The NSW Waratahs Next Gen have made five changes to the starting line-up for Round 3 of Super Rugby Next Gen against the Brumbies at Eric Tweedale on Sunday (2.05pm kick-off).
The fixture will serve as part of an exciting triple header, with the Waratahs A also facing off against the Brumbies Runners (4.15pm kick-off), while there is a curtain raiser between two NSW Waratahs under-18s sides (11.45am kick-off).
For the Next Gen fixture, lock Ed Baxter, scrum-half Angus Grover, fly-half Jonty Fowler and wings Brody Folkes and Rory O’Connor come into the side following the 33-26 loss to the Reds at Ballymore in Round 2 last weekend.
Head of Pathways at the Waratahs Andrew Cleverley believes his team will bounce back from last weekend’s defeat, while he is thrilled to see Fowler’s return from injury at 10, and Cooper Watters (Australia 7s) at 13, with Jay McKenzie (injury) also coming off the bench.
“After a disappointing performance last week, the Waratahs Next Gen side is looking for a big performance against the Brumbies in front of friends and family,” Cleverley said.
“We are especially looking forward to seeing the return of Cooper Watters from Australia 7s and the return of long term injured players Jonty Fowler and Jay McKenzie.”
In the pack, the front-row is unchanged, including Edwin Langi at tighthead after a try-scoring performance last week. While Isaac Fonua switches from lock to blindside flanker, with Baxter coming into the second-row alongside Aron Brennan, another try scorer last weekend.
In the backs, Grover returns from injury to start at scrum-half to partner Fowler, while Bathurst-born Watters wears a Waratahs jersey after making his debut for Australia 7s at the HSBC SVNS event in Singapore recently.
The triple header event at Eric Tweedale on Sunday is free entry, with gates opening at 11am.
NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies Super Rugby Next Gen, Round 3, Sunday 22 February, 2.05pm kick-off AEDT Eric Tweedale Stadium, 2 Montrose Ave, Merrylands, NSW 2160 Live on Stan and rugby.com.au YouTube Starting XV
- Nick Hill
- Tyler Maybery
- Edwin Langi
- Aron Brennan
- Ed Baxter
- Isaac Fonua
- Marshall le Maitre ©
- Toby Brial
- Angus Grover
- Jonty Fowler
- Brody Folkes
- Zach Fittler
- Cooper Watters
- Rory O’Connor
- Louis Fenwicke
Replacements:
16. Dylan Simmons
17. Harper Strachan
18. Lewis Wilson
19. Cooper Green
20. Justice Taumoepeau
21. Sam Blank
22. Harrison Dene
23. Jay McKenzie
24. James Archer
