Lalakai Foketi will replace Adam Ashley-Cooper in one of three changes to the Waratahs’ starting lineup to face the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Two of the changes come to the backline, as Ashley-Cooper has been benched, with Foketi taking his place in the midfield.

In a rotational swap, Alex Newsome comes in on the right wing in place of Cam Clark.

The only change to the forwards sees fit-again Michael Wells play at No 8, causing Ned Hanigan to shift to No 6, and Lachlan Swinton to drop out of the match-day squad entirely.

Waratahs – 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Alex Newsome, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Curtis Rona, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Tom Staniforth, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes.
Subs: 16 Andrew Tuala, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Chris Talakai, 19 Hugh Sinclair, 20 Will Miller, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 23 Cam Clark.

Vodacom Super Rugby teams (Round 13)

Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix