NSW Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has named an unchanged line up, featuring Berry’s Will Miller, to face the Brumbies in the final regular Super Rugby match at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
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“Part of our strategy is to try and keep combinations together, and it’s up to those players to really earn it through their performances,” Gibson said.
“As a coaching team, we feel that they are doing that and deserve their spots.”
Gibson expects a typical Australian derby.
“For both sides there’s real incentive there on the outcome of the game,” he said.
“The Brumbies need a bonus point win to have a chance to quality and for us the real carrot of knowing if you progress in this tournament of giving yourself the opportunity through having a home semi-final potentially.”
When asked about a potential quarter-final opponent, Gibson said his team weren’t looking that far ahead.
“We haven’t looked beyond this game,” he said.
“We know there’s a lot riding on this fixture and we want to perform.
“The finals series will take care of itself and we will just wait and see who we get.”
Record-breaking winger Taqele Naiyaravoro will play his 50th game for NSW and he is three caps away from a half century of Super Rugby matches for the State team.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 7.45pm.
Waratahs squad to face Brumbies: 1. Tom Robertson, 2. Damien Fitzpatrick, 3. Sekope Kepu, 4. Jed Holloway, 5. Rob Simmons, 6. Ned Hanigan, 7. Will Miller, 8. Michael Wells, 9. Nick Phipps, 10. Bernard Foley ©, 11. Taqele Naiyaravoro, 12. Kurtley Beale, 13. Curtis Rona, 14. Cam Clark, 15. Israel Folau, 16. Tolu Latu, 17. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18. Paddy Ryan, 19. Tom Staniforth, 20. Brad Wilkin, 21. Jake Gordon, 22. Alex Newsome and 23. Bryce Hegarty.
