The NSW Waratahs will host the Melbourne Rebels at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Round 4 of Vodafone Super Rugby AU this Friday night.
Head Coach, Rob Penney has named the same starting XV that fell agonisingly short of victory against the Brumbies at ANZ Stadium.
Tom Horton maintains his place in the starting side after scoring his first try in Super Rugby in Round 3, while Joey Walton will continue in midfield alongside Karmichael Hunt.
Another potential Super rugby AU debutant joins the bench, with Joe Cotton named in place of Robbie Abel. He joins Junior Wallaby teammates Ben Donaldson and Mark Nawaqanitawase on the reserves.
Jake Gordon makes his long-awaited return from injury via the bench after overcoming a troublesome hamstring issue, while Jed Holloway could make his first appearance in Super Rugby AU.
NSW Waratahs Round 4 team announcement:
| No. | Position | Name |
| 1 | LOOSEHEAD PROP | TOM ROBERTSON |
| 2 | HOOKER | TOM HORTON |
| 3 | TIGHTHEAD PROP | HARRY JOHNSON-HOLMES |
| 4 | LEFT LOCK | NED HANIGAN |
| 5 | RIGHT LOCK | ROB SIMMONS (c) |
| 6 | LEFT FLANKER | LACHLAN SWINTON |
| 7 | RIGHT FLANKER | MICHAEL HOOPER |
| 8 | NUMBER EIGHT | JACK DEMPSEY |
| 9 | SCRUMHALF | MITCH SHORT |
| 10 | FLYHALF | WILL HARRISON |
| 11 | LEFT WING | ALEX NEWSOME (vc) |
| 12 | INSIDE CENTRE | KARMICHAEL HUNT |
| 13 | OUTSIDE CENTRE | JOEY WALTON |
| 14 | RIGHT WING | JAMES RAMM |
| 15 | FULLBACK | JACK MADDOCKS |
| Replacements: | ||
| 16. | RESERVE | JOE COTTON |
| 17. | RESERVE | TETERA FAULKNER |
| 18. | RESERVE | CHRIS TALAKAI |
| 19. | RESERVE | TOM STANIFORTH |
| 20. | RESERVE | JED HOLLOWAY |
| 21. | RESERVE | JAKE GORDON |
| 22. | RESERVE | MARK NAWAQANITAWASE |
| 23. | RESERVE | BEN DONALDSON |
Vodafone Super Rugby AU - Round 4
NSW Waratahs v Melbourne Rebels
Friday 24 July
Kick off: 7:05pm (local)
SCG
