Wallabies halfback Nick Phipps will make his first appearance of the Super Rugby season after being named on the NSW bench for Saturday night’s clash with Queensland in Sydney.
Phipps has been frustrated by a nagging calf injury but is certain to get game time at the SCG as the Waratahs chase a fourth-straight win.
The classy No.9 convinced coach Daryl Gibson he was finally ready for a call-up with an impressive hat-trick in Sydney University’s 36-12 Shute Shield over Parramatta last Saturday.
“It’s been a long, hard road for him. He’s had to six to eight weeks of nearly being there and he’s finally passed fit,” Gibson said on Wednesday.
“He had a good trot last week with Sydney Uni and I think he’s ready.”
Otherwise unchanged from last week’s 50-29 bonus-point victory over the Sunwolves in Tokyo, the Waratahs have an opportunity to complete a rare season sweep over their Australian conference rivals having already beaten the Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels.
Not that Gibson says the Tahs – who trail the conference-leading Rebels by a point on the table – need any extra incentive to topple the Reds.
“We’re treating each game as they come and we know this is against one of our traditional rivals,” he said.
“There’s no real added motivation needed for this week. It’s a game the boys are really excited to get the opportunity to play.”
Despite making their best start to a campaign in almost a decade, Gibson says the Waratahs are far from the finished product.
“Defensively we still are conceding far too many tries, particularly putting a lot of pressure on ourselves through our own poor ball control at times,” he said.
“That’s something we’ve talked about a lot.
“We always knew the Sunwolves were going to be a difficult proposition and the fact that they have got an excellent attack they played with a lot of variation and without risk.
“We’re steeling ourselves for what is going to be a very physical encounter.
“We see both teams really trying to transform themselves into really competitive teams and that’s what we’re expecting this weekend.
NSW Waratahs: Bryce Hegarty, Alex Newsome, Curtis Rona, Kurtley Beale, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Bernard Foley, Jake Gordon, Michael Wells, Michael Hooper (capt), Will Miller, Rob Simmons, Ned Hanigan, Sekope Kepu, Damien Fitzpatrick, Tom Robertson. Reserves: Hugh Roach, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Paddy Ryan, Tom Staniforth, Jed Holloway, Nick Phipps, Lalakai Foketi, Cameron Clark.
double agent
Guest
Saw a boot throw last week in a Subbies game. Ahhh - it never gets old!!
Thanks
Guest
Reds support staff have been warned to stay clear of phipps and reds squad have been instructed to heavily tape their bootlaces to make it harder for phipps to steal for his signature boot throw
Malo
Guest
Hooper and Foley to smash the opposition and then get bagged continuously by roarers with no idea.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I wish I knew. His lineout was off against the Jag's but I didn't think it was so off that he should be freight trained straight back out of the squad. I thought he made impact everywhere else in the game - and similar with Vui earlier, he scrummed well and won a couple of collisions which we had been struggling to do against the Stormers. My gut says that Gibson is putting a huge premium on workrate over effectiveness. So Robertson who is very quick to his feet and into the post position is preferred to a player that would strengthen the scrum, carry more strongly and is more effective in the clean out. Further why Miller is now preferred to Holloway. We'll see if the improvements seen through the Rebels, Brumbies and Sunwolves games continue. The pack has hunted much more as a group since that second half against the Rebels. Individual deficiencies are less noticeable with the numbers that are getting to contests.
Fionn
Guest
Is it just an attitudal thing with Latu??
jeznez
Roar Guru
By that argument Vui should never have been dropped after the team beat the Stormers.
Ed
Guest
And the second row are not big brutes - Simmons and Hanigan.
Yep
Guest
There goes any chance for any other Scrumhalf that isn't a Waratah....sigh
cinque
Guest
That ultra-light back row was fine against the Sunwolves but could be in big trouble against the Reds.
cuw
Guest
perhaps hard to change a winning team .
jeznez
Roar Guru
Latu was on the Uni team sheet on the weekend. Vui the same for Southo's. The not fit line isn't ringing true - just need to give these guys a run.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
I was wondering the same thing, I'd take Latu over roach anyday of the week
jeznez
Roar Guru
Still no Latu or Vui? Why no love Gibbo?????
Malo
Guest
Noooooooo
pk
Guest
And thus an automatic pick for the Wallabies Bench.