NSW Waratahs scrum-half Teddy Wilson has been elevated to the starting line-up for Saturday’s Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific Round 8 tie against the Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato (5.05pm kick-off AEDT).
Wilson, 23, has made an impact coming off the bench so far in 2026 but will have an opportunity from the first whistle on Saturday. Flanker Charlie Gamble and back Triston Reilly also return to the team at openside flanker and outside centre.
Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar encouraged his side to continue the momentum from last weekend’s 30-28 win against the Brumbies.
“We were delighted with the win against the Brumbies last weekend but we’ve got to go over to Hamilton and back that performance up,” McKellar said.
“We’re under no illusions of how big the challenge is heading to New Zealand to face the Chiefs on their own patch. However, we’ve got a clear plan on how we want to execute on the day and beat this team in Sydney last year.
“Teddy’s been working hard in training and deserves a shot from the first whistle. We’re looking forward to seeing what sort of an impact he can have.”
The front row of Tom Lambert, Ethan Dobbins and Daniel Botha remains unchanged, with the trio having started five of our six games together.
In the second row, the combination of captain Matt Philip and Miles Amatosero continues, with the pair leading our defensive effort against the Brumbies last weekend with 26 and 25 tackles respectively.
In the back row, Clem Halaholo is again named at blindside flanker, after a try and 22 tackles against the Brumbies. Charlie Gamble returns to openside flanker, having missed our games against the Reds and Blues due to a hamstring injury. Pete Samu continues his run in the starting line-up at number eight.
In the halves, Wilson combines with experienced fly-half Jack Debreczeni, who will play against his former club on Saturday.
With Lawson Creighton missing through injury, Joey Walton shifts in one to inside centre, allowing Triston Reilly to come in at outside centre.
Max Jorgensen is again on the left wing, currently tied third in the Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year voting, while Andrew Kellaway retains his place on the right wing. The 30-year-old scored a try against the Brumbies last weekend on his return to the team, while also beating four defenders and gaining 86m.
Sid Harvey, who kicked six from six from the tee against the Brumbies and leads the Rookie of the Year voting, is named at full-back.
On the bench, Jamie Adamson and Jake Gordon both drop down from the starting XV after last weekend, while fly-half Jack Bowen is named and could make his first appearance of the season. George Poolman is our outside back replacement.
The Waratahs last beat the Chiefs in New Zealand in 2014, a 33-17 win in New Plymouth, while in Hamilton, the drought goes back to 2010, where the visitors pulled off a 46-19 victory, thanks to tries from the likes of Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell and Kurtley Beale.
Our 21-14 win last season against the Chiefs at Allianz Stadium snapped an eight-game losing streak against this weekend’s opposition.
Chiefs v Waratahs
Round 8 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific, Saturday 4 April, 5.05pm kick-off AEDT
128 Seddon Road, Frankton, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
Starting XV:
- Tom Lambert
- Ethan Dobbins
- Daniel Botha
- Matt Philip ©
- Miles Amatosero
- Clem Halaholo
- Charlie Gamble
- Pete Samu
- Teddy Wilson
- Jack Debreczeni
- Max Jorgensen
- Joey Walton
- Triston Reilly
- Andrew Kellaway
- Sid Harvey
Replacements:
16. Folau Faingaa
17. Jack Barrett
18. Siosifa Amone
19. Angus Blyth
20. Jamie Adamson
21. Jake Gordon
22. Jack Bowen
23. George Poolman
Injury list:
- Lawson Creighton – sc joint
- Austin Durbidge – appendicitis
- James Hendren – wrist
- Harry Potter – quad (fitness test)
- Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii - hamstring
