Sunwolves mix it up for Tahs
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: ‘The Sunwolves have, as they have done all season, made several changes to their team for a Round Seven Super Rugby encounter with the Waratahs.
Four of the five changes to the starting XV are in the pack.
In the only backline change, Kaito Shigeno starts at scrumhalf in the place of Jamie Booth – who drops out of the matchday 23 altogether.
Seasoned loose forward Hendrik Tui starts at blindside flan in place of Ben Gunter, who also misses out of this match.
Energetic lock Uwe Helu returns to the second row, after playing off the bench in the loss to the Lions last week – with Tom Rowe dropping out altogether.
The front row is also revamped – Jaba Bregvadze starting at hooker in place of Atsushi Sakate and Pauliasi Manu the loosehead prop in place of Masataka Mikami.
Sunwolves: 15 Ryohei Yamanaka, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jason Emery, 12 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 Semisi Masirewa, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Kaito Shigeno, 8 Rahboni Warren Vosayaco, 7 Dan Pryor, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 Uwe Helu, 4 Grant Hattingh, 3 Jiwon Koo, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Vella, 17 Masataka Mikami, 18 Takuma Asahara, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Kara Pryor, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Takuya Yamasawa, 23 Josh Timu.
Date: Friday, March 29
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Kick-off: 19.35 (17.45 Japan time; 08.45 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Egon Seconds (South Africa)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
