The NSW Waratahs have made eight changes to the starting line-up for Saturday’s Round 14 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific tie against the Fijian Drua at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva (2.35pm kick-off AEST).
There are four players added to the forward pack in Jack Barrett (loosehead prop), Ioane Moananu (hooker), Matt Philip (lock) and Clem Halaholo (blindside flanker). In the backs, Teddy Wilson (scrum-half), Jack Bowen (fly-half), Triston Reilly and Harry Potter (wings) are brought in, with Bowen set to make his first start of the season.
Hooker Oniti Finau, 22, who plays his club rugby for Randwick in the Shute Shield, is named on the bench and will make his Super Rugby Pacific debut should he take to the field.
Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar is looking forward to head to Fiji and insists whoever pulls on a Waratahs jersey will be ready for the challenge.
“We’re excited to go over to Fiji and to take on the Drua. They’re a dangerous team that play a unique brand of rugby,” McKellar said.
“We need to start well. That is the learning from the Highlanders game. We feel we have a clear plan that allows us to do that.
“The squad has a ‘next man up’ mentality so whoever is selected is ready to play. We’re really pleased for Oniti, he is a talented player who has come through our pathway programs and Shute Shield. He has worked hard and deserves his opportunity at the top-level. Macca (Michael McDonald) has also been really patient this year and is itching for an opportunity.”
The front-row sees Barrett and Moananu called into the starting XV, with the latter replacing the injured Ethan Dobbins.
Matt Philip returns to captain the team and re-joins Miles Amatosero in the second-row, the combination there in eight of our 11 games.
In the back-row, Halaholo comes back in for his first start since Round 8, pushing back Angus Scott-Young to number eight. Charlie Gamble remains at openside flanker.
Childhood friends and Easts teammates Wilson and Bowen form the halves partnership. Wilson replaces Jake Gordon, while Bowen has played just 44 minutes this season and will be eager to make an impression.
Lawson Creighton and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii form the centre partnership for the second game on the spin. Suaalii beat six defenders against the Highlanders and made 13 carries.
There are two changes in the back three. Wallaby Potter comes in for his first start since Round 6 at right wing and Reilly since Round 8 on the left wing. Max Jorgensen retains his place at full-back after making the most carries (16) and metres (165) against the Highlanders.
On the bench, Ben Grant and Michael McDonald will make their first appearances of the season should they take to the field. McDonald hasn’t played for the Waratahs since Saturday 18 July 2020 against the Brumbies at Stadium Australia, and so it will be 2,129 days between appearances this weekend. The scrum-half, 26, has played for Western Force, Ulster and Connacht in the interim, before re-joining the club ahead of Super Rugby AUS last year.
The Waratahs are yet to beat the Fijian Drua in Fiji, losing both their matches. However, these have both taken place in Lautoka rather than Suva, 39-36 in 2024 and 28-14 last year. We took a bonus point 36-13 victory against the Fijian Drua in Round 2 at Allianz Stadium.
Fijian Drua v NSW Waratahs
Round 14 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific, Saturday 16 May, 2.35pm kick-off AEST
HFC Bank Stadium, 220 Laucala Bay Rd, Suva, Fiji
Starting XV:
- Jack Barrett
- Ioane Moananu
- Dan Botha
- Matt Philip ©
- Miles Amatosero
- Clem Halaholo
- Charlie Gamble
- Angus Scott-Young
- Teddy Wilson
- Jack Bowen
- Triston Reilly
- Lawson Creighton
- Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
- Harry Potter
- Max Jorgensen
Replacements:
16. Oniti Finau*
17. Isaac Kailea
18. Apolosi Ranawai
19. Ben Grant
20. Jamie Adamson
21. Michael McDonald
22. Jack Debreczeni
23. Sid Harvey
*denotes possible Waratahs SRP debut
Injury list:
- Angus Blyth - ankle injury
- Ethan Dobbins – foot
- Folau Faingaa – knee
- Andrew Kellaway – concussion
- Tom Lambert – knee
- Pete Samu – knee
- Joey Walton - neck
