New Waratahs coach takes huge gamble unleashing rookies against champion Crusaders
It’s a case of form over reputation, with NSW coach Rob Penney unafraid to name two debutants to start against three-time defending champions in his first game in charge.
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The evolution of the Waratahs begins immediately under new coach Rob Penney, who has picked two debutants to start against three-time defending champions the Crusaders in round one of Super Rugby.
Will Harrison is the five-eighth, wearing the crucial No.10 jersey left vacant by Bernard Foley, while flying rookie Mark Nawaqanitawase has beaten Wallaby Jack Maddocks to a wing spot.
Penney’s bold gamble shows his faith in the next generation and reliance on trial match form over reputation, with Harrison winning the playmaker role against Mack Mason and Kurtley Beale – who Penney has selected as fullback.
High-profile recruit Maddocks will come off the bench, along with Wallabies backrower Jack Dempsey.
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Harrison and Nawaqanitawase were both members of the Junior Wallabies side that finished runners-up at last year’s under-20s World Cup, and impressed in their pre-season outings against the Highlanders and Reds.
But their tasks in Nelson on Saturday will be huge, with the Crusaders having claimed a three-peat on the back of an undefeated home record stretching back to July 2016.
A mass exodus of Wallabies stars from NSW at the end of last year – Foley, Nick Phipps, Sekope Kepu, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Tolu Latu, as well as the sacking of Israel Folau – meant a shake-up of the starting XV was inevitable in 2020.
However, Penney could have opted for a more conservative stance by playing Beale at five-eighth and Maddocks at fullback, given they’re proven Super Rugby performers.
Yet against the best team in the competition, on day one of his tenure, Penney is entrusting a group of rookies to deliver NSW’s first win at the Crusaders’ home ground since 2004.
Along with Harrison and Nawaqanitawase, youngsters Angus Bell (prop) and Carlo Tizzano (backrow) are expected to make their Super debuts off the bench – both were also members of the Junior Wallabies.
Having played for Western Force, the Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels, 30-year-old hooker Robbie Abel will make his Waratahs debut, beating Damien Fitzpatrick to the starting spot.
The new front-row partnership of Tom Robertson, Abel and Tetera Faulkner will confront the formidable Crusaders scrum stacked with All Blacks.
Harry Johnson-Holmes had initially been named to start at tight-head but withdrew due to illness, giving four-Tests Wallaby Faulkner his NSW debut after stints at the Force and Rebels.
New skipper Rob Simmons will partner Tom Staniforth – who plays his 50th Super match – in the second row while former captain Michael Hooper anchors the backrow with Jed Holloway and Lachlan Swinton.
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Penney, a former Crusaders assistant coach who replaced Cantabrian Daryl Gibson, is aiming to pull off NSW’s first win in New Zealand since April 2015.
Penney said injury to Mack Mason made the decision to start Harrison at No.10 easier, and backed the rookie to handle the furnace.
“He’s got a great skill-set, he’s also a very tough individual, he’s got good resilience but physically he’s a robust character,” Penney said.
“He puts himself in tough positions, he’ll put his head in dark places, he’s prepared to do that for the team which is a fantastic attribute for someone defending on the inside channels and maybe having to do the odd hard carry.
“We’re not expecting a performance without error on the weekend because he’s being thrust into a pretty tumultuous position, but we trust he’ll do a good job.”
Penney has huge belief in his young squad against the Crusaders.
“They’re ready to go, we wouldn’t be willing to compromise their development.
“If we didn’t believe they were of stern enough stuff mentally or physically, we wouldn’t put them into that position.”
One of the Tahs’ great performances is required to end the Crusaders’ home winning streak, Penney added.
“That record of 31, they won’t be looking at that as a burden, they’ll be looking at that like it’s a wind at their back to drive them on to greater things,” Penney said.
“We’ll need things to go our way, but rugby’s a great game, it’s 0-0 at the start, we’ve got belief we can go there and compete, and if we can do that, who knows what can happen.”
CRUSADERS v WARATAHS NSW: 15. Kurtley Beale 14. Mark Nawaqanitawase 13. Lalakai Foketi 12. Karmichael Hunt 11. Alex Newsome 10. Will Harrison 9. Jake Gordon 8. Jed Holloway 7. Michael Hooper 6. Lachlan Swinton 5. Rob Simmons (captain) 4. Tom Staniforth 3. Tetera Faulkner 2. Robbie Abel 1. Tom Robertson.Reserves: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick 17. Angus Bell 18. Chris Talakai 19. Ryan McCauley 20. Jack Dempsey 21. Carlo Tizzano 22. Mitch Short 23. Jack Maddocks.