Under-fire Penny makes three changes
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Waratahs host their first home match of the season, taking on the Western Force at one of the country’s premier venues, Bankwest Stadium.
Head Coach, Rob Penney has added three new faces to his starting XV, following their humiliating 10-61 defeat to the Brumbies.
It has not been an easy start for the Waratahs, who opened their campaign with a 7-41 defeat to Reds.
Dave Porecki, the former London Irish hooker who signed with the Waratahs in 2020, replaces Tom Horton, while vice-captain Hugh Sinclair gets his first start of the season, replacing Jack Whetton in the second row.
Wallaby Angus Bell has been ruled out with an ankle injury but is replaced by another Wallaby, with Te Tera Faulkner starting at loosehead.
The backrow remains the same as last week, with “bruise brothers” Carlo Tizzano and Lachlan Swinton joining forces with Jack Dempsey.
There has been one positional change in the backline with Jack Maddocks shifting to the wing, with Mark Nawaqanitawase taking over at fullback.
Tepai Moeroa returns to the home of his former NRL club at Bankwest Stadium at inside centre, partnering captain Alex Newsome.
Jack Grant, after an impressive first start in a Waratahs jersey, remains at scrumhalf combining with playmaker Will Harrison.
Chris Talakai is a new face on the bench and is in line to play his first match of the season for the NSW Waratahs.
Waratahs: 15 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Alex Newsome (captain), 12 Tepai Moeroa, 11 James Ramm, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Jack Grant, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Hugh Sinclair, 4 Sam Caird, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 David Porecki, 1 Te Tera Faulkner.
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Sio Tatola, 18 Chris Talakai, 19 Jack Whetton, 20 Jeremy Williams, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Triston Reilly
Date: Friday, March 5
Venue: Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 19.45 (16.45 AWST, 08.45 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Amy Perrett & Jordan Way
TMO: Brett Cronan