Waratahs tweak pack for Lions
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The NSW Waratahs have named their team to take on the Lions in Johannesburg for round 13 of the Super Rugby.
The dynamic back-row Michael Wells returns from a hamstring injury and will start at No.8, allowing Ned Hanigan to revert to his preferred blindside flank role.
But the head coach Darryl Gibson has resisted rushing Wallabies prop Tom Robertson and hooker Tolu Latu back in to the starting side against a Lions outfit that has lost the past three finals.
In the backline, centre Lalakai Foketi will start for the first time this season as Gibson manages the workload of veteran Wallaby Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Waratahs: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Alex Newsome, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Cam Clark, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Tom Staniforth, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Chris Talakai, 19 Hugh Sinclair, 20 Will Miller, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 23 Curtis Rona.
Date: Saturday, May 11
Venue: Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 15.00( 13.00 GMT, 23.00 Australian Eastern time)
Referee: Egon Seconds (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
TMO: Willie Vos (South Africa)
