The NSW Waratahs have named their team to face the ladder leading Chiefs in round five of the Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific competition.
Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman has made eight changes to his starting XV, while adding two potential Super Rugby debutants on the bench.
Te Tera Faulkner has overcome a calf complaint to start the match at loosehead prop, joining David Porecki and Harry Johnson-Holmes in an all-Wallaby front row. Tom Lambert, who leads the team in carries this season, reverts to the bench after carrying a heavy load in place of the injured Angus Bell.
Jed Holloway makes a welcome return to the second row after he and his partner welcomed their second child early this week, partnering Ned Hanigan.
Lachie Swinton returns to blindside flanker in place of the injured Charlie Gamble, forming a formidable backrow with Michael Hooper and Will Harris. Michael Hooper (133 caps) will become the all-time most capped Waratahs backrower when he takes the field this Friday, overtaking Phil Waugh (132 caps).
Jake Gordon looks to build his partnership with Wallaby teammate Ben Donaldson in the halves, while Joey Walton plays his first match for the Waratahs since Round 1, 2021 (763 days), partnering Izaia Perese in the midfield.
Dylan Pietsch has overcome a quad complaint suffered during the pre-season against the Brumbies, to play his first match of the season and joins Mark Nawaqanitawase on the wings.
Former Australian Seven’s star Ben Dowling has been named at fullback in place of the injured Max Jorgensen.
Darren Coleman has again gone with a traditional five-three split for his finishers, with Harry Wilson and Zac Von Appen set to make their Super Rugby debuts of the bench.
A product of the NSW pathways, Wilson joined the Waratahs Academy straight out of school and has represented the Australian U20’s and Eastwood in the Shute Shield.
Von Appen comes from a high-performance background after representing Australia in rowing at the U23 World Championships, while his father Mario von Appen won an Olympic gold medal as a kayaker with Germany at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and his mother represented Australia at the World Championships, also as a kayaker.
Von Appen attended St Augustine’s College and made a big contribution to Sydney University’s run to the Shute Shield Grand Final in 2022.
Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman said: “Coming off a disappointing loss in Wellington, we’ve sustained a significant number of injuries, but the beauty of our squad this year is our depth and we’re still able to name a very strong XV with some talent and impact coming off the bench.”
“We’re especially excited for the potential new debutants and its great to see Joey Walton back, fit, and ready to go.
“The team has been disappointed in its performances over the past two weeks and can’t wait to get back to our house and put in a performance that our fans will be proud of.”
WARATAHS TEAM TO TAKE ON THE CHIEFS
1 Te Tera Faulkner (Southern Districts/ Moorabin Rams/ Marist College Canberra)
2 Dave Porecki (Manly/ Manly Roos/ Redlands)
3 Harry Johnson-Holmes (Sydney Uni/ Cowra Eagles/ Merewether High School)
4 Jed Holloway (Southern Districts/ Yamba Buccaneers/ Waverley College)
5 Ned Hanigan (Randwick/ Coonamble Rams/ St Joseph’s College)
6 Lachlan Swinton (Sydney Uni/ Wahroonga Tigers/ Knox Grammar School)
7 Michael Hooper (Manly/ Manly Roos/ St Pius X College)
8 Will Harris (Eastern Suburbs/ Hunters Hill Juniors/ Scots College)
9 Jake Gordon © (Sydney Uni/ Canterbury/ Blackwattle Bay)
10 Ben Donaldson (Randwick/ Clovelly Eagles/ Waverly College)
11 Dylan Pietsch (Randwick/ Leeton Phantoms/ Kings School)
12 Joey Walton (Gordon/ Warnervale Wildcats/ Wadalba High School)
13 Izaia Perese (Randwick/ Aspley State School/ Anglican Church Grammar)
14 Mark Nawaqanitawase (Eastwood/ St Patrick’s College)
15 Ben Dowling (Randwick/ Chatswood Juniors/ St Joseph’s College)
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu (Western Sydney/ Canterbury Juniors/ South Sydney High School)
17 Tom Lambert (Sydney Uni/ Wests Juniors/ Trinity Grammar)
18 Daniel Botha (Sydney Uni/ Mosman/ Scots College)
19 Taleni Seu (Southern Districts/ Grammar Tech/ Onehunga High School)
20 Zac Von Appen (Sydney Uni/ Harbord Harlequins/ St Augustines College)
21 Harrison Goddard (Gordon/ Dural/ Oakhill College)
22 Harry Wilson (Eastwood/ Harbord Harlequins/ St Augustine’s College)
23 Nemani Nadolo (Western Sydney/ Souths Magpies/ St Joseph’s Nudgee College)
Players unavailable for selection: Angus Bell – Toe (Season) Archer Holz – Ribs (Round 6+) Charlie Gamble – Shoulder (Round 9+) Hugh Sinclair – Shoulder (Round 8+) Lalakai Foketi – Shoulder (Round 8+) Langi Gleeson – Calf (Round 6) Mahe Vailanu – Knee (Round 6+) Max Jorgensen – Shoulder (Round 6+) Mosese Tuipulotu – Knee (Round 6+) Tane Edmed – Back (Round 8+) Teddy Wilson – Neck (Round 6) Tiaan Tauakipulu – Knee (Round 8+) Will Harrison - Toe (Round 6)
Match Details NSW Waratahs v Chiefs Friday 24 March – Allianz Stadium, Sydney Kick-off 7:35 pm AEDT Live on Stan Sport
