Waratahs trim their bench
Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has narrowed down the extended bench to just eight replacements for the team's home semifinal against interstate rivals the Brumbies on Saturday.
The players to lose out were Matt Carraro and Cam Crawford.
By Friday over 38,500 tickets had already been snapped up and less than 5,000 remained for this massive knock-out derby clash.
Waratahs – confirmed: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Alofa Alofa, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Stephen Hoiles, 5 Jacques Potgieter, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Tola Latu, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 Jeremy Tilse, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Mitchell Chapman, 21 Pat McCutcheon, 22 Brendan McKibbon, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro.
Date: Saturday, July 26
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 19.40 local (09.40 GMT; 21.40 NZ time, 11.40 SA time)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert, James Leckie
TMO: George Ayoub
