Tahs set to test Beale-and-Hunt combo
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallabies and Waratahs star Kurtley Beale will return to the starting XV when they take on the Sunwolves on Saturday in Tokyo.
It’s a relatively unchanged side from round one, with Beale coming back to the starting line up at 12, with Karmichael Hunt moving to 13.
Adam Ashley Cooper (AAC) and Cam Clark will both travel to Japan named as the 23rd man, as AAC undergoes a return to play protocols. The final decision on who will take that final place on the bench will be decided ahead of Saturday’s match.
The match is a prestigious occasion for Daryl Gibson and Michael Hooper.
For Gibson, it will be his 50th occasion as Head Coach of the NSW Waratahs while 27-year-old Hooper is set to Captain his 50th NSW Waratahs side.
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Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Alex Newsome, 13 Karmichael Hunt, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Curtis Rona, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Rory O’Connor, 18 Chris Talakai, 19 Lachlan Swinton, 20 Will Miller, 21 Mitch Short, 22 Mack Mason, 23 Cam Clark/Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Date: Saturday, February 23
Venue: Prince Chichibu Stadium, Tokyo
Kick-off: 13.15 (04.15 GMT, 15.15 New South Wales time)
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Shuhei Kubo
TMO: Minoru Fuji
