The Waratahs have named a much-changed starting XV for their Super Rugby opener against the Stormers in Sydney on Saturday.
The team features new faces in Wallabies wing Curtis Rona and centre Lalakai Foketi, while ex-Brumby Tom Staniforth and former Reds player Rob Simmons will form an all-new lock combination.
The XV also sees the return of centre Kurtley Beale, who will partner Wallabies flyhalf Bernard Foley in the 10-12 combination.
Ex-Force trio Shambeckler Vui, Mitchell Short and Alex Newsome will begin their Waratahs careers on the bench, while loosehead prop Harry Johnson-Holmes and lock Nick Palmer will also make their Super Rugby debuts as substitutes.
Waratahs – 15 Israel Folau, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Curtis Rona, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Tom Staniforth, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Tom Robertson.
Subs: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Shambeckler Vui, 19 Nick Palmer, 20 Jed Holloway, 21 Mitch Short, 22 Bryce Hegarty, 23 Alex Newsome.
Photo: Jooseph Matinson/Getty Images
