'Weakened' Waratahs take on Highlanders
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs will be without five of their Wallabies when they face Highlanders at Rugby Park, Invercargill on Friday.
Michael Hooper, Kurtley Beale, Sekope Kepu, Bernard Foley and Rob Simmons have all been rested.
Ned Hanigan and Jack Dempsey return from injury, while Lachlan Swinton misses after sustaining a head injury.
Mack Mason will line up at flyhalf, Cameron Clark comes in on the right wing, and Alex Newsome shifts to fullback.
Nick Phipps is promoted to captain in what is likely his final Super Rugby game before leaving for English club London Irish.
Waratahs: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Cam Clark, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Curtis Rona, 10 Mack Mason, 9 Nick Phipps (captain), 8 Hugh Sinclair, 7 Will Miller, 6 Michael Wells, 5 Tom Staniforth, 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Tuala, 17 Rory O'Connor, 18 Shambeckler Vui, 19 Ryan McCauley, 20 Jed Holloway, 21 Jack Dempsey, 22 Jake Gordon, 23 Tautalatasi Tasi.
Date: Friday, June 14
Venue: Rugby Park, Invercargill
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT, 17.35 Australian time)
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand), James Munro (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)