THE NSW Waratahs’ star-studded backline didn’t disappoint in their trial win over Fiji in Orange on Saturday night.

The backline included internationals Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes and Kurtley Beale along with young wingers Nemani Nadolo and Peter Betham as well as speedy fullback Sosene Anesi.

Wallaby wingers Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner were on the sideline with niggling injuries but the backs still shone on the field.

The Waratahs ran in 13 tries to Fiji’s two to win 83-15, after leading 43-3 at the main break.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey liked what he saw.

“I thought our combination with Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale and Tom Carter in the first half was particularly good,” Hickey said.

“Anesi gave the last pass on three or four tries and they were impressive.”

NSW winger Nadolo missed a certain try five minutes into the game when he juggled and dropped the ball over the try line.

Carter, playing at outside centre, scored the first points of the night when the ball was spread right and he crashed over in the corner.

Prop Al Baxter was next in when he burrowed through the Fiji defence.

Fly-half Koroi Yavala put Fiji on the board when he kicked a penalty conversion with six minutes remaining in the opening quarter.

Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau was put through a gap to score the last points of the first quarter and give NSW a 19-3 lead.

The backs turned it on in the second quarter with Nadolo and Beale scoring a try each and Betham bagging double to give Waratahs a 43-3 lead at half-time.

Nearly an entirely different Waratahs side ran on in the second half with Hickey making good use of his bench.

Despite having most of their international stars on the bench, the Waratahs didn’t lose anything scoring another four tries in the third quarter including two to Chris Alcock to be up 71-10.

Fiji showed what they are capable of in the final quarter matching the Waratahs with two tries each.

Anthony Wise scored Fiji’s first try after the Warriors pressured the NSW line and the flanker pushed through.

Yavala kicked the conversion for the score to be 71-10.

Tries to Josh Holmes and Adam D’Arcy pushed the NSW total to 83 but Fiji had the last say.

With the final play of the match, Fiji kept the ball alive and eventually wrong-footed NSW to send lock Manoa Tamaya over to score and earn the biggest cheer of the night from the 6623-strong crowd.

While the match was one-sided, Hickey said there was plenty to take from the game.

“That word clinical was something we were looking for,” he said.

“We’re really pleased we were able to make some changes in the second half and still have good game control.”

Waratahs captain Phil Waugh said Saturday’s match was a good lead-up to Thursday’s trial against fellow Super 14 side, the Brumbies, where he expects a touch encounter.

“I think that was a good hit-out. That was the first game for a few guys,” Waugh said.

“Thursday night we’ve got the Brumbies and a 10-day turnaround until we’ve got the Reds, so it’s starting to heat up now.

“I think it’ll be pretty physical on Thursday night but, as I said, it was the first hit-out for a few of the guys so it was good to get it under the belt.”

n NSW WARATAHS 83 (Peter Betham 2, Adam D’Arcy 2, Chris Alcock 2, Tom Carter, Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Nemani Nadolo, Kurtley Beale, Damien Fitzpatrick, Josh Holes tries; Berrick Barnes 4 conversions, Daniel Halangahu 4 conversions, Brendan McKibbin 1 conversion) def FIJI 15 (Anthony Wise, Manoa Tamaya tries; Koroi Yavala conversion, penalty conversion).