Waratahs team v British & Irish Lions: Tongan Thor part of strong Wallabies presence for tour clash
Waratahs front-row Taniela Tupou and head coach Dan McKellar.
Wallabies stars Taniela Tupou and Andrew Kellaway have been named in the Waratahs’ starting line-up for their clash against the British & Irish Lions in Sydney on Saturday.
Tupou and Kellaway were released from Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt’s squad for the eagerly anticipated encounter with the famous touring team and are amongst seven Australian internationals included in the Waratahs’ matchday 23.
The other Wallabies in Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar‘s squad are Lalakai Foketi, Darby Lancaster, Rob Leota, Matt Philip and Tane Edmed.
Kellaway has been named to start on the right wing in an exciting back three alongside Lawson Creighton and Lancaster, who will line up at full-back and on the left wing respectively.
Meanwhile, Foketi will form a midfield combination with Joey Walton with Jack Bowen and Teddy Wilson getting the nod as the starting half-backs.
Hugh Sinclair named as captain
In the forwards, veteran loose forward Hugh Sinclair has been named as the side’s captain and will start at number eight while Charlie Gamble and Leota join him in the back-row as the two flankers.
Miles Amatosero and Fergus Lee-Warner have been selected to start in the second-row while Ethan Dobbins will pack down in the front-row at hooker alongside Tupou and Tom Lambert, who are the starting props.
McKellar has opted for a traditional five/three split on his replacements bench with Mahe Vailanu, Jack Barrett, Daniel Botha, Philip and Jamie Adamson serving as back-up for the forwards, while Jack Grant, Edmed and Henry O’Donnell will cover for the starting backs.
Saturday’s clash with the Lions will be a special occasion for long-serving back-rower Sinclair as he will lead the Waratahs out in what will be the last game of his professional rugby career.
McKellar acknowledged the unique weight of this week’s team selection.
“It’s a big game. Everyone wants to play in it. Like every week, the boys all want to be involved,” he told reporters after a Waratahs training session on Thursday.
“There have been some tough decisions, as always; but we are comfortable with the 23 that we have got.”
The return of current Wallabies squad members Tupou and Kellaway has bolstered the Waratahs line-up.
The experienced duo were released back to the Waratahs by the Wallabies this week, giving McKellar valuable experience to call on.
“Nela at scrum time and Kells’ experience on both sides of the ball. It’s invaluable,” he said.
When asked what he expects of Tupou, McKellar said: “To go out there in set piece first and foremost, back that up with physicality and [show] the ability to repeat it.
“They are the three things I talk to tight forwards about every day.
“I want him to be really around good at scrum, lineout, maul and then impose himself on the game as we know he can do with ball in hand and without it.”
Waratahs team to face the British & Irish Lions
Waratahs: 15 Lawson Creighton, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Jack Bowen, 9 Teddy Wilson, 8 Hugh Sinclair (c), 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Fergus Lee-Warner, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Tom Lambert
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Jack Barrett, 18 Daniel Botha, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Henry O’Donnell
Date: Saturday, July 5
Venue: Allianz Stadium Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 20:00 local (11:00 BST, 10:00 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
