Youthful look for Waratahs
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs will travel to Suncorp Stadium this Friday to kick-off Super Rugby AU, taking on the Queensland Reds.
Head Coach, Rob Penney has named a squad full of young talent to take on the Reds, with seven players in line to make their NSW Waratahs debut.
Newly named captain Jake Gordon will partner Will Harrison in the halves, with Izaia Perese set to make his NSW Waratahs debut against his former side in the centres alongside Joey Walton.
Jack Maddocks named at fullback, will play his 50th Super Rugby match, and is joined in the back three by Alex Newsome and Wallabies squad member James Ramm.
Off season recruits Sam Caird and Jack Whetton form a brand-new locking combination, while Tom Horton gets the start at hooker joining Wallabies Angus Bell and Harry Johnson-Holmes in the front-row.
Carlo Tizzano gets first crack at Michael Hooper’s vacated seven jersey and forms an exciting backrow with Jack Dempsey and Will Harris.
Sio Tatola, Jack Grant, and NSW academy graduates Jeremy Williams and Tane Edmed are also in line to make their NSW Waratahs debuts from the bench.
Waratahs: 15 Jack Maddocks, 14 Alex Newsome, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Joey Walton, 11 James Ramm, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Jake Gordon (captain), 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Will Harris, 5 Jack Whetton, 4 Sam Caird, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 David Porecki, 17 Te Tera Faulkner, 18 Sio Tatola, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Hugh Sinclair, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Mark Nawaqanitawase
Date: Friday, February 19
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 18.45 (08.45)
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Nic Berry & Jordan Way
TMO: Brett Cronan
