Cape Town - Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson has made two changes to his starting XV ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby clash with the Crusaders in Christchurch (kick-off 07:15 SA time).
While the forward pack remains untouched after last weekend's defeat to the Blues, the backline will welcome 112 caps of Super Rugby experience in scrumhalf Nick Phipps, whose return to the fold means Jake Gordon will make his impact from the bench.
Phipps returns to the starting XV following a controversial incident which saw him being fined for urinating on a pub bar.
Gibson said he will look to give each scrumhalf opportunities throughout the next few weeks of competition.
"They’ve got lovely contrasting styles and I think that Nick’s strengths for this game are really important in the way he does speed up the game up with his fitness, and that strength will be an important factor going into this game," he explained.
"We decided a couple of games ago how we are going to take our two halfbacks through this New Zealand period. I want to give both of them the opportunity to be at their best and put in a performance for the Waratahs which could then put them in line for higher honours."
The inclusion of Curtis Rona into outside centre means Lalakai Foketi moves to the bench.
Young prop Shambeckler Vui is in line to make his second appearance in the sky blue, coming in for Waratahs stalwart Paddy Ryan in the number 18 jersey.
Teams:
Crusaders
15 George Bridge, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Pete Samu, 5 Sam Whitelock (captain), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Substitutes: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Donald Brighouse, 19 Mitchell Dunshea, 20 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Braydon Ennor
Waratahs
15 Israel Folau, 14 Cam Clark, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Will Miller, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, Tom Robertson
Substitutes: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Shambeckler Vui, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Jed Holloway, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Bryce Hegarty