Super Rugby U16s 2023 Waratah v Reds battle to be heated, close and tough, teams named

They have produced two massive wins but the Waratahs know their clash with the Reds on Sunday in the Super Rugby U16s will be a whole new ballgame. TEAM LISTS

Young Waratahs in action in the Super Rugby U16s series match between the Tahs and Rebels. Picture: Rugby Australia

They have cruised through the opening rounds with two massive wins but the Waratahs know their Super Rugby U16s clash with the Reds on Sunday will be a whole new ballgame.

Waratahs coach Paul Cividin believes the rivalry in his squad for spots on the paddock is creating a winning culture in his under 16 team.

Cividin played out a plan to give the bulk of his players a run in the opening two rounds of the Super Rugby series against the ACT Brumbies and the Melbourne Reds.

This gave him and coaching staff the opportunity to see youngsters playing in a big arena and under pressure.

Now Cividin and his team will send out the most inform players as they head into their crucial match against old rivals, the Queensland Reds, at Forshaw park in Sydney’s south on Sunday.

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The waratahs are hoping to go through the season undefeated.

“Everyone has had a shot. Now we make judgments and put the best team on the park,’’ he said.

“We haven’t been putting out weak teams but we wanted to give all the guys a go.

“Now this creates a great competitiveness in the squad. To have that competition for spots is going to be what helps us improve and win.’’

Cividin said his players are fired up for the match and have bought into the rivalry which has long existed between the Waratahs and Reds at all age groups of the game.

“You have to go through them to get to the grand final. We also always have one eye out for the Reds, they are tough to beat,’’ he said.

“There’s always a bit of rivalry, a bit of heat between us.

“People are born and bred with that rivalry.’’

Action in the Super Rugby U16s series match between the Tahs and Rebels. Picture: Rugby Australia

The Waratahs have played one more game than the Reds who stepped out into the Super Rugby arena for the first time last week and produced a massive win over Western Force.

The Reds came up with the biggest scoreline of the season, as 71–14 defeat of the Western Australian rivals.

The boot of Finn Mackay was crucial to the victory with his the Youngston nailing seven conversions.

Brock Coombes and Gray O’Neill also scored two tries for the Reds.

The Waratahs come into the match off a 50–5 victory over the Brumbies and then a 51–9 win over the Melbourne. Rebels in round two.

Reilly Caswell was a standout in that game with three tries while Tom Hartman scored for in the opener.

TEAMS FOR WARATAHS V QUEENSLAND REDS SUPER RUGBY U16S

WARATAHS: Hayden Lavercombe, Daryus Sione, Lewis Wilson, Isacc Fonua, Edward Baxter, James Finegan, Jarvis Orr, Justice Taumoepeau, Angus Grover, Harrison Dene, Heamasi Makasini, Onitoni Large (c), Marcellus Iakopo, Tom Hartman, Rex Bassingthwaighte

Replacements: Darcy Emmett, Marcus Mastro, Keegan Daly, Noah Rylands, Cynseah Tautalafua, Harry Beckett, Matthew Gough, Jai Callaghan.

REDS: Kingsley Uys (c), Keido Goulding, Cyrus Suniula, Bennett Armistead, William Ross, Gray O’Neill, Trent Picot, Oliver Nasser, William Graham, Finn Mackay, Brock Coombes, Max Blanch, Connor Clifford, Myles Rosemound, Tyson Walker

Replacements: Isaac Rauluni, Liam Robinson, Kapelasima Hamala, Ed Kasprowicz, Jack Randall, Jack Brown, Fletcher Austin, Clay Andrews