Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell has been dropped as NSW Waratahs coach Michael Cheika rings the changes in his under-performing team for Friday’s Super Rugby match against the Cheetahs in Sydney.
Cheika responded to last weekend’s thrashing by the Brumbies by making six personnel changes and two positional changes.
Mitchell, who has made a slow start to the season, was dropped from the match-day 22 altoghter, while Lachie Turner and Peter Betham are promoted to form a new starting wing combination.
Wallabies utility Berrick Barnes makes his first appearance of the season, returning from injury at inside centre at the expense of Tom Carter and giving the Waratahs another playmaking option.
Wallabies Test prop Sekope Kepu is the other high-profile star left out, given time off to be with his wife due to the impending birth of their child.
Pat McCutcheon returns to the starting team at No.8, allowing captain Dave Dennis to revert his preferred position on the blindside flank while Mitchell Chapman drops to the bench.
Star signing Israel Folau moves from wing back to fullback, with last weekend’s starting debutant Ben Volavola dropped to the reserves.
Turner is elevated from the bench to partner with newcomer Betham as wingers.
A stand-out in last season’s ITM Cup provincial competition in New Zealand, Betham returns from a trial match ankle injury to take over from Mitchell.
In the other changes to the pack, reserve hooker John Ulugia takes over from the injured Wallaby Tatafu Polota-Nau, while Paddy Ryan gets a start at tight-head.
On the bench, Cheika has opted for a 4-3 forwards-backs split, with Rob Horne included for the first time this year as he returns from a hamstring injury sustained in a pre-season trial.
NSW Waratahs: Israel Folau, Lachie Turner, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Peter Betham, Bernard Foley, Brendan McKibbin, Pat McCutcheon, Michael Hooper, Dave Dennis, Kane Douglas, Sitaleki Timani, Paddy Ryan, John Ulugia, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Luke Holmes, Jeremy Tilse, Mitchell Chapman, Lopeti Timani, Matt Lucas, Ben Volavola, Rob Horne
Dirk
Guest
I believe those barrow pushers you speak are called Queenslanders. It's a shame they are so parochial and insecure. Pathetic really. Its the 21st C ffs.
mania
Guest
how does folau's form see him escape the axe?
mania
Guest
rugbyRene : becaue it saves time?
Benno
Guest
No team with Folau in it will win a game this season. It's clear he has one of those "must be in the starting team" contracts that some of the other league converts got. The level he is playing wouldn't get him a starting spot in a local 3rd grade team. Send him to run the water in club rugby and let the real rugby players play Super Rugby. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Jonny Boy Jnr
Guest
I never thought I'd hear myself say this but maybe it's time to lay off the Tah's and let them sort themselves out David Dennis was probably not one of Cheika's master strokes as choice of Captain but at least he's not a polarising figure like Phil Waugh (or Michael Clarke)
Dexter William
Roar Guru
Jiggles You mean Mitchell might not have done his homework :)
Felix
Guest
Cheetahs are going to run the tahs ragged,Brussow on the bench,Willie le Roux vs that new winger,Cheetahs should walk it.
mikeylives
Guest
"heartlidge" - Quality
Dan H
Guest
I agree about the captaincy as I have stated before I really dont rate dennis at all, and I think its really good that cheika is doing something about this team. Hopefully a few fresh faces in the starting line up will introduce a bit of passion with players who are wanting to prove a point. Might help put a rocket up the rest of them hopefully some hungry attitude will rub off. Sick of seeing the tahs do badly... unless they play QLD of course. Its brining all of aussie rugby down with it which doesnt have to be an issue but unfortunately rugby is fairly nswcentric in this country.
The OG AlBo
Roar Guru
We saw what he could do with ball in hand against the Welsh. Let's hope he puts it back into practice. He is deceptively quick and defenses hold off on him so could open gaps up for the back three. Defensive channel is solid too so nothing lost there.
Skills & Techniques
Guest
-- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Skills & Techniques
Guest
Paddy Ryan to begin his march to regular Wallaby selection on Friday night. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Worlds biggest
Guest
I would have thought every Tahs player wants to in the Wallabies mix fo the Lions series in regards to hunger, so far we haven't seen it. Mitchell axing is strange. Dennis IMO should be the player under real pressure despite being the skipper ( which I didn't agree with ). maybe these changes will do the trick. Good to see Barnes back. I want to see the Tahs come out firing.
Malo
Guest
Great changes well thought out but VV should get some more time. Should win this week but need a new captain ie Barnes.
Mad Max
Guest
Not sure of the logic in dropping Mitchell and Volavola. I am a great Lachie fan but he ws found out for pace lst week against Mogg.IMO Folau should be in the centres and I think VV needs game time as he s good and what we need. I am not a Barnes fan once again IMO the continuous head knocks have really downgraded him as a player. Just my opinion.
Dave
Guest
Surely Folau can kick? He played AFL. Admittedly badly. But surely they at least taught him to kick?
Dave
Guest
I thought the brumbies killed us at the breakdown last week, I never felt the ball was safe. They constantly killed momentum by disrupting the ball. Having said that, was there a single back who showed any spark at all? They looked like they were in a permanent slumber. I'm not sure how anyone could argue against any of them being dropped to be honest. I'd say Mitchell was dropped to put a rocket up him, whereas folau was kept because he needs to be nurtured at the moment.
Gnostic
Guest
Given Chieka's comments regarding players not working hard enough off the ball nobody should be surprised at Mitchell being dropped. It isn't the first time for him our even the second. As for July, after two watchings of the game he was ok and certainly meet his chores responsibilities as THP. All the best to Sekope and his wife, his leave of absence is certainly warranted. Romano's lineout issues will be much better covered having Mcutcheon as another lineout target. The cosh remains hamstrung by the squad he inherited though. I still rather them to lose running the ball than for me to be bored to sleep only to find they have scraped another win to justify the terrible approach to the game.
Dave
Guest
I said after the brumbies game that I was disappointed with Mitchell so I'm glad to see him go. It might be good to have Barnes back, it just depends whether or not he plays like he did last year - way too lacking in creativity and spark.
jeznez
Roar Guru
the idea of McCutcheon at 5 and Douglas at 6 is a little bit too left field for me!