed the spark that Jorgensen can bring.
The young gun played just six rounds of Super Rugby last year before missing the rest of the season with an ankle injury.
“We didn’t have him for long last season and when you lose players like that, it really hurts,” McKellar said. “Because if you’ve got him, he comes up with match-changing moments.”
Along with Jorgensen, New Zealander Ioane Moananu crossed twice on debut after switching from the Canterbury Crusaders where he struggled for game time last season behind first-choice hookers George Bell and Codie Taylor.
Another New Zealander, Charlie Gamble, along with Wallabies lock Angus Blyth also got on the scoresheet in the six-tries-to-one victory that left the winless Drua anchored to the bottom of the competition ladder.
