He joined Tamaki Sports Aca… He still steamrolls defenders for fun, but also has become more involved with the play. Given he had already switched Joe Cokanasiga and Billy Vunipola at an attacking scrum against Italy in the 2019 Six Nations…. Watch this space – if I had my way I’d take another four years,” he laughs, only half-jokingly. Northampton had looked destined to lose after being reduced to 13 men late in the contest. It dictates to them, just as Evans’ move to fly-half did to Northampton. “He was one of my idols growing up and somebody that I looked up to and always tried to copy his style of play. Oops! Changing it could enable players of Naiyaravoro’s calibre to keep contributing to the national team. featured alongside some of Australia’s most prominent sports journalists. Understandably, as a result of being repeatedly snubbed, he began to explore his options. He started on the left wing in the first match against South Africa scoring a try and setting up 2 more for Luke Morahan and Andy Ellis and winning the official man of the match as well. Meanwhile, centres Piers Francis and Fraser Dingwall run flat lines with Naiyaravoro and fly-half Dan Biggar fades behind that quartet: Mitchell draws Robson and plays the pass to Naiyaravoro. [8], Naiyaravoro was signed to the New South Wales Waratahs followed injuries to regular wingers, Peter Betham and Alofa Alofa. Those called upon have invariably possessed accomplished kicking skills and the ability to defuse high balls. More importantly, though, it rapidly changes the picture for rivals. It would involve him first representing the Fijian sevens team in an Olympic qualifier, thereby essentially changing his nationality in World Rugby’s eyes. He was then named in the World XV team and on 15 August, he made his debut against Japan and he scored three tries. After a season with Glasgow, he returned to Australia and was subsequently named in the preliminary 39 member squad for the upcoming three tests against England. Try time ... Taqele Naiyaravoro on his way to score for Parramatta. Born in the remote Yasawa archipelago in Fiji, Taqele attended Cuvu College and Suva Grammar School where rugby union thrived around him, stirring his passion for the game from a young age. lighter this campaign. I wasn’t getting any international duties, so I wanted to challenge myself elsewhere,” he says. Watch out for other unconventional, disruptive ploys this weekend. Taqele Naiyaravoro is back in NSW and wants to continue his rugby lessons. [3] He played rugby union all through his school days in Fiji and made the national Under 16s team playing both as a winger and flanker. Naiyaravoro was spotted by a player scout from New Zealand during the secondary schools rugby championship in Fiji. Born in the remote Yasawa archipelago in Fiji, Taqele attended Cuvu College and Suva Grammar School where rugby union thrived around him, stirring his passion for the game from a young age. During his younger days was interested in playing rugby union and watching Super 12 and his favourite player was Lote Tuqiri. (Photo: A Knight) ... Cheika needs a monster running at speed down the sideline, as well as one powering away in the engine-room; and Naiyaravoro … Naiyaravoro put his Lomu-esque kit bag to good use by scoring a try in both of his matches in the green-and-gold jersey. Physics wins on that one,” he concedes. In February 2018 he signed for Northampton Saints in England for the 2018/19 season. But the sight of Nemani Nadolo scoring two tries for the Crusaders against the Reds on Sunday should act as a staunch reminder to the Waratahs that they must back their faith in Naiyaravoro by providing him with time and opportunity to fully adapt to their playing style. Saints fans will continue to be spoiled by the box-office play of their imported winger for several more years to come. View opening hours. Rupert Guinness is a Sports Reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald, Taqele Naiyaravoro's form provides hope, but Waratahs need leap of faith too. Northampton’s aim here is to generate quick ball by setting up a physical mismatch with an uncomplicated first-phase strike-move. That all changed on Saturday, when Naiyaravoro led the charge as the Warriors blazed to a six tries to nil victory, which reignited their Champions Cup campaign. 