The Waratahs have made four changes to their starting lineup for the clash against the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.
Three of those changes come among the forwards, as Ned Hanigan, more accustomed to flank or lock, will start in the unfamiliar No 8 jersey.
The Waratahs are without the suspended Jed Holloway and injured trio Jack Dempsey, Tolu Latu and Rory O’Connor, while Israel Folau remains out of the picture ahead of Saturday’s code of conduct hearing.
Lachlan Swinton replaces Dempsey at flank, while Tom Staniforth takes Holloway’s place in the second row.
In the only change to the backline, scrumhalf Nick Phipps rotates with Jake Gordon, who drops to the bench.
Waratahs – 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Cam Clark, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Curtis Rona, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Ned Hanigan, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Tom Staniforth, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes.
Subs: 16 Andrew Tuala, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Chris Talakai, 19 Hugh Sinclair, 20 Will Miller, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Alex Newsome.
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
