Wallaby winger Drew Mitchell has been recalled to the Waratahs starting line-up to face the Blues in Sydney on Sunday.
Dumped for last week's loss to the Cheetahs, Mitchell was reinstated on Friday while coach Michael Cheika opted to retain impressive newcomer Peter Betham on the other wing, dropping Lachie Turner from the match squad.
In the only other change to the starting XV, Rob Horne will start at inside centre in place of injured playmaker Berrick Barnes who dislocated his thumb in last Friday's game against the Cheetahs.
On to the bench for the big afternoon clash come Wallaby prop Sekope Kepu who replaces Jeremy Tilse, Jed Holloway in for Lopeti Timani and Tom Kingston, who takes Horne's place.
Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Peter Betham, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Rob Horne, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Pat McCutcheon, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis (capt), 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 John Ulugia, 1 Benn Robinson. Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Mitchell Chapman, 19 Jed Holloway, 20 Matt Lucas, 21 Ben Volavola, 22 Tom Kingston.
Date: Sunday March 24
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 16.05 (18.05 NZT, 05:05 GMT)
Referee: Francisco Pastrana (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Will Houston (Australia)
Television match official: Peter Marshall (Australia)
Comments
murph says...
Next year Wallaroo. Next year. Hahahahah
Posted 13:43 22nd March 2013
murph says...
A Wallabies cap will be in the post then...
Posted 13:09 22nd March 2013
Wallaroo says...
As shocking as the start has been this year I believe Cheika is a better coach than Foley and we still stand a chance of coming right under his leadership, however the work to be done is going to take a while so we may only see the fruits in 2014.
Posted 12:10 22nd March 2013