mens
super-rugby-pacific
18-year-old scrum-half Angus Grover will feature for NSW Waratahs starting side for the first time this weekend, as the defending Super Rugby AUS champions look to secure a home final against the also unbeaten Western Force.
Grover comes into the race in place of Teddy Wilson, who was rested after a strong attack Super Rugby Pacific campaign and then helped Eastern Suburbs secure the Shute Shield title with a win against Warringah last month.
Front rower Brady Dawson, and loose forwards Angus Scott-Young and Luke Reimer have also been named for their first starts of the competition. This is an important match for the Tahs, who are looking to build on last weekend’s triumph over the Queensland Reds.
Tom Lambert joins Ethan Dobbins and Dawson up front, while Tahs captain Eamon Doyle joins the Wallabies who are Miles Amatosero in the second row. Scott-Young starts at blindside flanker, with Wallaby Reimer played in the open and Isaac Fonua at No.8.
Grover will link up at half-time with Max Burey, who has been named the 2025 Super Rugby AUS Player of the Tournament. Burey helped Force reach the Grand Final nearly 12 months ago but now hopes to steer the Waratahs to more silverware.
Former Force officer George Pullman was selected at inside center while Otto Serfontein lined up outside centre. Freedom Vahaakolo and Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong are on the wings and Super Rugby Pacific Rookie of the Year Sid Harvey is retained at fullback.
“(Angus) Grover is learning under some pretty good nines here and getting a chance to start and Teddy (Wilson) gets a little rest this week,” coach Lachlan McCaffrey said.
“It’s nice to be playing at Rat Park this week with Lukey (Reimer) and Ben (Fuhiniu) from Warringah representing the Ratties on Sunday afternoon.
“It was good to get out into the regions of the country during this competition. There will be a few new lads who will get a chance to pull on the Waratahs jersey – we used 33 players in three weeks.
“I came into Super Rugby AUS wanting to make sure that all the young players that come through and anyone in the program get a chance to play.”
NSW Waratahs a team that will fight against the Western Powers
- Tom Lambert
- Ethan Dobbins
- Brady Dawson
- Eamon Doyle (c)
- Miles Amatosero
- Angus Scott-Young
- Luke Reimer
- Isaac Fonua
- Angus Grover
- Max Burey
- Freedom Wax Hollow
- George Poolman
- Otto Serfontein
- Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong
- Sid Harvey
Replacements:
16. Sailing
17. Nate Tititi
18. Edwin Long
19. Joe Mangelsdorf
20. Master Marshall
21. Luca Cleverley
22. Ben Fuhiniu
23. Joe Dillon
24. Charlie Bird
25. Nick Chan
