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Kurtley Beale to captain injury-ridden Waratahs for first time against Chiefs

(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

Wallabies veteran Kurtley Beale will captain the New South Wales side for the first time in his career as a raft of injuries has forced head coach Rob Penney to overhaul his side which picked up its first win of the year against the Lions last week.

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Despite having played 134 times for the Waratahs, Beale has never skippered the Sydney franchise, but will do so in Wollongong on Friday when his side takes on the Chiefs at WIN Stadium.

Beale’s rise to captaincy comes on the back of a multitude of injuries which has ruled regular skipper Rob Simmons out of this weekend’s contest with an ankle concern.

Continue reading below…

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The 100-test Wallabies second rower is joined by international teammate Jake Gordon in the injury ward, as the 26-year-old halfback deals with a knee injury.

Simmons and Gordon aren’t the only casualties Penney has had to accomodate for, as 24-test Wallabies prop Tom Robertson and exciting teenage wing Mark Nawaqanitawase have also been omitted from the side due to back problems.

As a result, lock Ryan McCauley, halfback Mitch Short and wing James Ramm are the new additions to the starting side from the team that dispatched the Lions 29-17 at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney last Friday.

Robertson’s absence has been filled by Rory O’Connor, who joins three potential debutants on the bench in the form of 20-year-old flanker Pat Tafa, Irish-born halfback Michael McDonald and former Japan sevens representative Siosifa Lisala.

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After suffering their worst-ever start to a Super Rugby campaign in history with three season-opening defeats, the Waratahs will be hoping to build on their victory over the Lions against the high-flying Chiefs, who have established themselves as early title contenders under new coach Warren Gatland.

The Hamilton franchise currently sit five places ahead of the Waratahs in seventh spot on the overall standings with three wins from four outings.

Waratahs side to face the Chiefs

1 – Angus Bell
2 – Robbie Abel
3 – Harry Johnson-Holmes
4 – Ryan McCauley
5 – Tom Staniforth
6 – Lachlan Swinton
7 – Michael Hooper
8 – Jack Dempsey (vc)
9 – Mitch Short
10 – Will Harrison
11 – Jack Maddocks
12 – Karmichael Hunt
13 – Alex Newsome
14 – James Ramm
15 – Kurtley Beale

Reserves

16 – Damien Fitzpatrick
17 – Rory O’Connor
18 – Tetera Faulkner
19 – Pat Tafa
20 – Jed Holloway
21 – Michael McDonald
22 – Lalakai Foketi
23 – Siosifa Lisala

In other news:

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AM 43 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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