Waratahs on cusp of unbeaten season – but they’d rather keep playing

Wallaroos prop Emily Robinson will become the Waratahs’ most capped women’s player on Sunday when the undefeated team takes on arch-rivals Fijian Drua Women in the Super Rugby Women’s decider at Ballymore.

Two things would make Robinson happy. The first would be denying the Fijiana team a third straight title and, by doing so, winning a record fifth Super Rugby Women’s title for the Waratahs.

The second is a move that would likely result in Robinson’s NSW cap record (33) being swiftly gobbled up by a younger teammate: a decision from head office to double the amount of Super Rugby Women games in the future.

“It definitely needs to expand, this comp. It’s been seven years now and it hasn’t changed much, like Fiji obviously have come in,” Robinson, 30, said.

“But you’ve got to see growth in the game and growth in the players and the only way to do that is to expand.”

Since the competition began in 2018 – then known as Super W – only NSW (four titles) and the Drua (two) have claimed the premiership.

Emily Robinson carting the ball up for the Waratahs.Credit: Getty

The six-team competition remains a sprint, with only five regular-season rounds and two weeks of finals. It is a fraction of the 18-round women’s premiership in England.

“There needs to be two [halves to the schedule] and I think that the best way to do that from my perspective is to play the first [half], play PAC4, and then come back and play a second,” Robinson said.

“So if you’re listening, Phil Waugh, that’s my hot tip for you. It’s similar to what they do in the premiership in England. They play their first couple of rounds of the premiership, and then they have a break for Six Nations, and then they come back and play.

“That only benefits everyone. It will benefit the Wallaroos by having players playing at a higher level more consistently and it will benefit the comp as well. It’s such a sprint.”

Maya Stewart has scored nine tries in six games.Credit: Getty

The Wallaroos play in the PAC4 tournament against the US, Canada and New Zealand from April 27 to May 24.

Fijian Drua Women have largely had the wood on the Waratahs since their entry in 2022, beating them in the grand final that season and then knocking the Tahs out in the semi-final last year.

The Waratahs have been utterly dominant this season, however, on the back of a powerful pack and the superb form of Bella MacKenzie and Maya Stewart in the backs. They scored 224 points in regular rounds, and conceded just 88.

In an astonishing performance in punishing conditions, the Waratahs thumped the Drua in Lautoka in 62-21 in round two, but Robinson said the one-sided result did not reflect the game.

“It was a big score; it was big but the scoreline probably didn’t really reflect the game,” Robinson said.

“It was 94 per cent humidity and it was crazy. But I was spewing my guts up in the shower at half- time, so I don’t really remember much of the game.

“You know, that scoreline says nothing about what’s going to happen on Sunday.”

Meanwhile, Mark Nawaqanitawase will return for the Waratahs in their Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Chiefs on Friday night. The Roosters-bound winger was dropped last week but coach Darren Coleman has elected to recall him and given Dylan Pietsch a rest.

Ned Hanigan has moved to No.8, with Coleman saying he wants to see more impact from Wallabies back-rower Langi Gleeson, who has moved to the bench along with Jed Holloway.

Mark Nawaqanitawase returns for the Waratahs.Credit: Getty

Coaches considered promoting Will Harrison to the starting line-up after his heroics in the Tahs’ golden-point win over the Crusaders two weeks ago, but elected to stick with Tane Edmed in the No.10 shirt.

The Waratahs had a bye last weekend, but Coleman said there was no danger of complacency, given the Tahs are still scrambling for a spot in the finals, and have a tough three-game stretch against the Chiefs, the in-form Hurricanes and the Brumbies.

The Waratahs have also lost another front-rower – their eighth – after reserve hooker Theo Fourie was ruled out for the season with a foot injury. Gordon’s Jay Fonokalafi has been recalled for his second cap.

In other news, Super Rugby Pacific has announced Sydney executive Jack Mesley as its inaugural chief executive officer. Mesley is the chief commercial officer at the A-Leagues, and previously held a similar role at the Bulldogs’ NRL club.

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