Joseph Suaalii ended up a winner in his Super Rugby Pacific debut as hooker Siosifa Amone's last-second try gave the New South Wales Waratahs a 37-36 victory over the Otago Highlanders in their season-opener on Friday.

Super Rugby Pacific 2025 kicked off in Christchurch as the Crusaders looked to right the wrongs of 2024 against a hungry Hurricanes outfit.

Tane Edmed gets a nice penalty straight in front after high contact from the Highlanders, it takes the Waratahs within two points and should definitely calm some nerves. The Waratahs are desperately trying to bring Suaalii into the attack whenever they get a chance. You can definitely see rust in this team and they need minutes together.

The Waratahs have overcome the Highlanders 37-36 in a thrilling encounter in Sydney, in a game that featured nine lead changes.

They came to see code-hopper Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii soar, but Waratahs fans left Allianz Stadium cheering another, far more unlikely, name.

Code-crossing star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was hugely influential as the Waratahs scored a last-minute try to win a 37-36 roller-coaster encounter in Sydney.