NSW Waratahs Head Coach Dan McKellar has selected a twenty-seven-player team for the side’s first trial match of the year against NSW Pacifica at Eric Tweedale Stadium in Granville, Sydney on Saturday.
With the starting fifteen, McKellar has chosen twelve replacements to ensure as many players as possible who have been in pre-season training can get game time. The side does not include returning players from the Wallabies Spring tour.
“We want to provide an opportunity for the players who have done the majority of pre-season, who have worked hard here, a chance to get game time,” McKellar said.
“It's great that we can finally get our first game of 2025 off and running and give the boys a chance to wear the Waratahs jersey.”
What does McKellar want to see from the team on Saturday?
“I want to see transformation or transference of the behaviours we're demanding of each other every day,” McKellar said.
“We're going to make mistakes. We won't be perfect from a rugby point of view, but attitudinally it’s about the effort, the fight.
“I want to see it from the very first minute.”
Among those “returning players” from Wallabies duty who will not play is scrum-half Jake Gordon who on Tuesday was reappointed as NSW Waratahs captain for 2025.
Captaining the side on Saturday will be backrower Hugh Sinclair, co-captain with Charlie Gamble in their game against the Kubota Spears in Tokyo in November.
“It was an easy choice, McKellar said.
“He isn't overstated or doesn't say too much when he talks, but when he does talk the players listen,” McKellar said.
“He's respected and very passionate about rugby union in New South Wales, and very passionate about the Waratahs.”
McKellar said the players who returned from Wallabies duties last week also needed more preparation time under their belts.
“The reality is that they need a couple of weeks of training, and at the intensity that we've been training here,” McKellar said.
“It's probably been a shock to a few of them, but they'll pick their conditioning and their fitness levels up quickly.
“They'll be ready to go in the next couple of weeks.”
Saturday’s game starts at 4pm and features in a blockbuster Triple Header against NSW Pacifica sides.
The NSW Waratahs Under 20s play the NSW Pacifica Under 20s at 1pm.
After the NSW Waratahs and NSW Pacifica play, the NSW Waratahs Women take on the NSW Pacifica Women at 6pm.
The NSW Waratahs Under 20s and NSW Womens sides will be named tomorrow.
- Loosehead Prop Tom Lambert
- Hooker Julian Heavan
- Tighthead Prop Daniel Botha
- Left Lock Felix Kalapu
- Right Lock Ben Grant
- Left Flanker Leafi Talataina
- Right Flanker Jamie Adamson
- Number Eight Hugh Sinclair (C)
- Scrumhalf Teddy Wilson
- Flyhalf Jack Bowen
- Left Wing Darby Lancaster
- Inside Centre Joey Walton
- Outside Centre Henry O’Donnell
- Right Wing Triston Rielly
- Fullback James Hendren
- Reserve Ethan Dobbins
- Reserve Adrian Brown
- Reserve Siosifa Amone
- Reserve Ale Aho
- Reserve Clem Halaholo
- Reserve Jack Grant
- Reserve Joey Fowler
- Reserve Archie Saunders
- Reserve Brad Amituanai
- Reserve Mesu Kunavula
- Reserve Jackson Ropata
- Reserve Charlie Gamble
When: Saturday 25 January
Where: Eric Tweedale Stadium, Granville
Times: 1pm - NSW Waratahs U20s v NSW Pacifica U20s 4pm - NSW Waratahs v NSW Pacifica 6pm -NSW Waratah Women v NSW Pacifica
Note: Media who wish to attend the game RSVP to Rupert.guinness@waratahs.rugby
All three games will be broadcast live and free on NSW Rugby TV https://www.nswrugbytv.com.au/
