The NSW Waratahs have named their team to face the ACT Brumbies in Round 3 of the Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific competition.
NSW Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman has added just one new face to his starting XV that narrowly lost to the Reds at Leichhardt Oval.
Harry Johnson-Holmes, David Porecki and Angus Bell will again line up in the front-row for the third consecutive week.
Jeremy Williams moves into the second row to replace the injured Geoff Cridge (ankle) while Hugh Sinclair returns to the side at blindside, with Will Harris and Charlie Gamble rounding out the backrow.
Jake Gordon, who leads the competition in clean breaks (3), continues to develop his combination with the competition’s second highest point scorer Ben Donaldson (15) in the halves.
Izaia Perese has continued his destructive ball carrying from last season, leading the competition in defenders beaten (12) through two rounds, and will partner Wallaby teammate Lalakai Foketi in the centres.
The back-three of James Turner, Dylan Pietsch and Alex Newsome remains intact from last week.
Darren Coleman has also welcomed three new faces to his bench in Carlo Tizzano, Will Harrison and Tevita Funa.
The Waratahs Head Coach was delighted to have the versatile playmaker back in the side after recovering from a shoulder injury.
“It’s great to have Will Harrison back in the side, he brings a wide skillset, great kicking game and his tenacity will be a huge asset for us in the game,” Coleman said.
Waratahs off season recruit Tevita Funa is in line to make his Super Rugby debut off the bench.
NSW Waratahs team to face Brumbies
1 Angus Bell (Sydney Uni/ Hunters Hill/ Newington College)
2 David 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 Jeremy Williams (Eastern Suburbs/ Wahroonga Tigers/ Scots College)
6 Hugh Sinclair (Northern Suburbs/ Lindfield/ S.H.O.R.E)
7 Charlie Gamble (Eastern Suburbs/ Saracens/ St Bede’s College)
8 Will Harris (Eastern Suburbs/ Hunters Hill/ Scots College)
9 Jake Gordon (Sydney Uni/ Canterbury/ Blackwattle Bay)
10 Ben Donaldson (Randwick/ Clovelly Eagles/ Waverley College)
11 James Turner (Northern Suburbs/ Drummoyne/ Newington)
12 Lalakai Foketi (Manly/ Manly Roos/ Kings School)
13 Izaia Perese (Randwick/ Aspley State School/ Anglican Church Grammar)
14 Dylan Pietsch (Randwick/ Leeton Phantoms/ Kings School)
15 Alex Newsome (Eastern Suburbs/ Glen Innes Elks/ St Joseph’s College)
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton (Sydney Uni/ Mosman Whales/ St Joseph’s College)
17 Te Tera Faulkner (Southern Districts/ Moorabin Rams/ Marist College Canberra)
18 Ruan Smith (Hunter Wildfire / Paarl Gimansium)
19 Max Douglas (Manly/ Harbord Harlequins/ St Augustines College)
20 Langi Gleeson (Manly/ Harbord Harlequins/ St Augustines College)
21 Carlo Tizzano (West Harbour/ UWA Rugby Club/ Trinity College WA)
22 Will Harrison (Randwick/ Clovelly Eagles/ Marcellin College)
23 Tevita Funa (Western Sydney Two Blues/ Blacktown Scorpians/ Westfields Sports High)
Match Details ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs Saturday 5 March GIO Stadium, Canberra Kick-off 19:45 Live on Nine GEM and Stan Sport
