Super Rugby: NSW Waratahs call up Kalivati Tawake to reinforce scrum ahead of Sharks clash
INTRODUCING Waratahs front row recruit Kalivati Tawake, the Fijian army private who may pack down at tight-head prop against the Wallabies in the World Cup next year.
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HE’S the Fijian army private who can keep pace with Nemani Nadolo, finish a fight with James Slipper and may pack down at tight-head prop against the Wallabies in the World Cup next year.
Introducing Kalivati Tawake, the Waratahs’ new front row recruit who has been rushed into the NSW squad to help solidify a shaky NSW scrum.
Tawake was signed on a short-term contract by the Tahs over summer to help bolster the NSW front row stocks, and after just 10 minutes in a trial the 29-year-old was called into the Waratahs squad for their current South Africa-Argentina tour.
But far from being just injury cover, the hard-edged Fijian was this week named on the NSW bench to play the Sharks on Sunday morning (AEST) in Durban.
With Sekope Kepu injured — and the NSW scrum having been bossed by the Stormers’ last week — Tawake’s reputation as a rock in the scrum was deemed necessary by Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson.
It’s a sudden promotion and Super Rugby debut but for those who saw Tawake play in the NRC, there is no surprise involved.
The 124kg prop was one of the Fijian Drua’s best in their charge to the finals and Reds prop Slipper would have a sharper memory than most, having been involved in one unsuccessful skirmish with the Fijian soldier.
Indeed, the Waratahs beat the equally-as-impressed Reds to the signature of Tawake.
“He’s a strong-scrimmaging tight head and he’s very good in that area of the game,” said former Waratahs coach Chris Hickey, who was a coaching consultant for the Drua last year.
“But like a lot of the Fijians, he can carry well, he is quite a good defender and he works at the breakdown. He has a strong all-round game, but obviously the Tahs are primarily looking at his scrimmaging ability.”
Tawake, who has five Test caps for Fiji, also has some wheels. He scored a try for Fiji last year by shadowing Nadolo as the winger sprinted down the sideline, and then taking an inside pass.
Fijian rugby types say Tawake — who has had to take leave from the military to play for NSW — is ranked second or third in the tight-head ranks in Fiji but with his Super Rugby exposure, will now likely progress and be the starting tight-head when John McKee’s side meets Australia in the pool stages of the World Cup.
He came off the bench for Fiji against the Wallabies in Melbourne last year.
“His exposure with this contract with the Waratahs is another step in that direction,” Hickey said.
“Like a lot of Fijians, he’s a quiet man, he’s very humble and lets what he does on the field speak for itself.”
Tawake is another success story from the Drua side, who entered the NRC with a huge bang last year.
“From that squad we had seven players on to the northern hemisphere tour and three players have progressed to the Fiji Sevens team. In Fiji you progress up into the Sevens team,” Hickey laughed.
“But to have Kali pick this contract up, it’s just another success for the program and over the next couple of years I can really see it developing the game in Fiji and providing more players like Kali an opportunity to compete at that level.”