Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson has welcomed back Israel Folau in to his starting lineup for Saturday night’s Super Rugby clash against the Blues at Brookvale Oval.
Folau will play his first Super Rugby game since round seven, where he came off the field with a hamstring injury. The 29-year-old’s selection in the match-day 23, alongside Clark, means Bryce Hegarty and Curtis Rona will make their impacts off the bench in round 12.
“I’m pleased to see the team have done so well without him (Folau) and it’s great to have him back,” Gibson said.
“He brings a lot in terms of a different attacking dimension to us and that four weeks in which he’s been away has been a good opportunity for him to get his body right and get his mind back into footy.
“It’s around finding the best mix and that’s what I felt was right for this game.
“We’re still working out how that happened (against the Lions), still learning lessons from it and we’re still seething from it. We want to make sure we respond well to that and we’ll get that opportunity this weekend.”
Gibson has upped the pace of the forward pack, once again pairing recent re-signing Will Miller with captain Michael Hooper at openside and Michael Wells at number eight.
Kurtley Beale will be joined by Lalakai Foketi in the centres, while winger Cam Clark is set to make his first start of the year in sky blue.
“I’ve opted in the loose forwards to go with speed with Will Miller and Michael Hooper,” Gibson said.
“In the backline, I’ve given some opportunities to Lalakai Foketi at 13 and to Cam Clark, who will make his first start of the 2018 season. This means that Israel (Folau) will start at full-back.”
Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Cam Clark, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Will Miller, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Jed Holloway, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Curtis Rona, 23 Bryce Hegarty
Date: Saturday, May 5
Venue: Brookvale Oval
Kick-off: 15:05 local (05:05 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), William Houston (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
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