Centre Joseph‑Aukuso Suaalii has been named to start for the NSW Waratahs in Friday night’s Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific tie against the Western Force at Allianz Stadium (7.35pm kick-off).
Suaalii, 22, is set to face his former NSW Blues teammate Zac Lomax after an eight‑week absence, due to a hamstring injury suffered in the warm-up before Round 4 against the Hurricanes.
The home side have made three other changes to the starting line-up, with Tom Lambert and Ethan Dobbins added to the front-row and Angus Blyth named at lock.
Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar praised Suaalii’s conditioning on his return to the team and is excited to see the two former rugby league players face off against each other on Friday night.
“Joseph has had a good stint in rehab, he's in superb condition so the strength and conditioning and the physio staff have done a great job,” McKellar said.
“They’ve made sure that he returns ready to perform and not just ready to play.
“It's great for the game (Suaalii v Lomax). Zac's an exceptional footballer, he’s had a very good career in the NRL and it's great that he's now playing rugby union. I think his skillset suits the game and to get a match-up between him and Joseph, how often they actually come face to face is probably rare.
“It's good for the fans and certainly the media to get excited by and it just builds that little bit more interest. That’s what we want.”
The front-row sees Lambert step up from the bench and Dobbins named at hooker following a rest, while Siosifa Amone retains his place at tight-head prop, with Dan Botha receiving a suspension following an incident against the Crusaders last weekend.
Captain Matt Philip is joined by Blyth in the second row. Philip has been an ever-present for the Waratahs and tops our statistics in terms of successful tackles (103) and lineout takes (33).
Angus Scott‑Young retains his place at blindside flanker, as he once again made the highest number of successful tackles against the Crusaders with 21.
Charlie Gamble is named at openside flanker, with Samu continuing at number eight. The latter has played the most amount of minutes for the Waratahs this season (702 from 720).
Scrum-half Jake Gordon will reach a significant milestone on Friday night, becoming the most capped NSW scrum-half since 1882, surpassing former Wallaby Chris Whitaker. Lawson Creighton, who won his 50th Super Rugby Pacific cap last weekend, moves in from inside centre to partner him at fly-half.
Joey Walton partners Suaalii in the centres, another ever-present who made a team-high 14 carries last weekend against the Crusaders (83m carried).
Sid Harvey, Andrew Kellaway and Max Jorgensen form a dangerous back three, with Harvey coming into the match on a three‑game try‑scoring streak and Jorgensen ranked in the top 10 for defenders beaten per 80 minutes and tries scored.
On the bench, the squad goes back to a four-three split rather than five-two, with Jack Debreczeni dropping to the bench to add cover at fly-half. The 32-year-old will earn his 99th Super Rugby cap should he take to the field. Miles Amatosero is also named on the bench.
Prop Apolosi Ranawai will offer tighthead prop cover and will make his Waratahs debut if he takes to the field.
You can buy tickets for our Round 12 clash against the Western Force at Allianz Stadium on Friday night here.
Waratahs v Western Force
Round 12 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific, Friday 1 May, 7.35pm kick-off AEST
Allianz Stadium, Driver Avenue, Moore Park, NSW 2021
Starting XV:
- Tom Lambert
- Ethan Dobbins
- Siosifa Amone
- Matt Philip ©
- Angus Blyth
- Angus Scott-Young
- Charlie Gamble
- Pete Samu
- Jake Gordon
- Lawson Creighton
- Sid Harvey
- Joey Walton
- Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
- Andrew Kellaway
- Max Jorgensen
Replacements:
16. Folau Faingaa
17. Isaac Kailea
18. Apolosi Ranawai*
19. Miles Amatosero
20. Jamie Adamson
21. Teddy Wilson
22. Jack Debreczeni
23. Triston Reilly
*in line for Waratahs debut
Injury list:
- James Hendren – wrist
- Harry Potter – concussion
Suspended:
- Dan Botha
