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Mark Nawaqanitawase dropped as Waratahs look to beat Crusaders again

Mark Nawaqanitawase of the Waratahs looks on during the round 15 Super Rugby Pacific match between NSW Waratahs and Moana Pasifika at Allianz Stadium on June 03, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Wallabies wing Mark Nawaqanitawase has been dropped for the Waratahs’ upcoming clash with the Crusaders in Sydney, with Randwick’s Triston Reilly getting the nod in the No. 14 jumper.

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Reilly, 25, has scored one try in four appearances for the Waratahs this season. The winger’s one five-pointer came in the round two 37-24 win over the Crusaders in Melbourne.

The Waratahs, who are currently sit third-last with a 1-6 record after seven rounds, will be desperate to repeat their earlier season heroics when they take the field at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Friday.

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“Triston deserves his chance. We all saw what he did against the Crusaders last time,” head coach Darren Coleman said.

“He missed out for a couple of weeks there, but he took it in the right way. He went back and worked hard on his game, stayed positive and played really well for Randwick on the weekend in the Shute Shield.

“His effort areas like kick-chase and defence are really strong and I’m looking forward to what he can provide us this weekend.

“It’s been a big headache in our backline but a good headache to have. This week we have all of our contracted backs available which is unheard of. As a result, we’ve got some good players missing out.”

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In another big change for the Tahs, the New South Welshman have welcomed Wallaby Ned Hanigan back into their starting side. Hanigan is back in the mix after recovering from a knee injury.

Hanigan joins fellow Australia international Jed Holloway in the second-row, while Fergus Lee-Warner drops out of the starting side and onto the bench.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins
3
Draws
0
Wins
2
Average Points scored
30
36
First try wins
40%
Home team wins
60%

“It’s great to have Ned back,” Coleman explained. “He was one of our better performers prior to his knee issue.

“You just get wholehearted energy from Ned. He’s such a good all-rounder. He’s got a good carry, good in the ruck, and sharp in the lineout. He really cares about the team, so we’re excited to have Ned back.

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“Langi is also another welcome addition to the side this week and has proven how valuable he can be in Super Rugby and at international level.”

Looking to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their 2014 championship win over the Crusaders in style, the Waratahs have named a strong side to take on the on the 1-5 Crusaders.

Hayden Thompson-Stringer, Julian Heaven and Harry Johnson-Holmes will pack down in the front-row, while Holloway and Hanigan round out the tight five.

In what could be the Waratahs’ strongest positional group, coach Coleman has picked Lachlan Swinton, Charlie Gamble and Langi Gleeson in the loose forwards.

Captain Jake Gordon joins Tane Edmed in the halves once again, while Wallabies duo Lalakai Foketi and Izaia Perese will link up in the halves – just as they did during last year’s Rugby World Cup.

Joining Triton Reilly in the outside backs is 2023 Wallabies squad member Dylan Pietsch and fullback Max Jorgensen.

This Trans-Tasman blockbuster at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium is scheduled to get underway at :35 pm EST on Friday evening.

NSW Waratahs to take on Crusaders

  1. Hayden Thompson-Stringer
  2. Julian Heaven
  3. Harry Johnson-Holmes
  4. Jed Holloway
  5. Ned Hanigan
  6. Lachlan Swinton
  7. Charlie Gamble
  8. Langi Gleeson
  9. Jake Gordon (c)
  10. Tane Edmed
  11. Dylan Pietsch
  12. Lalakai Foketi
  13. Izaia Perese
  14. Triston Reilly
  15. Max Jorgensen

Replacements

  1. Theo Fourie
  2. Lewis Ponini*
  3. Tom Ross
  4. Miles Amatosero
  5. Hugh Sinclair
  6. Jack Grant
  7. Will Harrison
  8. Joey Walton

*Denotes potential Super Rugby Pacific debut

Unavailable David Porecki (Achilles), Thomas Lambert (knee), Archer Holz (shoulder), Mesu Kunavula (knee), Ned Slack-Smith (concussion), Daniel Botha (Achilles), Mahe Vailanu (knee), Angus Bell (toe)

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J
JW 26 minutes ago
'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Well a) poor French results doesn’t seem to effect the situation much. In fact one of the reasons given for this selection policy is that the French don’t tune in for foreign rugby content on the other side of the world, at a time when theyre not having their vino. So who would know the results? And b) this is the crux of the matter, they are legally abided to play them as part of WRs tier 1 reciprocal tours programme. The only real choice for the SH team is to treat it the same, which is fine when teams are happy to do that, but the AB’s have a totally anthesis policy/mentality so would never use the games in the same way.


So alligned with b) the only real option is to complain to those in control. I suspect that’s why weve seen France reneging on the practice, and you can only be left to think that if they hadn’t reneged, WR would have done something more drastic about it. Which of course would mean not just telling them to bugger off when they want to tour, it’s no one playing them (from t1 at least) at all (assuming they have no interest in scheduling match’s outside the windows, like Ireland and NZ are doing).


Then of course that means no involvement of France in the Nations Championship. Which means they are automatically the last ranked team in 6N to qualify, so the actual worst team in 6N gets to compete in it, making a mockery of the promotion and relegation WR wanted to happen between T1 and T2 for qualifying purposes. Yup, b) is just something nobody wants to happen. Well done FFR and LNR for making the tour work instead (how well is yet to be seen).

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