Ned Hanigan hits 50 for Waratahs

David Skippers
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Waratahs head coach Rob Penney has named a strong matchday 23 for their Super Rugby AU encounter with the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday.

Penney has gone with the same squad that ran out winners in Round Seven over the Western Force, albeit making some changes to his starting side.

Ned Hanigan – who will earn his 50th cap for the Waratahs – returns to partner Rob Simmons at lock, who has recovered from a stiff neck that saw him leave the field early in the second half on the Gold Coast.

Harry Johnson-Holmes also makes his way back to the starting side to reunite the all Sydney University front-row alongside Tom Roberson and Tom Horton.

Joey Walton makes his way back into the starting XV at centre with Lalakai Foketi also coming into the side as a late replacement for the injured Karmichael Hunt.

The Waratahs back-row of Michael Hooper, Lachlan Swinton and Jack Dempsey will continue at the back of the scrum after a string of strong performances on and off the ball in recent weeks.

Waratahs: 15 Jack Maddocks, 14 James Ramm, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Alex Newsome, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Rob Simmons (c), 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Angus Bell, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Hugh Sinclair, 21 Mitch Short, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Nick Malouf

Date: Saturday, August 22
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 19:15 (10:15 BST, 09:15 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Graham Cooper, Reuben Keane
TMO: Ian Smith

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