Waratahs welcome captain Emily Chancellor back for Reds showdown

The NSW Waratahs have welcomed back skipper Emily Chancellor for a crucial Super Rugby Women’s derby with the Queensland Reds in Sydney, with the flanker returning home this week after representing the Women’s Barbarians.

Chancellor captained the invitational side against Wals at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, with Queensland Reds playmaker Lori Cramer and New Zealand rugby great Ruby Tui among the others named in the starting side.

The saw Chancellor miss the Waratahs’ last match, which was a defeat to the Western Force. That result has seen the Tahs enter the final regular season round in second place on the ladder, with the Fijian Drua in top spot.

Coach Michael Ruthven has made four changes to the First XV, with Wallaroos prop Bridie O’Gorman a notable inclusion up front. Backrower Ruby Anderson and scrum-half Martha Harvy have also earned promotions to the run-on side.

“We have made some adjustments to our line-up this week to ensure we have some real punch and physicality in the second half,” Ruthven said.

“We are really excited to have Caitlyn Halse back available this week. She showed her ability to influence a game in the first half against the Fijian Drua in Round 1. Em Chancellor also comes back into the starting team this week and we welcome her experience and leadership.

“Martha Harvey earns an opportunity to start at nine this week. Martha has been working really hard around her craft and we are excited for her to get this opportunity.”

This will be O’Gorman’s 38^th Super Rugby Women’s appearance, with the tighthead named in an all-Wallaroos front-row. Loosehead prop Brianna Hoy and hooker Brittany Merlo have been selected as well.

Leilani Nathan and Tahs vice-captain Kaitlan Leaney are the two locks, while Andrson and captain Chancellor take their place on the sides of the scrum. Wallaroos star Piper Duck rounds out the starting pack as the No. 8.

Harvey partners fly-half Pleuni Kievit are the halves pairing, while Rosie Ferguson joins Georgina Friedrichs in the centres. Desiree Miller and Amelia Whitaker line up on the wins, with Wallaroo Waiaria Ellis will wear the No. 15 jersey.

This find-round Super Rugby Women’s derby will be held at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon, kicking off at 4:05 pm.

NSW Waratahs to take on Queensland Reds

1. Brianna Hoy
2. Brittany Merlo
3. Bridie O’Gorman
4. Leilani Nathan
5. Kaitlan Leaney (vc)
6. Ruby Anderson
7. Emily Chancellor ©
8. Piper Duck
9. Martha Harvey
10. Pleuni Kievit
11. Desiree Miller (vc)
12. Rosie Ferguson
13. Georgina Friedrichs
14. Amelia Whitaker
15. Waiaria Ellis

Replacements:

16. Nancy Volkman

17. Emily Robinson

18. Faliki Pohiva

19. Grace Gillies

20. Nicole Nathan

21. Taj Heald

22. Edie Burke

23. Caitlyn Halse