Overview
- Team announcements confirm Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will start at outside centre for the NSW Waratahs and Zac Lomax will start on the right wing for the Western Force at Allianz Stadium.
- Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said Suaalii completed a strong rehab block and is in superb condition, adding he returns ready to perform rather than just play.
- The Western Force kept the same 23 that beat the Crusaders, starting George Bridge at outside centre and marking Hamish Stewart’s 50th appearance for the club.
- The ladder picture underscores the urgency, with the Waratahs in eighth and the Force second-last with five matches remaining in the regular season.
- NSW retained an unchanged back-row of Angus Scott-Young, Charlie Gamble and Pete Samu and named 32-year-old prop Apolosi Ranawai for a potential debut off the bench.