Super Rugby 2023: Waratahs rookie Max Jorgensen backed to handle move to fullback in windy Wellington
Waratahs captain Jake Gordon is confident rookie Max Jorgensen will handle his new duties at fullback despite the two-game teenager debuting in the position on an ugly night in the world’s windiest city.
The Waratahs are looking to get their season back on track on Friday against the Hurricanes in Wellington, where the difficulty of an ever-present wind is highlighted in the team’s name.
Sitting on the Cook Strait, the New Zealand capital is regarded as the world’s hardest place to wrestle an umbrella, with the winds of the Roaring Forties coming in through the 22-kilometre gap between the north and south islands.
The Hurricanes’ home ground sits on an edge of the harbour, and while forecasts of dangerous 120km/h winds overnight will have died down by kickoff, the Super Rugby game is still expected to see rain and winds of 40-50km/h hitting the ground.
It’s nothing new to the hosts, but it adds another layer of difficulty for Jorgensen, who has been shifted to fullback to replace the new No.10 Ben Donaldson.
Eighteen-year-old Jorgensen was a fullback at school but has only played two Super Rugby games on the wing, and will no doubt be tested by the Canes, both aerially and positionally.
“Jorgo is a confident guy, and he has been exceptional so far, there is no reason not to have confidence in him,” Gordon said.
“One thing that is really important about him is he is strong. He is good in contact and he has actually been exceptional in the air. If you watch him against the Drua he got two in the air.
“He got a bit of a rest last week with a shoulder, but he has bounced back really well and has really prepped well during the week physically and he will be ready for tomorrow night.”
Gordon said he is not only confident about Jorgensen handling fullback, he believes it may unlock more of his vast potential.
“I am actually excited to see him get his hands on the ball,” Gordon said.
“Especially at 15, it’s a different role, he is not stuck on the edge there. He will be more involved in the middle and probably get a few more touches.”
The Hurricanes will look to apply the blowtorch to the Waratahs at the breakdown, as the Brumbies and Rebels did with success.
Gordon said dominating the contact areas was a big focus for the Waratahs.
‘I am actually excited to see him get his hands on the ball.’
Waratahs captain Jake Gordon on rookie Max Jorgensen
“The breakdown nowadays is so heavily contested and what we noticed after the first three rounds is our arrival time needs to be way quicker, and we need to be more aggressive around that contact area,” he said.
The Waratahs are massive outsiders for the clash, with bookies having the Hurricanes as $1.06 favourites. With only one win, NSW are sitting in the top eight, courtesy of three bonus points, but hopes of a top-four finish will begin fading with another loss.
Gordon said there was no need to hit the panic button, pointing out the Waratahs were in the same spot last season. The difference between this year and last season, however, is the Tahs played New Zealand teams in the second half of the competition, due to COVID travel restrictions.
“Last week was disappointing but when you think about it we were in the same position last year, we won one game out of the first three and that’s the position we are in at the moment,” Gordon said.
“It is a bit disappointing but we have a really good team on paper, and I have full confidence in the group, and we can ... not even turn it around, we just have to start performing better. There is an awareness in the group we need to do that. It has been a little disappointing, but it’s not over yet. We are only three rounds in.
“We have to start playing some good footy. We know tomorrow night, if we play well, we win. We know if we put our best foot forward we can definitely come away with a win.”
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