The NSW Waratahs will head to the Gold Coast this Friday to take on the Western Force in Round 7 of Vodafone Super Rugby AU.
Rob Simmons will return from injury after being a late scratching from his side's convincing last-start victory over the Reds.
The returning skipper will partner Tom Staniforth in the second row, with Ned Hanigan shifting to the reserves.
Tetera Faulkner earns his first start for the Waratahs in Super Rugby AU, while Robbe Abel returns to the bench after being unavailable for personal reasons.
It's an unchanged starting backline for Rob Penney, with Mich Short, Ben Donaldson and Joey Walton all on the bench.
NSW Waratahs Round 7 team announcement:
No. | Position | Name |
1 | LOOSEHEAD PROP | TOM ROBERTSON |
2 | HOOKER | TOM HORTON |
3 | TIGHTHEAD PROP | TETERA FAULKNER |
4 | LEFT LOCK | TOM STANIFORTH |
5 | RIGHT LOCK | ROB SIMMONS (c) |
6 | LEFT FLANKER | LACHLAN SWINTON |
7 | RIGHT FLANKER | MICHAEL HOOPER |
8 | NUMBER EIGHT | JACK DEMPSEY |
9 | SCRUMHALF | JAKE GORDON |
10 | FLYHALF | WILL HARRISON |
11 | LEFT WING | ALEX NEWSOME (vc) |
12 | INSIDE CENTRE | KARMICHAEL HUNT |
13 | OUTSIDE CENTRE | LALAKAI FOKETI |
14 | RIGHT WING | JAMES RAMM |
15 | FULLBACK | JACK MADDOCKS |
Replacements: | ||
16. | RESERVE | ROBBIE ABEL |
17. | RESERVE | ANGUS BELL |
18. | RESERVE | HARRY JOHNSON-HOLMES |
19. | RESERVE | NED HANIGAN |
20. | RESERVE | HUGH SINCLAIR |
21. | RESERVE | MITCH SHORT |
22. | RESERVE | BEN DONALDSON |
23. | RESERVE | JOEY WALTON |
Vodafone Super Rugby AU - Round 7
Western Force v NSW Waratahs
Friday 14 August
Kick off: 7:05pm (local)
CBUS Stadium, Gold Coast