Jonno Lance gets his chance against the Sharks
NSW Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has made six changes and brought in four new faces to his starting line up to face the top-of-the-table Sharks in Durban this Sunday (2.05am AEST).
New to the Tahs this year, Jonno Lance will make his NSW debut in the light blue number 15 jersey, deputising for the injured Israel Folau.
The only player in the squad to have won a Super Rugby title, Lance came to the Waratahs to play in the midfield but with Cheika refusing to tamper with the growing Foley-Beale 10-12 combination, he gets his chance from fullback.
That chance comes as the result of Folau being ruled out after copping a knock to the throat, 20 minutes in to Friday’s game against the Rebels. Although he was able to play on until the 75th minute, Tahs’ medical staff held him back from flying out to Africa with the team last Saturday. Although expected to join his teammates when the swelling subsided a few days later, the injury to his cricoid cartilage has not reacted as expected which has forced his travel schedule to be revised.
“I didn’t think it would be this bad, there is still swelling in my throat and I will have to see the specialist again this Friday, it’s disappointing,” said Folau, who has now set his sights on being right for the game against the Stormers in Cape Town the following Sunday.
Lance has a solid kicking game and is strong defensively but has big shoes to fill with Folau, the competition’s leading try-scorer and the Waratahs’ chief attacking weapon, posting eight tries in four games this season, just two shy of Peter Hewat’s club record for a single season and seven adrift of the all-time Super Rugby season record of 15.
In the forwards, Benn Robinson is back at loosehead prop in place of Paddy Ryan, while Wycliff Palu will make his NSW century when he runs on at No. 8. Both came off the bench against the Rebels last week.
They’re not the only changes with Cheika again shuffling the pack. Jacques Potgieter moves from flanker to lock, where he lines up alongside Kane Douglas, forcing Will Skelton to the bench.
No. 8 last week, skipper Dave Dennis will start at blindside flanker, with Michael Hooper retained at openside.
Operating under the ‘it it aint broke don’t fix it’ approach, Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley continue in the halves, and Kurtley Beale retains the number 12 jersey. Beale would have been considered the logical replacement for Folau at fullback but, with the Tahs’ midfield the success story of the year so far, Cheika is reluctant to change the formula that has launched much of the Waratahs’ running game and been the catalyst for three wins from four games.
Adam Ashley-Cooper will continue as Beale’s centre partner and Peter Betham won’t be moving off the right wing. His size and power have seen Rob Horne selected to start for the first time this season, in place of the fast feet of left wing Alofa Alofa.
With a game in hand, the Waratahs sit fourth on the overall table, just three points behind the table-topping Sharks. An away win could see the Tahs regain pole position but Cheika has warned that the Jake White coached side will be looking for vengeance after last weekend’s loss to the Bulls.
“When we lost to the Brumbies we wanted to bite back and they’ll want to do the same,” said Cheika. “It’s up to us not to fold and fight fire with fire. We won’t be scared to do it,” he finished.
Waratahs fans can watch the match live on Fox Sports 2 and Fox Sports 2HD, or follow it score by score with the Tahs’ new online matchcentre. For a running commentary, follow @NSWWaratahs on twitter or search #SHAvWAR and for all the match highlights, subscribe to TahTV and be the first to watch our post-match highlights package.
NSW Waratahs team to take on the Sharks
Asteron Life Super Rugby round 7
Sunday March 30 at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban
1. Benn Robinson (Eastwood)
2. Tatafu Polota Nau (Parramatta)
3. Sekope Kepu (Randwick)
4. Jacques Potgieter (Eastern Suburbs)
5. Kane Douglas (Southern Districts)
6. Dave Dennis (Sydney University, captain)
7. Michael Hooper (Manly)
8. Wycliff Palu (Manly)
9. Nick Phipps (Sydney University)
10. Bernard Foley (Sydney University)
11. Peter Betham (Sydney University)
12. Kurtley Beale (Randwick)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Northern Suburbs)
14. Rob Horne (Southern Districts)
15. Jonno Lance (Eastern Suburbs)
Replacements to be confirmed.
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