Waratahs have a Kiwi Hart

Former New Zealand Under-20 scrumhalf Grayson Hart will make his Waratahs debut when they take on the Brumbies in Sydney on Saturday.

Hart forms a new halfback pairing with Bernard Foley as part of a full-strength Waratahs backline for their clash with the Australian conference leaders.

Hart, who is the nephew of former All Black coach John Hart, played seven Super Rugby games for the Blues three years ago before making the move to Australia on the advice of his uncle.

He explained: "He's the one I always go to for advice. He's had a massive influence on my career and he was very supportive of my move to the Waratahs."

After several years of hard work and perseverance, the young halfback is itching to make his mark for the Sydney-based team on Saturday.

"With the long break from Super rugby there was times when I wondered when my time was going to come. With all the training I was putting in, I always give it 100 per cent.

"I've really stuck at it and I've really enjoyed being part of the environment but every player wants to be playing for their team. When I found out I was starting this game I was really excited, it's all been worth it," he said.

Having made a successful return to action following two try-scoring performances in the Shute Shield, Lachie Turner makes his comeback in an experienced back three that also features Drew Mitchell and Adam Ashley-Cooper.

With Foley at flyhalf Berrick Barnes shifts to inside centre where he will form a midfield partnership with Rob Horne, and with so much experience out wide coach Michael Foley knows it is vital that his team create some space for them to impress.

"It would be silly for us to think that the space (out wide) will be there without us working for it. The Brumbies have a very good defensive record and if we're to create opportunities for those guys to play with width, we need to do the hard work first," he said.

Led by prop Benn Robinson the Waratahs forward pack features an all-Wallaby front row in Robinson, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Sekope Kepu, with Dean Mumm and Kane Douglas in the second row and Dave Dennis, Chris Alcock and Wycliff Palu completing the pack.

Waratahs: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Grayson Hart, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson (captain).

Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 Sitaleki Timani, 19 Lopeti Timani, 20 Brendan McKibbin, 21 Tom Carter, 22 Tom Kingston.

Date: Saturday, July 7

Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney

Kick-off: 19.40 (09.40 GMT)

Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), Julian Pritchard (Australia)

TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)