NSW rookie Matt Lucas promoted to starting XV for clash with Rebels

WARATAHS coaches are hoping rookie Matt Lucas can help stress the Rebels’ defence from the opening kick-off tomorrow night.

HE’S played the role of “closer” in several last-gasp victories this season but Waratahs coaches are hoping Matt Lucas can help stress the Rebels’ defence from the opening kick-off tomorrow night after handing the rookie halfback a starting spot.

Lucas was one of four changes for the Tahs’ starting side for the clash in Melbourne, with prop Sekope Kepu, hooker John Ulugia and rejuvenated playmaker Berrick Barnes also promoted from the bench to take on the Rebels.

In his first season, the game will be Lucas’ run-on debut after a string of impressive cameos from the bench that have kept NSW’s attack up-tempo in the late stages, and contributed to several victories secured in the last ten minutes.

Replacing Brendan McKibbin at halftime, the 80kg former Aussie sevens star helped kick-start a three-try NSW fightback win over the Brumbies at the weekend.

“It’s nerve-wracking at times, when you come on and the game is neither won nor lost. But it is good, it builds you as a player. You have to go on and everyone is trusting you,” Lucas said. “The big thing to come on there is to provide the spark, provide more energy.”

Lucas says he’ll attempt to provide the same energy from the star, and NSW assistant coach Alan Gaffney believes the 21-year-old can keep the Rebels defence honest with a sevens-honed running threat.

“Matty’s whole attitude has been very, very good and everyone time he has come on, he’s given something to the game,” Gaffney said. “He doesn’t mind getting out, which is a good thing. At the present time he definitely keeps the defence around the fringe honest, which gives us a  lot more space on the outside.”

Replacing Horne as a second playmaker outside Bernard Foley, Barnes is hoped to continue to give NSW the width to unlock the Rebels defence.

Seeing Barnes as a kicking player, Michael Cheika was, until recently, doubtful he could return from a hand injury and settle into the Waratahs’ style and, by extension, the side as well.

But Gaffney said Barnes’ embrace of the Tahs’ ball-in-hand philosophy had been impressive, and even seen the original Berrick Barnes return.

“I think it suits Berrick. He has that in his mind now it’s run first, kick second, which probably may not have necessarily been the case previously,” Gaffney said. “He loves it. He is keen to keep the ball in hand and he plays a lot better with the ball in hand. He has caught on very, very well.

“He has some fantastic ball skills, and we know that. His skill set is very, very high. It was one of the reasons we brought him on the weekend. Horney was doing nothing wrong, he made a lot of yardage and dominant tackles, but Berrick just added a bit … to the way we wanted to play in  the second half.

“That sort of game suits Berrick down to a tee.”

The Rebels have never beaten the Waratahs in five attempts, and lost each clash by an average of 18 points. But Gaffney says their defeat of the Stormers last week was a timely reminder their capability.

“All our games against them, apart from the first game last year, have run close. We expect a tough game,” he said.
“Sides have got away from them but they’ve finished very strongly. I just think you have to treat everyone with respect. It’s something I learned a lot about in Ireland … you can’t treat anyone with disrespect.”

WARATAHS: Israel Folau, Peter Betham, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Bernard Foley, Matt Lucas; Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Dave Dennis (capt), Kane Douglas, Sitaleki Timani, Sekope Kepu, John Ulugia, Benn Robinson. Res: Luke Holmes, Paddy Ryan, Will Skelton, Mitchell Chapman, Brendan McKibbin, Rob Horne, Tom Kingston.