Waratahs load bench with new faces
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Waratahs have named their team to face the Melbourne Rebels in Round Five of Super Rugby AU.
Head coach Rob Penney has made one positional change to the starting XV who narrowly lost to the Western Force for this Friday’s clash, while four new faces join the bench.
After making his Super Rugby debut in 2018, Harry Johnson-Holmes will play his 50th Super Rugby match and is the only change in the starting XV this week, switching positions with Te Tera Faulkner in the front row.
Hugh Sinclair and Sam Caird again make up the starting second row, after combining well against the Western Force.
Sam Wykes is set to make his Waratahs debut off the bench, after making a successful return from injury for the Waratahs A side against the Brumby Runners during the Bye week.
Carlo Tizzano, one of the Waratahs best in 2021, starts in the seven jersey and is averaging 21 tackles per game, six more than the nearest player in the competition. Carlo is joined in the back row by his “bruise brother” Lachlan Swinton and No.8 Jack Dempsey.
Jack Grant continues to build his partnership alongside playmaker Will Harrison in the halves, while captain Alex Newsome is joined in the centres by the hard running Tepai Moeroa.
Mark Nawaqanitawase retains the fullback jersey after an impressive game against the Force where he made two linebreaks and five tackle busts, with James Ramm and former Rebel Jack Maddocks completing the back-three.
On the bench Lalakai Foketi makes his long-awaited return from injury, while Darcy Breen and George Francis are set to make their Waratahs debuts if they take the field.
Waratahs: 15 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Alex Newsome (captain), 12 Tepai Moeroa, 11 James Ramm, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Jack Grant, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Sam Caird, 4 Hugh Sinclair, 3 Te Tera Faulkner, 2 David Porecki, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 George Francis, 18 Darcy Breen, 19 Sam Wykes, 20 Jeremy Williams, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Lalakai Foketi.
Date: Friday, March 19
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 19.45 (08.45 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Amy Perrett, Graham Cooper
TMO: Brett Cronan
