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Cape Town - Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has heaped praise on the Lions scrum ahead of their Super Rugby clash in Sydney on Sunday.
“The Lions have been excellent in the scrum. They've pretty much dominated nearly every opposition that they've come up against, or they've had a really good contest with them, and it's going to be a big battle for our forwards out there,” Cheika told the Waratahs' official website.
Expecting a massive forward onslaught from the Lions, Cheika included the biggest player in the Waratahs squad, Will Skelton, to start.
The 21-year-old tips the scales at close to 140kg and will bring some added weight to the Waratahs pack.
Cheika has also named five forwards on the bench, making his intentions clear of what he expects from the Lions.
The 'Tahs will chase a ninth straight win over the Lions, but the coach warned it won’t be easy after the Lions came within a point of beating the Highlanders in Dunedin last week.
The Lions were 23-0 down at half-time, but fought back in the second period and had a chance to win the game at the death. However, replacement flyhalf Elton Jantjies missed a conversion from the corner as the Lions lost 23-22.
“They were unlucky not to get the points in Dunedin and their second half was full of running,” said Cheika.
Kick-off for Sunday's game is scheduled for 08:05 (SA time) on Sunday.
Teams:
Waratahs:
15 Israel Folau, 14. Matt Carraro, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12. Kurtley Beale, 11. Rob Horne, 10. Bernard Foley, 9. Nick Phipps, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Michael Hooper, 6. Dave Dennis, 5.Kane Douglas, 4.Will Skelton, 3. Paddy Ryan, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson
Substitutes (from): 16. Hugh Roach, 17. Jeremy Tilse, 18. Sekope Kepu, 19. Jacques Potgieter, 20. Stephen Hoiles, 21. Brendan McKibbin, 22. Alofa Alofa, 23. Taqele Naiyaravoro
Lions:
15. Courtnall Skosan, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Stefan Watermeyer, 11. JW Jonker, 10. Marnitz Boshoff, 9. Faf de Klerk, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Derick Minnie, 6. Jaco Kriel, 5. Martin Muller, 4. MB Lusaseni, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Robbie Coetzee, 1. Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16. Armand van der Merwe, 17. Corné Fourie, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. Rudi Mathee, 20. Warwick Tecklenburg, 21. Ross Cronjé, 22. Elton Jantjies, 23. Chrysander Botha
“The Lions have been excellent in the scrum. They've pretty much dominated nearly every opposition that they've come up against, or they've had a really good contest with them, and it's going to be a big battle for our forwards out there,” Cheika told the Waratahs' official website.
Expecting a massive forward onslaught from the Lions, Cheika included the biggest player in the Waratahs squad, Will Skelton, to start.
The 21-year-old tips the scales at close to 140kg and will bring some added weight to the Waratahs pack.
Cheika has also named five forwards on the bench, making his intentions clear of what he expects from the Lions.
The 'Tahs will chase a ninth straight win over the Lions, but the coach warned it won’t be easy after the Lions came within a point of beating the Highlanders in Dunedin last week.
The Lions were 23-0 down at half-time, but fought back in the second period and had a chance to win the game at the death. However, replacement flyhalf Elton Jantjies missed a conversion from the corner as the Lions lost 23-22.
“They were unlucky not to get the points in Dunedin and their second half was full of running,” said Cheika.
Kick-off for Sunday's game is scheduled for 08:05 (SA time) on Sunday.
Teams:
Waratahs:
15 Israel Folau, 14. Matt Carraro, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12. Kurtley Beale, 11. Rob Horne, 10. Bernard Foley, 9. Nick Phipps, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Michael Hooper, 6. Dave Dennis, 5.Kane Douglas, 4.Will Skelton, 3. Paddy Ryan, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson
Substitutes (from): 16. Hugh Roach, 17. Jeremy Tilse, 18. Sekope Kepu, 19. Jacques Potgieter, 20. Stephen Hoiles, 21. Brendan McKibbin, 22. Alofa Alofa, 23. Taqele Naiyaravoro
Lions:
15. Courtnall Skosan, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Stefan Watermeyer, 11. JW Jonker, 10. Marnitz Boshoff, 9. Faf de Klerk, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Derick Minnie, 6. Jaco Kriel, 5. Martin Muller, 4. MB Lusaseni, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Robbie Coetzee, 1. Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16. Armand van der Merwe, 17. Corné Fourie, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. Rudi Mathee, 20. Warwick Tecklenburg, 21. Ross Cronjé, 22. Elton Jantjies, 23. Chrysander Botha
