The understrength NSW Waratahs are relishing the underdog tag as they prepare to take on a near-full-strength Blue side.
Darren Coleman's side is almost unrecognisable since last week's win over the Western Force, with a host of young stars given a chance to shine.
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It comes with several players returning from Wallaby camp on Thursday morning, with Michael Hooper, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Lalakai Foketi rested.
Flyhalf Tane Edmed is still dealing with a potential stress fracture in his back as Langi Gleeson continues to be managed with a calf complaint.
Dave Porecki and Ned Hanigan also miss the trip to NZ due to concussion, leading to a raft of changes.
“It’s an opportunity and everyone is excited for it," assistant coach Chris Whittaker told reporters.
“There’s a lot of guys who have trained really well and have got the opportunity. It’s a shot for some guys to get contracts or cement themselves more in the starting side.
“…Everything we’ve talked about is having a big swing at this. Our game plan is set around having a go at these guys…no one expects us to do anything now so let's go swing the bat and have a go at these guys.”
Orange product Hunter Ward gets his first start at Super Rugby level, having debuted off the bench in the final two minutes of their defeat over the Brumbies.
Ward enters with one of the best nicknames in Super Rugby, 'the Combat Wombat', with the Waratahs excited to unleash the standout flanker after breakout seasons with Manly in the Shute Shield.
“He’s country as,” coach Darren Coleman said before his debut.
“He bit the bullet and made the commitment to come down to Manly and he wanted to pursue his Rugby and improve. I remember watching him when I was at Gordon and the Rats and he was in third grade and then rose to second and then saw his name in first grade.
“I didn’t know a lot about him but last year he really started to catch our eye. He’s really thick and strong through the hips, breaking a lot of tackles with his carry…’Gilly’ (assistant Jason Gilmore) has worked really well with him around the traditional roles of a seven around the tackle contest.
“He’s a little nuggety bush boy that rips in. He’s so country, just quiet, assuming and humble.”
“He’s got the nickname the ‘combat wombat’ because he likes the contact and physical stuff,” Whittaker added.
“We think that’s going to be perfect for a team like the Blues. They’re a big, physical team so someone like Hunter at seven is perfect for us. He’s been the standout at club rugby for a while now, you get those players when they get to this level, they step up and handle it quite well which he’s done so I’m sure he’ll do the same."
It reflects the style of Rugby the Waratahs will look to play, with lock Zac Von Appen starting alongside Jed Holloway in an attempt to 'bash' last year's minor premiers in the middle of the field.
“He’s super impressive in contact. Just a big frame who loves hitting blokes and carrying,” Holloway notes.
“It had to be really well known if you were in a non-contact bib around 'Von', you have to be worried because he must be colourblind because he’s belting everyone. If you ran with him in that yellow bib, he’d still belt you.
“He just loves it and I can’t wait to see him show it.”
In the backs, Harry Wilson (son of former Wallaby David, not the Queensland backrower) starts at fullback whilst his brother Teddy and Easts teammate Jack Bowen, son of former Wallaby Scotty, make up the bench.
“I thought every time Harry comes in, he’s been really confident and assertive, he gives us that confidence in the backfield to play some footy," Whittaker said.
“He started off as a five-eighth but he’s played a lot of fullback at club. He’s a pretty handy player to have...It’s funny because both (Harry and Teddy) are backs. Knowing David, they’re very similar in their competitiveness and toughness, everything their old man was.
"(Jack) has played a lot of Shute Shield and has continued that on this year. He’s a real solid perform for that Easts team. We’ve been really unfortunate with Tane Edmed and Will Harrison injured so Jack has been lucky that he’s stepped up to play flyhalf at training for a lot of the sessions.
“He’s got a lot of training time under his belt so it’s time for the experience and making sure he progresses well so he’s a star for years to come.”
WARATAHS (1-15): Tom Lambert, Mahe Vailanu, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jed Holloway, Zac Von Appen, Taleni Seu, Hunter Ward, Will Harris, Jake Gordon (c), Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Joey Walton, Izaia Perese, Max Jorgensen, Harry Wilson
RESERVES: Tolu Latu, Nephi Leatigaga, Daniel Botha, Michael Icely, Charlie Gamble, Teddy Wilson, Jack Bowen, Mosese Tuipulotu
