The Waratahs will host the Brumbies in a trail match in Bowral, New South Wales, this Saturday.
NSW Waratahs Head Coach Dan McKellar has named Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii among thirteen Wallabies in a twenty-seven-strong team to play the ACT Brumbies on Saturday in their last trial match at Eridge Park in Bowral.
Ten of the starting XV selected by McKellar are Wallabies, and seven of them have returned from Wallabies Spring tour duties, including Suaalii who has been named as fullback for what will be his NSW Waratahs debut.
The Wallabies in the starting side with Suaalii are prop Angus Bell, hooker David Porecki, flanker Rob Leota, number eight Langi Gleeson, scrumhalf and captain Jake Gordon, flyhalf Tane Edmed, wingers Max Jorgensen and Andrew Kellaway and outside centre Lalakai Foketi.
The three Wallabies who were named to play from the bench are props Isaac Kailea and Taniela Tupou and winger Darby Lancaster.
As strong as the team is on paper, McKellar said Saturday’s trial is again focused on providing as many of his squad as possible with game time before picking his first side for Super Rugby Pacific 2025 that starts on 14 February.
For Round 1 of Super Rugby Pacific, the NSW Waratahs will host the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium in Moore Park, Sydney on Friday, 14 February.
“The trial games are an opportunity to give people game time across the board,” McKellar said.
“There's a lot, lot of players here who have worked incredibly hard over recent months. They got a good opportunity last week against NSW Pasifica.
“Then there's the players who have returned [from Wallabies commitments] over the last few weeks. They'll get an opportunity this week.
“And that's what it comes down to … a chance for everyone to put their best foot forward for selection for 14 February.
“That's the approach we have for these two trial games, as well as considering training performance.
“Myself and the [assistant] coaches will then have a discussion about what we think is the best twenty-three to start the season.”
On Suaalii, for whom Saturday will mark his NSW Waratahs debut, McKellar said: “There's so much training you can do, but now it is about him putting into practice in a match situation what he's worked hard on ... building cohesion.
“Thankfully, he was involved in the Wallabies tour and a number of the other players around him were too … your Jake Gordons, Kellaways, Jorgensens … these players. You know he's familiar with them now, and he's quickly building a nice combination with guys like Lalakai [Foketi] and Joe Walton as well. “
The NSW Waratahs team to play ACT Brumbies is:
1. Loosehead Prop Angus Bell
2. Hooker David Porecki
3. Tighthead Prop Daniel Botha
4. Left Lock Ben Grant
5. Right Lock Miles Amatosero
6. Left Flanker Rob Leota
7. Right Flanker Charlie Gamble
8. Number Eight Langi Gleeson
9. Scrumhalf Jake Gordon ©
10. Flyhalf Tane Edmed
11. Left Wing Max Jorgensen
12. Inside Centre Joey Walton
13. Outside Centre Lalakai Foketi
14. Right Wing Andrew Kellaway
15. Fullback Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
16. Reserve Julian Heavan
17. Reserve Isaac Kailea
18. Reserve Felix Kalapu
19. Reserve Hugh Sinclair
20. Reserve Jamie Adamson
21. Reserve Triston Reilly
22. Reserve Lawson Creighton
23. Reserve Darby Lancaster
24. Reserve Jack Grant
25. Reserve Henry O’Donnell
26. Reserve Leafi Talataina
27. Reserve Archie Saunders
28. Reserve Taniela Tupou
The ACT Brumbies have unveiled their 31-man squad to take on the New South Wales Waratahs.
All professionally contracted players named will feature for at least a third of the match, as head coach Stephen Larkham assesses his squad ahead of the new season.
Six incoming players to this year’s Super Rugby Pacific squad are set to pull on the Brumbies jersey for the first time, including new signings Feao Fotuaika, Tuaina Taii-Tualima and David Feliuai in the starting lineup.
Lachlan Lonergan, Rhys Van Nek, Luke Reimer, Rory Scott, Ryan Lonergan, Ollie Sapsford and Corey Toole, who all toured England with Australia A in November, take their place in the squad. While Billy Pollard and Tom Hooper will also feature after being involved in the Wallabies Spring Tour to the UK. Hooper could line up alongside his brother, Lachlan, professionally for the first time in his career, as the latter makes the step up to the senior setup.
Head coach Larkham anticipates a tough test against the Waratahs as he gauges his squad ahead of Super Rugby Pacific.
“We’re really looking forward to this weekend’s fixture against the Waratahs and to get going in 2025,” Larkham said.
“It’s been a long and hard pre-season for us, but the boys have applied themselves well throughout. To finally have a match on the horizon is exciting and to add to the sense of occasion, it’s against our oldest and biggest rivals.
“This is the Waratahs final match ahead of the new season, so we know they will have a strong side out. Even though it is a Trial, and we’ll be trying different combinations on the field, we are treating it as an important game. We feel as though we have prepared as thoroughly as possible.”
Following this weekend’s fixture, the Brumbies have one more Trial match against the Western Force at Marist College next Friday (KO 2.00pm) before their first Super Rugby Pacific fixture in Suva against the Fijian Drua on Saturday 15th February.
Starting XV
Blake Schoupp
Liam Bowron
Feao Fotuaika
Lachlan Shaw
Cadeyrn Neville
Tuaina Taii-Tualima
Luke Reimer
Rory Scott
Harrison Goddard
Declan Meredith
Ben O’Donnell
David Feliuai
Hudson Creighton
Ollie Sapsford
Andy Muirhead
Replacements:
Lington Ieli
Billy Pollard
Lachlan Lonergan
Timma Fainga’anuku
Rhys van Nek
Tom Hooper
Lachlan Hooper
Jake Condon
Judah Saumaisue
Klayton Thorn
Ryan Lonergan
Jack Debreczeni
Corey Toole
Austin Anderson
Kadin Pritchard
Shane Wilcox
