VIDEO: Dempsey's return headlines fresh-faced Tahs
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jack Dempsey will return to the Waratahs starting XV when the team heads to Goulburn on Thursday to take on the Brumbies in their second and final trial ahead of the Super Rugby season.
Dempsey was sidelined for the entire 2018 Super Rugby season after a hamstring injury during the Wallabies-Barbarians clash in 2017. He returned at the back end of last year to play in the NRC where he captained Sydney.
It’s a fresh-faced NSW Waratahs team that will remain relatively unchanged from their first trial match against the Highlanders in New Zealand, with the major changes coming to the bench including the addition of Wallabies Ned Hanigan and Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Waratahs assistant coach Chris Whitaker said the young NSW talent in the side really stood up during the first trial and he’s expecting the same again.
“The young blokes we’ve brought through the New South Wales system and who got their first taste of international rugby last week will be hungry to get more minutes under their belt and show us what they can deliver for the team,” said Whitaker.
“Last weekend we really saw guys like Will Harris and Andrew Tuala impress and we are expecting that from all the boys who’ve really worked hard during this pre-season.
“There is just over one week to go until the Super Rugby season starts at Brookvale Oval, so for us it’s about testing those combinations and giving these boys some game time.
“I remember very well the rivalry between the NSW Waratahs and Brumbies and even though this is a trial match, you can expect a very fierce game of rugby,” he said.
Waratahs: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Curtis Rona, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Cameron Clark, 10 Mack Mason, 9 Mitch Short, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Will Miller (captain), 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Ryan McCauley, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Shambeckler Vui, 2 Andrew Tuala, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes.
Replacements – from: JP Sauni, Rory O’Connor, Chris Talakai, Le Roux Roets, Ned Hanigan, Pat Tafa, Jake Gordon, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Will Harrison, Richard Woolf, Will Harris, Cody Walker, Hugh Sinclair, Ben Donaldson.
Date: Thursday, February 7
Venue: Goulburn Workers Arena
Kick-Off: 18.30 (07.30 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Amy Perrett, James Quinn
