Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Incumbent Wallabies star Andrew Kellaway has been omitted from the Waratahs team for the Super Rugby Pacific season opener on Friday night, with an uncapped rookie preferred at fullback to meet Queensland at Allianz Stadium.
The selection of Randwick flyer James Hendren over Kellaway in the No.15 is one of several noteworthy calls by Waratahs coach Dan McKellar, who also wasted no time in bringing back Miles Amatosero to the starting side, despite having been exiled from the team for two weeks following his fight with Angus Scott-Young.
Captain Matt Philip will be one of eight players making their Waratahs debuts against the Reds, alongside Hendren, Pete Samu, Clem Halaholo, Harry Potter, Folau Faingaa, Angus Blyth and Jack Debreczeni.
Amatosero only returned to NSW headquarters at the weekend after serving a two-week suspension for punching Scott-Young, and the big lock not only missed the Tahs’ trials but was not even permitted to train or attend NSW Rugby facilities as part of his penalty, which also involved counselling.
But after a hatchet was buried at a successful meeting between Scott-Young and Amatosero on Friday last week, with a mediator, the lock was called straight back into the Waratahs team. Scott-Young was not considered for selection due to a calf strain.
Hendren, 23, and 22-year-old flanker Halaholo have both been rewarded for their outstanding form in the Super Rugby AUS competition in September and October, which the Waratahs won.
Andrew Kellaway scores a try against Argentina last year.Credit: Getty Images
Hendren, a product of rugby nursery St Joseph’s College, scored four tries in the Waratahs’ win over Queensland at Narrabri, and has been a consistent running threat the past few seasons for Randwick. Former Wicks coach Stephen Hoiles once described 190cm Hendren as a “Ferrari” who plays like Manly NRL star Tom Trbojevic.
Hendren’s selection comes ahead of not only Kellaway, but two other Wallabies: Max Jorgensen – who also played fullback for Australia last year – and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who played in the position for NSW last year but has been shifted to No.13 for the opener against Queensland.
With Test winger Harry Potter also having joined NSW, there appears to be no room for Kellaway, who played 10 Tests last year and is the Tahs’ most experienced outside back, with 84 Super Rugby games. Triston Reilly was preferred as the No.23 on the bench.
Elsewhere in the backline, Lawson Creighton has been preferred to Debreczeni and Jack Bowen at five-eighth, and halfback Jake Gordon will start ahead of Teddy Wilson.
Halaholo has barged down the door for a starting role in the Waratahs’ forward pack. The Waverley College and Sydney University product won the man-of-the-match in the Tahs’ Super Rugby AUS grand final victory over the Western Force. He continued his form in two trial wins over Queensland and the Brumbies.
At 104kg and 193cm, Halaholo’s power in contact has had him marked as a player to watch for several years. He played for the Junior Wallabies in 2023.
Elsewhere, Samu will also make his Waratahs debut at No.8, and Ethan Dobbins has held on to the No.2 jersey ahead of Faingaa, who will also make his Waratahs debut from the bench. Wallaby lock and former Reds stalwart Blyth will make his NSW debut against his old team from the bench.
More to come
Waratahs team v Reds, Super Rugby round 1, Friday, Allianz Stadium, 7.30pm
- Tom Lambert
- Ethan Dobbins
- Daniel Botha
- Matt Philip (c)
- Miles Amatosero
- Clem Halaholo
- Charlie Gamble
- Pete Samu
- Jake Gordon
- Lawson Creighton
- Max Jorgensen
- Joey Walton
- Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
- Harry Potter
- James Hendren
Reserves: Folau Fainga’a, Ioane Moananu, Isaac Kailea, Angus Blyth, Leafi Talataina, Teddy Wilson, Jack Debreczeni, Triston Reilly.
