Rookie flanker to start for Waratahs

Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has made two changes to his starting line-up for Saturday's Super Rugby match against the Sunwolves in Tokyo.

Will Miller comes in on the blindside flank ahead of Michael Wells, who moves to number eight in place of Jed Holloway while in the backline, Alex Newsome, gets a start on the right wing in place of the injured Israel Folau.

With Newsome’s call-up to the starting XV, Cameron Clark makes his return to the Waratahs team on the replacemnets bench.

Gibson said of the changes: “Will’s selection gives us the opportunity to play two genuine fetchers because we expect the game to be played at a high intensity. He has been an excellent Shute Shield player and we believe that working in tandem with (Michael) Hooper will offer us something different.

“I have been pleased with Alex’s progress. He has an outstanding attitude and this is an opportunity for him.”

Waratahs: 15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Alex Newsome, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Will Miller, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Tom Robertson 
Replacements: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Jed Holloway, 21 Mitchell Short, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Cameron Clark

Date: Saturday, April 7
Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo
Kick-off: 14:15 local (05:15 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Shuhei Kubol (Japan), Tasuku Kawahara (Japan)
Television match official: Minoru Fuji (Japan)