Same again for Waratahs

Editor

Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has named an unchanged starting XV for Friday's Round Two clash with the Rebels in Melbourne.

Cheika has kept faith with the side that suffered a 25-13 defeat to the Western Force in Sydney in their opener on Sunday with Pat McCutcheon and Peter Betham the only additions to the otherwise unchanged matchday squad to travel south, with the bench to be named closer to the game.

Fly-half Bernard Foley will celebrate his 50th Super Rugby cap this week, while team-mates Adam Ashley-Cooper and Stephen Hoiles will notch their 50th Waratah Super Rugby caps in the same match.

This match also marks the following milestones: Benn Robinson equals Phil Waugh as most capped NSW player ever (136); Tatafu Polota-Nau becomes the third most capped Waratah in Super Rugby (122) and Wycliff Palu equals Chris Whitaker as fifth most capped Waratah in Super Rugby (107).

Waratahs (two to be omitted): 15 Israel Folau, 14 Taqele Naiyaravaro, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Jaques Potgieter, 5 Will Skelton, 4 David Dennis (c), 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Mitchell Chapman, 21 Stephen Hoiles, 22 Brendan McKibbin, 23 Matt Carraro, 24 Pat McCutcheon, 25 Peter Betham.

Date: Friday, February 20
Venue: AAMI Stadium, Melbourne
Kick-off: 19:40 local (08:40 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Referees: James Leckie, Michael Hogan
TMO: Peter Marshall