Ex-Reds lock to start against old club as Waratahs make six changes

Former Queensland Reds lock Angus Blyth will start a Super Rugby match in Cambridge Blue for the first time this weekend, named in the NSW Waratahs run-on side to take on his former team at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

Coach Dan McKellar has made six changes to the First XV, with playmaker Jack Debreczeni and highly-rated prospect Sid Harvey also earning maiden starts. Triston Reilly also shifts from the wing to outside centre to replace the injured Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

Brisbane-born hooker Ethna Dobbins will pack down alongside Tom Lambert and Daniel Botha in the front row, while captain Matt Philip and Blyth round out the tight five. Clem Halaholo joins Charlie Gamble and Pete Samu in the loose forwards.

Former Waratahs captain Jake Gordon partners Debreczeni in the halves, while Joey Walton and Reilly make up a new-look midfield pairing. Harvey starts on the left wing, with in-form flyer Max Jorgensen on the right and James Hendren at fullback.

Isaac Kailea, Miles Amatosero and former Reds playmaker Lawson Creighton are among those looking to make their mark off the pine. Wallabies winger Harry Potter has been selected to come off the pine as well.

“The Reds have certainly improved and we understand that when they were in Sydney a few weeks ago, they were down a couple of players,” McKellar said.

“They’ll be a far greater challenge at Suncorp at the weekend and we know that we need to be significantly better than we were at home last week.

“Triston (Reilly) was always an option to be back-up 13. He’s a very, very good defender for us and his execution is excellent. Triston is a good bloke and a really popular member of the team. He just does his role and those players are so important.

“Sid was probably one of the shining lights from last Friday. He’s just got this air of class about him, Sid, both as a footballer and as a human being. He’s got time, he’s very composed and doesn’t get rattled.”

The Waratahs started their Super Rugby Pacific season with a round-one win over the Reds in Sydney, with Jorgensen standing out with a Player of the Match performance. New South Wales backed up that performance with a win over the Fijian Drua the following week.

But the Tahs are currently looking to return to winning ways, having fallen to the Hurricanes at Allianz Stadium in round four. This derby with the Reds will get underway at 7:35 pm AEDT on Saturday evening.

NSW Waratahs to take on Queensland Reds

1. Tom Lambert
2. Ethan Dobbins
3. Daniel Botha
4. Matt Philip ©
5. Angus Blyth
6. Clem Halaholo
7. Charlie Gamble
8. Pete Samu
9. Jake Gordon
10. Jack Debreczeni
11. Sid Harvey
12. Joey Walton
13. Triston Reilly
14. Max Jorgensen
15. James Hendren

Replacements:

16. Ioane Moananu

17. Isaac Kailea

18. Siosifa Amone

19. Miles Amatosero

20. Leafi Talataina

21. Teddy Wilson

22. Lawson Creighton

23. Harry Potter

Injury list:

• Eamon Doyle – ankle injury
• Austin Durbidge – appendicitis
• Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii – hamstring