Kurtley Beale to captain Waratahs against Chiefs
Wallabies full-back Kurtley Beale will captain the Waratahs for the first time when they take on the Chiefs in their Super Rugby clash in Wollogong on Friday.
Waratahs head coach Rob Penney has been forced into several changes to the side that ran out winners over the Lions, namely on account of injury.
Regular skipper Rob Simmons (ankle), Jake Gordon (knee), Mark Nawaqnaitawase (back) and Tom Robertson (back) have all been omitted from the Round Six squad – however, their injures are not considered serious.
Ryan McCauley, Mitch Short and James Ramm all join the starting XV; with Rory O’Connor and three potential debutants in Pat Tafa, Michael McDonald and Siosifa Lisala all joining the bench.
Beale’s elevation to the captaincy means Jack Dempsey has been appointed as the team’s vice-captain.
FOUR more sleeps til' we play at WIN Stadium!
@destinationwollongong #DestinationWollongong @WINSportsEnt @VenuesNSW #VenuesNSW #WINStadium pic.twitter.com/ljNTv6Q8p4
— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) March 1, 2020
Waratahs: 15 Kurtley Beale (c), 14 James Ramm, 13 Alex Newsome, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Jack Maddocks, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Mitch Short, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Tom Staniforth, 4 Ryan McCauley, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Robbie Abel, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Rory O’Connor, 18 Tetera Faulkner, 19 Pat Tafa, 20 Jed Holloway, 21 Michael McDonald, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Siosifa Lisala
Date: Friday, March 6
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Kick-off: 19:15 local (08:15 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jordan Way (Australia), James Quinn (Australia)
TMO: Ian Smith (Australia)