NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar has turned to lifelong mates Teddy Wilson and Jack Bowen to start against the Blues in Saturday’s crucial clash at Eden Park.
With Wilson and Bowen playing together throughout the age grades for Easts and NSW, McKellar has opted to elevate Bowen for his second Waratahs start alongside Wilson, who moves into the #9 jersey after a hamstring injury to Jake Gordon.
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“Jack, along with Teddy Wilson, had a huge impact last week under pressure with his calm, direction and vision in attack," McKellar said.
“He has earned this start with his consistent hard work throughout the season in both training and his game time off the bench.
“This is a big game with a lot at stake. He is ready for a big game opportunity like this.”
On top of this, centre Henry O’Donnell starts, with O’Donnell also playing alongside Wilson and Bowen at the U15 level for Norths before featuring for the Junior Wallabies together.
Bowen will go head-to-head with legendary All Black Beauden Barrett, with the Blues welcoming back a host of stars.
This includes winger Mark Tele’aa - who returns from a three-game suspension - whilst Anton Segner returns to the back-row following a concussion layoff.
AJ Lam also returns to the centres with Finlay Christie elevated to starting scrum-half.
For the Waratahs, the team is settled after last week’s win over the Western Force with Jamie Adamson and Henry O’Donnell replacing Charlie Gamble (calf) and Lalakai Foketi (shoulder) while Hugh Sinclair replaces the injured Gordon as skipper.
The Waratahs and Blues are hunting for the sixth and final finals spot, with the winner needing Moana Pasifika to lose to the Hurricanes to advance to the finals.
“At this end of the season, all teams will be impacted by injuries that inevitable test the depth of the squad," McKellar said.
“We are missing some through injury, but the players who will start in their place have shown this season that they can step up.
“There is no shortage of motivation for them to do so again this week."
WARATAHS (1-15): Angus Bell, David Porecki, Taniela Tupou, Fergus Lee-Warner, Miles Amatosero, Hugh Sinclair (c), Jamie Adamson, Langi Gleeson, Teddy Wilson, Jack Bowen, Triston Reilly, Joey Walton, Henry O'Donnell, Andrew Kellaway, Lawson Creighton
Replacements: Mahe Vailanu, Tom Lambert, Daniel Botha, Ben Grant, Leafi Talataina, Jack Grant, Tane Edmed, Darby Lancaster
