NSW coach Michael Cheika has reshuffled his pack for the Waratahs’ Super Rugby conference derby with the Melbourne Rebels on Friday night.
Cheika has relegated Benn Robinson to the bench in the wake of NSW’s loss to the Brumbies last Saturday night, giving fellow Test prop Sekope Kepu the nod at loosehead.
“Keps has played well. He was probably a little bit unlucky at the start of the season to miss out,” Cheika said on Tuesday,
“He had to wear that and he’s been doing exactly what he needs to do to force his way back into the team.
“It’s his opportunity.”
Cheika will also start Wycliff Palu from the bench, but said the move was more about managing the destructive No.8’s workload after several seasons disrupted by injury.
“We’ve got to make sure that Cliff is used correctly,” the coach said.
“We’re getting good value out of him at the moment.”
Skipper Dave Dennis has been shifted to No.8, with South African Jacques Potgieter moving from lock to blindside flanker and big Will Skelton promoted to partner Kane Douglas in the second row.
“We have the ability to keep the same intensity on the ball by changing the shape of the team a little bit and letting (Palu) come off the bench and finish the game.
“He’ll definitely contribute a fair bit. I’m not looking to rest him or anything. I just wanted to change the shape a little bit, start using a few other guys.”
The Waratahs backline remains unchanged, with former Rebel Nick Phipps’ all-Test halfback battle with ex-Waratah Luke Burgess sure to be a highlight at Allianz Stadium.
NSW Waratahs: Israel Folau, Alofa Alofa, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Peter Betham, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Dave Dennis (capt), Michael Hooper, Jacques Potgieter, Kane Douglas, Will Skelton, Paddy Ryan, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sekope Kepu. Reserves: Tola Latu, Jeremy Tilse, Benn Robinson, Wycliff Palu, Stephen Hoiles, Brendan McKibbin, Rob Horne, Matt Carraro, Pat McCutcheon, Jonno Lance.
DMac
Guest
I think it's pretty clear that isn't the case.
Justin3
Guest
Arrogance personified here. Easy game v the Rebel's, no need to start our "best". Bring it on!
Kuruki
Roar Guru
So when Dave Rennie "rotates" Cane and Latimer has he effectively dropped one of them? or is that just sensational journalism?
Magic Sponge
Guest
Agree Toomua was better than both. Foley/ Beale experiment won't work. Bring on Mehrtens, get him fit and give him some boots.
PeterK
Guest
the choice of the forward pack is clear in what Cheika is doing. Palu aside as he is genuinely getting rested Cheika is putting his most powerful ball carriers / defenders to start. Kepu and Ryan over Robinson. Potgeiter and Dennis over Hoiles. With the biggest locks starting Skelton and Douglas. It is about size and power for this match. Beale to wing over Betham would be my choice. The reason the tahs backline did not function getting it out wide, multiple runners etc was Beale took over from Foley as playmaker too much. Beale does what Beale does which is play for himself first, he does NOT look at setting the play or running a backline. He chips or runs as his first option. Foley passes and backs up. Beale has a hero complex.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Don't believe so - in the past they have used Tilse in a very similar situation and it isn't pretty - he does not scrum well on that side. The famous loss against the Bulls where Lopeti Timani made a mess out of picking the ball up from the base of the scrum on his own try line, got swamped and the Bulls scored to nick the match was an example. The main reason Timani was under pressure was Tilse getting monstered at TH.
Rugger
Guest
Foley is not answer at 10 with lack of variety, especially long kicking game.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
True MS but its only a small rotation, more a reshuffle in a way. Plus they have lost their last so its good to keep everyone involved. I think Foley and KB will be a bit under a fair bit of scrutiny on Friday night. Foley really have to get his kicking game right and both of them have to pull their fingers in defence. Toomua did better than both of them last w-e. No joke, don't lose this one guys!
Magic Sponge
Guest
Rotating did not do too well for the Rebels are the tahs replicating what the rebels did to the force, I hope with a different outcome. Go the tahs.
Daveski
Guest
Ryan staying in is a good choice for this game where his running ability will be more to the fore than his scrummaging. Foley needs to throw more wide balls to the outside backs than trying to get Kurtley to crash through Inman. Wish Cheika would give Vola or Crawford a run at the expense of Lance
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Paddy Ryan is a marvel. I was boozing with him the night before the 3rd Lions Test and he was in a knee brace... How he managed to get sober and fit in time for the end of season tour is amazing. Especially the sober bit. I'm still not quite there.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Yeah agree - Cheika was very bullish about him before he got injured.
Fin
Guest
jez can you answer me this. If kepu is subbed at half time and Ryan then gets injured is Kepu able to come back on as the only fit TH prop? If so, Cheika could get 60 mins each out of Ryan and Kepu-, whom I assume he considers his best two props around the park.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Think it is a bit of a bizarre selection - now one of the tightheads has to play 80 and one of the LH's on the bench is guaranteed no match time. I thought Ryan would be under selection pressure based on his match, Kepu in for him seemed the obvious choice. Tilse hasn't set the world on fire but also hasn't played many minutes - I would have thought this week against Weeks was a good chance to give him a run if Cheika thought Robinson was off his game.
jameswm
Guest
Not sure how the rotation will work - both the bench props only play LH.
jameswm
Guest
I don't hold great hope for Tilse. I agree though the Tah scrum was fine and then got on top once Kepu came on. Robinson was fine.
jameswm
Guest
Sio scrummed very well, and is excellent round the field. He's really putiting his hand up for Wallaby selection.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Am hoping Gray comes back from his rib injury soon and pressures for a starting spot as well.
jameswm
Guest
Yeah with Skelton and Douglas at lock. Massive pack.
Batdown
Guest
Perhaps Robinson being dropped to the bench is only Cheika rotating his props. Does there have to be a conspiracy theory? After all, Robinson is still in the team.