The Waratahs welcome back 243 caps of Super Rugby experience for Saturday’s round ten clash with the Queensland Reds at Lang Park.
Captain Phil Waugh, No.8 Wycliff Palu and centre Tom Carter have all been recalled to the starting XV as the Waratahs look to continue their winning form against Australian teams this season.
Head coach Chris Hickey said the return of some of the team’s most experienced players would provide a boost to the team in the first of a three-week stretch of matches against opponents from the Australian conference.
“We’ve used 31 players already this year and we still have eight players on the sidelines so it’s nice to be able to bring so much experience back into the team,” said Hickey.
“Phil was touch-and-go to be ready in Auckland and I know he loves nothing more than fronting up to take on Queensland.
“Cliff has had a frustrating year or so with injuries but he’s always remained positive and worked really hard on his rehab and Tom is also really excited to be coming back for a match as big as this.”
Carter’s return sees Daniel Halangahu move to the bench in the only change to the Waratahs backline. The hard-working centre will bring up his 50th Super Rugby cap in Saturday’s match after playing 49 consecutive matches since his debut in the opening round of the 2008 season.
The addition of Palu and Waugh sees the Waratahs field a backrow which last played together in the round seven victory over the Chiefs.
Palu’s return to Lang Park is timely having scored the match-winning try in the 2010 meeting at the same ground, while Waugh and Al Baxter are poised to equal Chris Whitaker’s record of 10 Super Rugby caps against the Reds.
After a number of high impact performances from the bench – including a match-winning try against the Brumbies – Sitaleki Timani has been promoted to the Waratahs starting XV for the first time.
Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis and Pat McCutcheon move to the bench after starting against the Blues. Sosene Anesi, Pat O’Connor and Chris Alcock drop out of the 22-man squad.
O’Connor has joined the list of Waratahs on the sidelines after injuring his AC joint in the final play of the game against the Blues while Alcock will travel with the team as 23rd man.
“Sita is a pretty quiet guy but he lets his performance on the field do all the talking,” said Hickey.
“He’s been putting his hand up for a chance to start and this week he gets his opportunity.
“With Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis and Pat McCutcheon all on the bench we have a lot of options to play with and we know going into this match that we’ll need all 22 players to do a job for us.”
The Waratahs successfully defended the Templeton Cup for 2010 with a 30-6 victory at ANZ Stadium in round two and have now won seven straight Super Rugby matches against the Reds after failing to register a tournament win until 2005.
The winning margin was the biggest the Waratahs have registered over Queensland in Super Rugby.
WARATAHS
15. Lachie Turner (Eastwood)
14. Tom Kingston (Sydney University)
13. Ryan Cross (Eastern Suburbs)
12. Tom Carter* (Sydney University)
11. Drew Mitchell (Balmain)
10. Kurtley Beale (Randwick)
9. Luke Burgess (Sydney University)
8. Wycliff Palu (Manly)
7. Phil Waugh [c] (Sydney University)
6. Ben Mowen (Randwick)
5. Sitaleki Timani (Southern Districts)
4. Dean Mumm (Sydney University)
3. Sekope Kepu (Randwick)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (Parramatta)
1. Benn Robinson (Eastwood)
Reserves
16. John Ulugia (Southern Districts)
17. Al Baxter (Northern Suburbs)
18. Kane Douglas (Southern Districts)
19. Dave Dennis (Sydney University)
20. Pat McCutcheon (Sydney University)
21. Brendan McKibbin (Eastern Suburbs)
22. Daniel Halangahu (Sydney University)
* 50th Super Rugby Cap