Bernard Foley has been named to make his long-awaited return while Israel Folau reverts to fullback for the NSW Waratahs’ Super Rugby crunch match with the Melbourne Rebels on Friday night.
Foley is back after missing the Waratahs’ opening four games due to concussion, while Folau has been moved from the centres and Wallaby halfback Nick Phipps has been dropped to the bench in a backline shake-up by coach Daryl Gibson.
The team named represents a significant number of changes for the Waratahs ahead of their match against the Rebels.
In addition to Foley’s return, the match will also see young halfback Jake Gordon named in the starting side for the first time. Gordon previously earned his first Waratahs cap in Round 3.
The Waratahs will be hoping that the changes made can boost their competitiveness and deliver a win against an Australian rival.
They took down the Force in Round 1, 19-13, but it has been their only win of the year so far, with losses to the Lions, Sharks and Brumbies following their early success.
The Rebels have not fared any better, of course. The Melbourne side has played three matches, against the Blues, Hurricanes and Chiefs, so far and lost them all.
Most concerning is that their losses have come by a combined margin of 116 points, giving them the worst points differential in the competition – all the more worrisome consider they’ve played one less match than most teams.
With questions being asked about their future in the competition, they’ll be hoping to put in a good performance in this match.
Waratahs team to play Rebels
Israel Folau, Reece Robinson, Rob Horne, David Horwitz, Andrew Kellaway, Bernard Foley, Jake Gordon, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper (capt), Ned Hanigan, Dean Mumm, Will Skelton, Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu, Tom Robertson.Reserves: Hugh Roach, Paddy Ryan, David Lolohea, David McDuling, Michael Wells, Nick Phipps, Cam Clark, Taqele Naiyaravoro.
With AAP.
concerned supporter
Guest
I think that Reece Robinson is under performing. He needs to run hard.not pussy foot around.When he looks like being tackled, he mostly grubbers the ball.He needs a rocket.
Ian Brown
Roar Pro
The interesting thing is when you look at the team this weekend apart from Dempsey it is just about Gibson's best 23. So the question that flows right through AUS rugby again and again is where is the depth and with dwindling revenue the players that are playing in SR are the ones that o's franchises ie Europe and Japan basically don't want. I understand that this ignites the number of franchises debate again but basically all 5 have a rump of a team but the rest of the team doesn't amount to enough to be, most of the time, competitive with NZ and this year SA teams particularly in SA.
DOUBLES
Guest
Every Tah is a dead- set star in the making right Cynical Play?? ...Let`s start with some of these Tah/Wallabies.. Douglas FAIL Phipps FAIL Mumm FAIL Palu FAIL Dennis FAIL Skelton FAIL Horne FAIL Robertson FAIL Folau FAIL ( Good at the start 2013 2014 ) 2015 on FAIL Beale FAIL Hooper FAIL Foley FAIL
DOUBLES
Guest
Higher than the Horratahs.... hahahahahahahahaha
Lostintokyo
Guest
Gibson had to do something to shake things up.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Or the Tahs backup hooker
Zero Gain
Guest
Gibson should drop himself.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
You're right, gone are the calls for fans for Folau to play 13 for the Wallabies. TK and especially Kerevi put that to bed with their form, but how much did Folau contribute to it himself with his average play?
riddler
Guest
finn last year every dog and his mate was calling for folau to be the wallabies 13.. now it seems like those calls have been quickly put aside..
Sam
Guest
In contrast the Rebels have named an unchanged line-up. Keen to see Amanaki Mafi and Will Skelton collide a couple of times!
Reverse Wheel
Guest
Robinson is the only backline player playing in the same position as last week. That's some pretty significant change.
Daveski
Guest
Agree a bit here that the reserve front row remains unchanged and is one of the major issues with the Tahs this year. All three are good around the park but thus far looking very inadequate as a set piece unit. Roachs throwing into the line outs hasn't quite been top shelf either.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Hang-on I know this answer...
Cynical Play
Guest
Jake is a dead-set star in the making. He could really ignite things if he has his bossy hat on
Cynical Play
Guest
How the Reds doing?
HarryT
Guest
But if Gibson drops Mumm there won't be any Waratahs in the rucks.
ThugbyFan
Guest
Matt, their last match was the same in that Tahs had 3 lineout merchants in D.Mumm, J.Holloway and J.Dempsey. Amazingly in that Brumbies match, and against Carter and Arnold, I saw Big Willy win a couple on NSW throws (admittedly short throws LoL). An interesting backline, R.Horne made his name for Southern Districts at OC while D.Horwitz is a decent IC with plenty of SR experience. I think sadly that Irae Simone's paper-thin defence against the Lions and Brumbies got him axed. A shame as he looked so good in the NRC but attack is only half the game. Horwitz also has a decent kick so can gain needed metres when close to his own line. Am not sure whats going on with Izzy considering in last week's papers they were saying Izzy would get at least 4 more games at OC. Looks like they are going back to last year where Izzy at OC and A.Kellaway at fb on attack, and on defence Horne shifts to OC and Izzy to fb while Kellaway also falls back from wing as cover. I hope to hell that the Tahs front office is scouring the world for improvements in 2018, ie: looking for two decent locks who can jump. Perhaps they should also put overtures to Michael Alaalatoa to come back from the Crusaders. Maybe get M.Cheika to talk to Michael and his family as how grouse it would be to have Michael and Allan in the same WB team. The Tahs reserve props just don't cut the mustard.
piru
Roar Rookie
I thought of that just as I hit post! I didn't see that game, but it did explain a half drunken, half French, half English text I got from a mate declaring he'd never seen a game where a bloke got a yellow card at 78 mins and came back on before the end.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Sometimes they're 100 mins! :)
Ian Brown
Roar Pro
Sorry but how is this "wielding the axe". 1. A change in the the pack due to an injury. 2. Foley back from injury. 3. #12 supposedly injured so no change there except that he would have been dropped anyway. 4. Positional changes in a backline that isn't firing. 5. Ok Phipps gets a shake up, really why didn't Gibson do a Larkham as in Fardy and drop him from the 23. If the rass up is to work then Gordon should play the 80 minutes no matter what or this is a lettuce leaf approach. 6. Folau to #15 even though this supposedly wasn't being considered till the bye weekend of 13/5. By the way what happened to the lean mean machine Skelton back from the UK ready to play 80 minutes. PLEASE an insult to ones intelligence. If the reserve front row is the best NSW has to offer then what's the point. Me thinks the coach is at his wits end, remember when another NZ coach couldn't get an AUS side to fire up.