Super Rugby Pacific: Jamie Roberts to make Waratahs debut off the replacements bench

The Waratahs have named their team to face the Fijian Drua in the opening match of the Super Rugby Pacific competition on Friday, with former Wales centre Jamie Roberts set to make his competitive debut off the replacements bench.

The Sydneysiders’ head coach, Darren Coleman, has also named two other debutants in his matchday 23, with Geoff Cridge (lock) and Dylan Pietsch (wing) named in the starting line-up.

Settled side

There is just one change to the starting XV that impressed in the warm-up match against the Reds in Roma last weekend, with Dave Porecki joining Angus Bell and Harry Johnson-Holmes in the front-row and Tom Horton moving to the bench.

Off-season recruits Cridge and Jed Holloway start in the second-row while Lachlan Swinton, Charlie Gamble and Will Harris form an abrasive back-row.

Jake Gordon skippers the Waratahs once again in 2022 and joins the impressive Ben Donaldson in the halves.

Izaia Perese and Lalakai Foketi, fresh off a breakthrough 2021 campaign which earned Wallabies honours, line up in the midfield.

James Turner earns his spot on the left wing after impressing in the pre-season, while Alex Newsome will get the first crack at full-back.

Former Australia Sevens star Pietsch lines up on the right wing, fulfilling his dream of playing Super Rugby.

“It’s pretty surreal, I tried to hold back my tears during the team meeting but didn’t really do a good job of it because I’ve wanted to play Super Rugby since I started at Leeton Phantoms when I was four,” Pietsch told the Waratahs’ official website.

“Playing Sevens was incredible, but this is something I’ve always dreamed of doing and it’s weird that I’m achieving it because not many people in my family get to do what they want in their life.”

Welsh international Roberts will add plenty of experience off the bench and is in line to play for his second Super Rugby side after playing for the Stormers in 2020.

Waratahs: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Dylan Pietsch, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 James Turner, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Jake Gordon (c), 8 Will Harris, 7 Charles Gamble, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Geoff Cridge, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Davie Porecki, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Te Tera Faulkner, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Hugh Sinclair, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Jamie Roberts

Date: Friday, February 18
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 19:45 local (08:45 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Reuben Keane (Australia), Matt Kellahan (Australia)
TMO: TBC

READ MORE: Super Rugby Pacific: Five storylines to watch in 2022 including the progress of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck