Taqele Naiyaravoro handed Waratahs start

Canberra - Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has named his side to face the Brumbies in their Round 7 Super Rugby clash at GIO Stadium in Canberra on Saturday. 

Kick-off is at 10:45 SA time.

Taqele Naiyaravoro headlines the changes in the backline, shifting to the starting position on the wing with Jake Gordon welcomed back into the fold after completing his return to play protocol. 

Gibson said: “We have named a relatively unchanged forward pack. 

“There are a couple of changes to the backline including Jake Gordon who has returned to full fitness after obtaining a head knock.

Taqele Naiyaravoro has been rewarded with more time and on Saturday after an excellent performance against the Rebels in round five. 

"This means that Lalakai Foketi will drop to the bench and Curtis Rona will start at centre.” 

The two interstate rivals will battle it out for the Dan Vickerman Cup, an opportunity that Gibson says the team can leverage their season on. 

"For the Australian derbies, the conference is incredibly tight," he added. "It makes every away game an opportunity to get points as it looks like every team is strong at home. 

“Australian derbies are competitive and fierce and I see this one being no different. 

“We’ve had a bye and so have the Brumbies, and it’s a time where you reflect on where you are at and where you can improve.”

Teams:

Brumbies

15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Lausii Taliauli, 10 Wharenui Hawera, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 David Pocock, 6 Lachlan McCaffrey, 5 Blake Enever, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio

Substitutes: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Faalelei Sione, 18 Mees Erasmus, 19 Richie Arnold, 20 Tom Cusack, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Kyle Godwin, 23 Tom Banks

Waratahs

15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Israel Folau, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Jed Holloway, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Michael Wells, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Tom Robertson

Substitutes: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Will Miller, 21 Mitchell Short, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Alex Newsome