Waratahs Super rugby head coach Rob Penney has named his team to play the Western Force on the Gold Coast this Friday in Round 7 of Super Rugby AU.
Rob Simmons will return from injury after being a late scratching from his side’s convincing last-start victory over the Reds.
The returning skipper will partner Tom Staniforth in the second row, with Ned Hanigan shifting to the reserves.
Tetera Faulkner earns his first start for the Waratahs in Super Rugby AU, while Robbe Abel returns to the bench after being unavailable for personal reasons.
It’s an unchanged starting backline for Rob Penney, with Mich Short, Ben Donaldson and Joey Walton all on the bench.
NSW Waratahs
Jack Maddocks, James Ramm, Lalakai Foketi, Karmichael Hunt, Alex Newsome, Will Harrison, Jake Gordon, Jack Dempsey, Michael Hooper, Lachie Swinton, Rob Simmons (c), Tom Staniforth, Te Tetera Faulkner, Tom Horton, Tom Robertson.
Replacements: Robbie Abel, Angus Bell, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Ned Hanigan, Hugh Sinclair, Mitch Short, Ben Donaldson, Joey Walton