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Waratahs name strong team for historic Champions Final against Blues

The Waratahs celebrate winning the Super Rugby Women's Final match between NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds at North Sydney Oval on April 12, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

NSW Waratahs coach Mike Ruthven has named a familiar lineup ahead of Thursday’s historic Women’s Super Rugby Championship Final at North Harbour Stadium, with Wallaroo Maya Stewart dropping out of the squad as the only change to the side.

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Stewart left the field during last weekend’s Super Rugby Women’s Grand Final against rivals the Queensland Reds, which the Tahs won 43-21. Jade Sheridan comes into the starting side on the right wing, while Amelia Whitaker comes into the 23-player squad.

Sheridan joins Caitlyn Halse and Desir Miller as the outside backs in the run-on side. Miller was especially impressive in the Grand Final triumph over the Reds, with the Wallaroo receiving Player of the Final honours after scoring a decisive runaway try in the 62nd minute.

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Georgina Friedrichs and Katrina Barker are the starting midfield duo once again, while Tatum Bird will link up with Arabella McKenzie in the halves. The forward pack remains unchanged, with Adiana Talakai still unavailable with a shoulder injury.

Britt Merlo will start at hooker once again, with Bridie O’Gorman and Faliki Pohiva in the front row. Kaitlan Leaney and Annabelle Codey are the two locks, while Nicole Nathan, captain Emily Chancellor and Ruby Anderson are the loose forwards.

“It’s a very similar team to the one that played in the Grand Final,” Ruthven said.

“Britt Merlo started at hooker for us in the final, and Jade came on and did an outstanding job when Maya went off with concussion.

“We’re really confident in the 23 that we’re taking over to New Zealand.”

In the first-ever Champions Final between women’s Super Rugby winners, the Tahs will take on a star-studded Blues outfit that includes Black Ferns Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Ruahei Demant, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Katelyn Vahaakolo.

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Demant starred at inside centre in the Super Rugby Aupiki decider but shifts to first five-eighth for the clash with the Waratahs. Black Fern Sylvia Brunt comes into the starting side as the midfield partner for Woodman-Wickliffe, who was named Player of the Final on Saturday.

“That’s why it was important we got back into training straight away,” Ruthven explained.

“It was a chance to reflect on the weekend, but also shift focus quickly to the new challenge ahead.

“These girls are highly ambitious and really self-motivated. They’ll be excited about the opportunity to head over there, compete hard and take on the Blues.”

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The Champions Final at North Harbour Stadium will kick off at 5:05 pm AEST on Thursday.

Related

NSW Waratahs to take on Blues in Champions Final

1. Bridie O’Gorman
2. Britt Merlo
3. Faliki Pohiva
4. Kaitlan Leaney
5. Annabelle Codey
6. Nicole Nathan
7. Emily Chancellor (c)
8. Ruby Anderson
9. Tatum Bird
10. Arabella McKenzie
11. Desiree Miller
12. Katrina Barker
13. Georgina Friedrichs (vc)
14. Jade Sheridan
15. Caitlyn Halse
Replacments
16. Millie Parker
17. Emily Robinson
18. Seneti Kilisimasi
19. Jayjay Taylor
20. Anahera Hamahona
21. Martha Harvey
22. Amelia Whitaker
23. Waiaria Ellis

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Flankly 1 hour ago
Late Makazole Mapimpi try earns the Sharks win away to Edinburgh

Jake White described this as the strongest Sharks lineup ever. There is no doubt that it is at least an impressive roster. They did win, which is obviously an achievement against a good Edinburgh side. However …


For much of the first half Edinburgh seemed easily able to create 2 on 1 opportunities on both wings, with the defensive wingers biting in on the inside runner and cover defence being AWOL. Conversely the Sharks showed little ability to get behind the Edinburgh defensive line, with the sole exception of a nicely-exploited Am mismatch against a second row (which led to the Fassi try).


In general the Sharks, with their full complement of Bok firepower, do not look that dangerous in attack, and while tackling was good on the whole and goal line defence was impressive at times, they were exhibiting surprising breakdowns in open play defensive structures.


Also, the Sharks continue to be inaccurate, with material impact on the scoreboard. Missing two very kickable penalties is not the way to be the best. It looked to me like the Sharks contestable kicks were not well enough executed, and were too hard to recover.


Not sure what the running attack was trying to do, but my guess is that they were trying to pull off a Harlequins-style bash-and-offload game off of 12 (Esterhuizen). That’s not a terrible idea with the personnel available, but it would require creativity and a precision on second phase that was not in evidence.


Lastly, you have to have better discipline. It’s great that the team can cope with a 13 vs 14 period (of almost 10 minutes), but smart teams a avoid cards.


Having said that it was great to see the win. I thought that Edinburgh were cynical and niggly. Always hanging around on the wrong side of the breakdown, lots of intentional obstruction, illegal dummying at the base of the ruck, etc. They played a dirty game and the ref tolerated it. Always good to see that not succeed.


Overall the “best Sharks lineup ever” scraped the win, but under-performed their Bok-laden potential. Again.

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