LOCK Tom Staniforth and halfback Jake Gordon return to the NSW Waratahs’ starting line-up, which also features Berry’s Will Miller, for Saturday’s Super Rugby match against the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium.
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Staniforth replaces Ned Hanigan, who has been ruled out with a knee injury and Gordon starts ahead of Nick Phipps, who is on the bench.
Hanigan’s injury also gives an opportunity to 20-year-old Eastern Suburbs lock Ryan McCauley, who has been named in the reserves along with hooker Tolu Latu.
“We talked really clearly with the two boys [Phipps and Gordon] at the start of this four-game block against the New Zealand teams that this is what we are going to do,” Gibson said.
“We are going to continue that, so that means Nick [Phipps] will come back next week.
“Tolu has had four 80-minute games with Sydney University.
“Part of his re-introduction is around him doing the necessary work; he’s doing his throwing and he’s playing consistently.
“We’ve been pretty consistent in Hugh Roach and Damien Fitzpatrick so we see this as an opportunity for him [Latu] to again contribute and see what he can do.”
Saturday’s game kicks off at 7.45pm Saturday.
The Waratahs will wear their club or school socks on Saturday night to celebrate Club Rugby Round.
Match attendees are encouraged to wear their club’s team colours to be in to win some spot prizes at the game.
