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Rob Penney keeps faith with super starters for battle with Rebels
By AAP
NSW Waratahs coach Rob Penney has kept faith in his players, retaining the same starting line-up for Friday's Super Rugby AU clash with Melbourne at the SCG.
The Waratahs were edged by a point by the Brumbies last round after holding a big first-half lead.
But Penney believes they can get the job done against the Rebels, who are coming off the bye in search of their first win.
Veteran halfback Jake Gordon is in line for his first appearance in the competition after recovering from a hamstring injury to be named on the bench.
Rookie hooker Joe Cotton, Chris Talakai and Jed Holloway are also new faces amongst the reserves.
The Waratahs are on guard for another masterclass from Melbourne's Matt To'omua on Friday night.
Toomua called the shots when the Rebels triumphed early in the regular Super competition, with his kicking game helping steer his team to a 24-10 victory over the Waratahs.
Waratahs coach Rob Penney said the Rebels, who are likely to be away from home for the entire season, didn't need any extra motivation to get up for a NSW game.
"All the teams that play the Waratahs have a reason to dislike the Waratahs and the Rebels are no different," Penney said.
"They will have all sorts of conversations around hardships they're having to go through being away from home.
"They will be tough ... they put us to the sword last time we played them in Melbourne and hopefully we can perform well."
Penney said he'd put plenty of time into their defensive strategy to counter the likes of Wallabies To;omua, Dane Haylett-Petty and Marika Koroibete.
"Last time we played them Matt To'omua gave a masterclass of kicking strategy," he said.
"We know we're going to confront that again ... we've had to think more broadly around our defensive strategy.
"We think we've done the work and players just have to deliver on Friday night."
Waratahs: Jack Maddocks, James Ramm, Joey Walton, Karmichael Hunt, Alex Newsome, Will Harrison, Mitch Short, Jack Dempsey, Michael Hooper, Lachlan Swinton, Rob Simmons (c), Ned Hanigan, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Tom Horton, Tom Robertson. Reserves: Joe Cotton, Tetera Faulkner, Chris Talakai, Tom Staniforth, Jed Holloway, Jake Gordon, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Ben Donaldson.
- Melissa Woods
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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