10 Feb 2018. Its criteria stipulates Aussies playing abroad must have previously accrued at least 60 Wallabies caps to be eligible for selection. The Fijian-born flyer fled his adopted homeland nearly 18 months ago to link up with the Northampton Saints of the English Premiership. He made his rugby union debut in round 7 of the Shute Shield against Eastwood where he scored two tries playing on the wing and at inside centre. The club offered him an annual salary of £175,000 to quit Super rugby. Although, with the help of attack coach Sam Vesty, they are very dangerous from first-phase moves – centre Matt Proctor sliced through to set up centre Rory Hutchinson in the first half – they are also liable to conceding possession. He would watch the Super 12 on television as he gained his speed and ability within the rugby and track teams at … As for now, though, one of Australia’s most destructive players has bolted – most probably never to return. In his debut season, Naiyaravoro led the competition in three different categories: metres gained, defenders beaten and clean breaks. Note: This article originally stated Naiyaravoro no longer has any eligibility barriers to playing for Fiji. He paved the way for wingers like me to play the game now,” he says. Taqele Naiyaravoro was one that got away from Australian rugby. Again, this would be about defences proactively dictating to the attack rather than waiting passively to react. Naiyaravoro was initially recruited by Sydney rugby league side Wests Tigers before turning out for Balmain Tigers in the NSW Cup. He signed the breakdown scavenger from Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2019-20 season. We want to see it! Australia’s loss has been Northampton’s gain. • 15 tries in one season (Waratahs record) These are the 10 'best places' in Scotland to live in 2019, Scotland from the air: These stunning aerial images show how much the country has changed over the years. His regular playing position is the wing. At the end of May, perhaps to stir us all out of a mid-lockdown stupor, Eddie Jones suggested that back-rowers and centres would become interchangeable in the not-too distant future. Naiyaravoro was undoubtedly the biggest man to ever play on the wing for Australia. Leicester Tigers attempted to run something very similar against London Irish in round 16 using new signing Nemani Nadolo. Besides what Naiyaravoro may offer in the short term, he could even become the force Nadolo is today if NSW give him time to hone his ability. [16] He was named on the bench for the final test and scored a try after being subbed-in 7 minutes earlier. It has not gone unnoticed by Waratahs outside back Matt Carraro, who was also at NSW in 2009 before leaving to play for Bath in England and then Montpellier, France, before returning to the Waratahs this season. He scored his first try for the Saints verses Bristol in a 40-45 win on 29 September. Understandably, Fasavalu hopes Cheika wants Naiyaravoro to play again for Parramatta in their match against Randwick on Saturday. Once in a while, however, something happens on the field of play that reminds us all that while this technical jargon and management speak is all well and good, rugby at every level is still fundamentally a very straightforward game built around the age-old principles of pace, power and bloody-minded determination to get over the whitewash. • Also represented: Barbarians twice (vs South Africa and England), World XV (vs Japan), Sydney Rams (NRC), West Harbour (Shute Shield), Parramatta (Shute Shield), Otahuhu RC (Auckland), Wests Tigers (NSW Premiership Cup). He was also second in the league in offloads and scored ten tries in all competitions. The Wallabies selectors have shown a propensity in recent times to select a different type of winger. Taqele Naiyaravoro on his way to score for Parramatta. • 47 Waratahs caps The defence dictated to the attack by throwing something different at them and scrum-half Henry Taylor fizzed a pass across Naiyaravoro to Hutchinson. [7], In April 2014, he was selected in to the Fiji Bati side again to prepare for their one-off test against Samoa for a berth in the 2014 Rugby League Four Nations but he pulled out because he had signed a rugby union contract with the Waratahs and was prohibited from playing rugby league. They also took home some silverware by capturing the inaugural English Premiership Cup. Taqele Naiyaravoro, the 19st 5lb Northampton Saint, is set to cause havoc as one of the most destructive runners in the sport. The 3-year contract was to allow him to qualify for Scotland under the 3-year residency rule. The Waratahs have received strong assurance that the recruitment of Fijian Taqele Naiyaravoro from NRL side Wests Tigers last week should pay off, after he scored two tries for Parramatta in their Shute Shield match against Eastwood at T.G Millner Field on Saturday.