Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Queenslander Izaia Perese headlines Waratahs’ team for Super Rugby derby

(Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

Queensland-born Waratahs centre Izaia Perese knows what it’s like to represent both states. Perese played for the Reds and later the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL before jumping back to rugby union.

ADVERTISEMENT

Perese, who has played a handful of Tests in Aussie gold, has been named in an all-Wallabies midfield for the Waratahs along with teammate Lalakai Foketi. The pair started alongside one another in the Wallabies’ final match at last year’s Rugby World Cup in France.

With pre-season now out of the way, the Waratahs seem to be itching for the season to start against their great rivals.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

“The good thing about trials is that you can really try and work on the basics and not give away too much,” Perese said in a statement.

Related

“Now that it’s Round One, we’ve got a clean slate and we’re looking to showcase what we can bring.

“I think we’ll be able to go up there and do a job this weekend.

“Being a Queenslander and playing for the Tahs as well, I’m very fortunate to have played on both sides.

“It’s pretty funny, I know the feeling on both ends. I know how they’re going to be coming into the game and we’ve just got to match it.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Perese recovered from an ankle complaint to feature in last week’s trial, and after signalling an intent to play in the opening round, the Wallaby will do just that.

Rising Max Jorgensen also returned form injury with 40 minutes in a trial against the Warringah Rat and Manly Marlins on Saturday, but the youngster has been on the bench.

But in some good news, Waratahs cans can look forward to seeing two of the team’s big-name recruits – big in stature, as well – take the field for their official debuts.

Lock Miles Amatosero will start alongside Jed Holloway, and Fergus Lee-Warner has been named at No. 6. Lee-Warner joins Charlie Gamble and Langi Gleeson in the backrow.

ADVERTISEMENT

Captain Jake Gordon partners Tane Edmed in the halves, and outside of the previously mentioned midfield, Dylan Pietsch, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Joey Walton are the outside backs.

The Waratahs’ season opener away to the Queensland Reds is set to kick-off at 6.30 pm AEDT on Saturday evening. It’s the final game in the opening round of the season.

Waratahs team to take on Reds

  1. Angus Bell
  2. Mahe Vailanu
  3. Harry Johnson-Holmes
  4. Jed Holloway
  5. Miles Amatosero*
  6. Fergus Lee-Warner*
  7. Charlie Gamble
  8. Langi Gleeson
  9. Jake Gordon (c)
  10. Tane Edmed
  11. Dylan Pietsch
  12. Lalakai Foketi
  13. Izaia Perese
  14. Mark Nawaqanitawase
  15. Joey Walton

Reserves

  1. Theo Fourie**
  2. Hayden Thompson-Stringer**
  3. Daniel Botha
  4. Sam Thomson**
  5. Hugh Sinclair
  6. Teddy Wilson
  7. Harry Wilson
  8. Max Jorgensen

*Denotes debut   **Denotes potential debut

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

A
AM 7 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.

72 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Rassie Erasmus discusses idea of leaving Boks to coach another country Rassie Erasmus discusses idea of leaving Boks to coach another country
Search