Drua warned of ‘hurting’ Waratahs

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua cannot afford to underestimate the NSW Waratahs in their Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific clash at Suvas National Stadium on Saturday.

This is despite the Waratahs 26-31 agonising defeat to the Highlanders at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, last Saturday.

The Waratahs kept their composure, maintained their discipline and almost scored a comeback win after they were trailing 7-28 in the second half.

The visitors matched the Highlanders in scoring four tries with Cam Millar’s kicking making the difference.

However, the Waratahs could have turned things around if rookie winger Sid Harvey did not bomb a certain try in the 60th minute.

Harvey couldn’t handle Max Jorgensen’s offload and coach Dan McKellar’s furrowed brow added another stress line in Dunedin.

“He’s promising but he’s absolutely butchered that,” veteran commentator Grant Nisbett told WWOS.

Harvey had another try disallowed in the 69th minute as his boot caught the touchline paint before planting the ball down. He eventually scored in the 79th minute but High-landers co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai then intervened to likely end NSW’s faint finals hopes.

On a positive note, was the return to form of Joseph-Auku so Suaali’i after he ran for just three metres in his injury comeback last week.

“Every time he’s touched the ball, they’re incredibly dangerous. He’s creating good things,” All Blacks great Jeff Wil-son said.

It was Waratahs third straight loss as McKellar continues to search for solutions in his second year at the helm.

“First 20 minutes killed us really, just fell off tackles,” Mc-Kellar said.

“I’m incredibly proud of the fight the boys showed, and we had opportunities to win that game. That’s the harsh reality.

“I think we left at least three tries out there, but we came here with the mindset to want to attack and use the ball and we certainly did that. But one-on-one missed tackles and a set piece that doesn’t function, you’re not going to win in New Zealand.

“Unfortunately, we ran out of time. I think if we had at-tacked with the same mindset last Friday night we would have won convincingly (against the Western Force) so cer-tainly that is a real positive.

“We fought our way back into it and we didn’t roll over and that’s what I’m most proud of with my group.”

McKellar said lock Angus Blyth was set for a stint in a moon boot with an injury that appeared “pretty serious.”

“I don’t know what it is. Folau Fainga’a looks like he’s got a medial (injury). Ethan Dobbins looks like he’s got some sort of foot issue. Jake’s (Gordon) got a bit of a sore head as well, (Andrew) Kellaway concussed.”