Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson has made two changes to his starting XV ahead of Saturday’s Round 13 clash with the Crusaders in Christchurch.
While the forwards remain untouched after their three-try haul in last weekend’s defeat to the Blues, the backs will welcome 112 caps of Super Rugby experience in scrum-half Nick Phipps, whose return to the fold means Jake Gordon will make his impact from the bench.
Gibson said he will look to give each half-back opportunities throughout the next few weeks of competition.
“They’ve got lovely contrasting styles and I think that Nick’s strengths for this game are really important in the way he does speed up the game up with his fitness, and that strength will be an important factor going into this game,” he explained.
“We decided a couple of games ago how we are going to take our two halfbacks through this New Zealand period. I want to give both of them the opportunity to be at their best and put in a performance for the NSW Waratahs which could then put them in line for higher honours.”
The inclusion of Curtis Rona into outside centre means Lalakai Foketi moves to the bench.
Young prop Shambeckler Vui is in line to make his second appearance in the sky blue, coming in for Waratahs stalwart Paddy Ryan in the number 18 jersey.
Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Cam Clark, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 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 Shambeckler Vui, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Jed Holloway, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Bryce Hegarty
Date: Saturday, May 12
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 17:15 local (05:15 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)
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