Waratahs winger Taqele Naiyaravoro plans ‘a few’ tries against Highlanders to break Super Rugby record
NO man in Super Rugby history has scored 16 tries in one year. Waratahs behemoth Taqele Naiyaravoro plans on changing that come Saturday.
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TAQELE Naiyaravoro admits he has “goosebumps” about the prospect of breaking the Super Rugby record for most tries in a season, but doesn’t shy away from planning to score multiple times in Saturday’s quarter-final against the Highlanders.
Naiyaravoro is equal with Joe Roff, Rico Gear and Ngani Laumape as the only men who have scored 15 tries in one season, although the giant Waratahs winger can go clear at the top if he crosses for a sweet 16th at Allianz Stadium.
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“It’s the biggest achievement I’ve ever come across personally, just one try away from being the top tryscorer in a season, in the history of the game, it’s beyond what I’ve dreamt, beyond what I could think of doing this year,” Naiyaravoro said.
“Coming into the pre-season all I wanted to do was finish off and score tries for the team, obviously it’s been going that way this year.
“Being up there with Rico Gear and Joe Roff, those are players I grew up watching at school. Being able to put my name up there with them is a dream come true.
“I’m still a bit nervous, it gives me goosebumps, but hopefully I cross for another few this weekend. That’s the plan.”
Naiyarovoro, the 125kg bulldozer who has been terrifying rivals all year, goes head-to-head with fellow Fijian-born winger Waisake Naholo, the All Blacks ace.
In previous encounters, Naiyaravoro admits the pair have sledged each other in their native tongue.
“At times we do, we’re from the same province so we know each other pretty well,” Naiyaravoro said.
“He is a class player. Putting myself up with someone like him, it’s a big test, knowing he can finish off tries as well, he’s a hard runner, good defender as well.”
Naiyaravoro has signed to play for English club Northampton at the end of this year.
His future beyond 2019 is unclear but if he repeats his try-scoring feats in the United Kingdom he will be commanding big dollars.
There remains the real possibility the 26-year-old will not pull on the Waratahs jersey beyond this finals series, although Naiyaravoro has not completely ruled out a return.
“It’s still there in the back of my mind,” he said.
“I’m just looking at this week and then after this season I’ll be moving to Northampton, I will probably make the decision there, see how the body is feeling.
“I have to come back anyway for my family because they’re all here. Time will tell, hopefully the body holds up for me to come back.”
SUPER RUGBY
MOST TRIES IN A SEASON
Taqele Naiyaravoro 15* (Waratahs, 2018)
Ngani Laumape 15 (Hurricanes, 2017)
Rico Gear 15 (Crusaders, 2005)
Joe Roff 15 (Brumbies, 1997)
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