The final match of the entire Australian rugby domestic season is upon us on Sunday, as the NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds face off once again in the Super Rugby Men's U16s grand final.
Set to be played at Knox Grammar School, both sides come into the clash having put away all competition ahead of them, with the Waratahs prevailing in a thriller the last time the two sides met, winning 54-45.
Catch all Super Rugby U16s action live on Rugby.com.au's YouTube channel and Stan Sport.
With the Reds' tendency to come back and run the current champions close in the final, the result is far from guaranteed for the men in sky blue.
The Reds have it clear in their intent as to what they plan to do to the Waratahs - naming a monster pack and six forwards on the bench as they look to bash the defending champions up front.
Prop Jeremiah Kite will captain the side, well supported by hooker Noah Gaffney and prop Moses Faleafa, while the barnstorming 110kg behemoth Mitch Wallis will inject significant momentum off the bench.
Fraser Boakes at blindside flanker will complement Denver Bradford and Nathan Van Huyssteen at lock, while Charlie Grieves returns for a head knock to inject significant energy off the bench.
The backs will remain relatively unchanged, with Charlie Meredith and Chilli Tonelli-Smith set to direct proceedings from flyhalf and fullback, unleashing the dangerous centre pairing of James Smith and Sangwani Chinula.
"We got good value from a 6-2 bench that day. That's the way we'll go for the big one on Sunday," Reds U16s Head Coach Welmar Du Plessis said in an official statement.
"The Waratahs shocked us with their high-tempo footy and really moving the ball around to open that big lead when we last played.
"It was a poor start. That's the big area for us...start a lot better. We've picked a relatively big forward pack and we want to put pressure on them at scrum, maul and lineout time.
"The set piece has been a strength for us, and we'll play to it. My experience is that big games are won or lost on defence and the set piece.
"We are using our versatility. Fraser played very well at flanker against the Force and Mitch is a very big, mobile unit. Charlie is a big body too."
The Waratahs, meanwhile, have made nine changes to the side that blasted away Victoria, including a new look tight five and new combinations in the flyhalf and fullback positions.
Asera Peniata, Archie Hill and Kaiasi Talakai will headline an imposing front row, with Ruari Basten joining his Lindfield teammate Will Gencur in the locks.
Cooper Williams and Hunter Hall will retain their spots in the loose forwards, with Cordell Arama joining them to complete the pack changes, with many of the Victoria clash starters being rotated back to the bench.
Izack Holmes will reclaim his scrumhalf jersey, partnering with Wilson Ruthven at flyhalf, while Payton Tarau making up the final new face in the backline amidst a reshuffle.
Finn Hannon is moving to fullback to complete a dangerous back three with Asher Chapman and Ben Wright.
WARATAHS (1-15): Asera Peniata, Archie Hill, Kaiasi Talakai, Will Gencur, Ruari Basten, Cordell Arama, Cooper Williams, Hunter Hall, Izack Holmes, Wilson Ruthven, Benjamin Wright, Charlie Xuereb, Payton Tarau, Asher Chapman, Finn Hannon
Reserves: Talmage Lemusu, Hugo Lestrange, Thomas Chan, Jayden Richards, Eduardo Garcia-Wood, Levi Ellis, Tom Longland, Ziyon Lepolo
REDS (1-15): Jeremiah Kite (c), Noah Gaffney, Moses Faleafa, Nathan Van Huyssteen, Denver Bradford, Fraser Boakes, Henry Willis, Dylan Goodwin, Tristan Cook, Charlie Meredith, Will Robinson, James Smith (VC), Sangwani Chinula, Mitch Durrheim, Chilli Tonelli-Smith
Reserves: Xavier Hill, Mitch Wallis, Harry O’Hare, Charlie Grieves, Matti Gill, Ryker Smith, Harry Dowling, Seth Chapman
