Vodacom Super Rugby
Waratahs pick rookie halfback
2012-07-03 07:48
Sydney - Waratahs rookies Grayson Hart and Bernard Foley will partner in the
halves in a shock team selection for the Brumbies game this weekend.
Hart, a member of the extended playing squad, has not
played a single minute for the Waratahs this season, nor has he been
included in any game day 22.
But his form at halfback for Southern Districts in the
Shute Shield has convinced Waratahs selectors to start him there this
weekend.
He will partner with Foley at five-eighth against the Brumbies experienced halfback Nic White and playmaker Zack Holmes.
It is a high-risk strategy for coach Michael Foley but
has no impact on the rest of the team's season with two games to go and a
finals campaign out of reach.
Test five-eighth Berrick Barnes will move to inside centre with Rob Horne at 13 and Adam Ashley-Cooper at fullback.
Lachie Turner makes his return from injury on the right wing with Drew Mitchell on the left.
Exeter-bound lock Dean Mumm will start in the second row
with Kane Douglas, while Dave Dennis and Wycliff Palu make up the back
row with open side breakaway Chris Alcock.
The Wallabies front row of Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Sekope Kepu stays intact.
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Rob Horne,
12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Grayson Hart, 8 Wycliff
Palu, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Sekope Kepu,
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson
Substitutes: 16 Josh Mann-Rae, 17 Paddy Ryan,
18 Sitaleki Timani, 19 Lopeti Timani, 20 Brendan McKibbin, 21 Tom Carter, 22 Tom
Kingston
Brumbies:
TBA