Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has named the same team that defeated the Melbourne Rebels for the Super Rugby showdown with the Chiefs in New Plymouth on Saturday.
“I think against the Chiefs, it is the right formula,” said Cheika.
“The team has a good balance: there’s good mobility, good physicality, a bit of hard, straight running, a bit of footwork, a bit of everything and it is important to have a balance to beat the Chiefs.”
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The Waratahs have won three of their last four against the Chiefs but have lost the last eight straight in New Zealand.
The last time the New South Wales outfit tasted victory across the ditch was in 2010.
Out to prove he’s still got what it takes after missing selection in the Wallabies’ 32-man squad, the Waratahs’ most capped Super Rugby prop Benn Robinson will start at openside, with Paddy Ryan, who made the train-on squad, at tighthead and Wallaby Tatafu Polota Nau at hooker.
Leinster-bound Kane Douglas and Springbok hitman Jacques Potgieter are the locks.
Brushing aside talk that he could be in line for the Australian captaincy, Michael Hooper will be out to pillage as much ball as he can from openside breakaway. Dave Dennis, who led from the front last week, will skipper the side from blindside breakaway while Wycliff Palu, also in the Wallabies squad, is like red wine, getting better with age and will pack down at No.8.
The standout halves pairing in the Australian conference, Wallaby squad members Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley have come through colts, grade and the Aussie Sevens teams together and will again be starting in the No.9 and No 10 jerseys respectively.
Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper will pair up in the centres and the back three consists of Rob Horne and Alofa Alofa on the wings with Israel Folau, needing just one try to become the highest try scorer in a Waratahs’ Super season, at fullback.
Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Alofa Alofa, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis (Captain), 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Jacques Potgieter, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson
Replacements: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Sekope Kepu , 19 Will Skelton, 20 Stephen Hoiles, 21 Brendan McKibbin, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Matt Carraro.
Date: Saturday 31 May
Venue: Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Kick-Off: 06:35 SA Time (16:35 NZ Time, 14:35 AEST, 04:35 GMT)
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Richard Kelly (New Zealand), Grant Stuart (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)