Barnes to lead Waratahs in first hitout

Berrick Barnes will get first crack at captaining the NSW Waratahs in the absence of Rocky Elsom in their opening trial, but isn’t yet guaranteed to lead them into the Super Rugby campaign.

First-choice skipper and flanker Elsom, who has returned to NSW this season from the Brumbies, is sidelined by a hamstring issue that will keep him out of the early rounds of the Super tournament.

Five-eighth Barnes, another member of the Waratahs’ eight-man leadership group, will lead out a powerful first-half line-up against Samoa on Friday at Tamworth in northern NSW.

That unit includes six Wallabies and new halfback and 2011 South African Super Rugby player of the year Sarel Pretorius.

Fellow five-eighth Daniel Halangahu will take the captain’s armband for the second half when he leads a youthful lineup.

New Waratahs coach Michael Foley is keeping an open mind about who will lead the team in their final trial against Tonga in Sydney next week and the opening Super Rugby round against Queensland the following week.

“We’ll get through this trial first and then make a decision early next week on who will perform that role for us against Tonga,” Foley told AAP.

With No.8 Wycliff Palu still sidelined with a hamstring injury, Foley’s side for the first half against Tonga includes both contenders for the No.7 spot vacated by the retirement of former skipper Phil Waugh.

Pat McCutcheon will start at No.8 and Chris Alcock at openside flanker.

“As the season progresses, both of them will play seven, but they have the skill set to allow us to play them in tandem,” Foley said.

Elsom and Palu apart, other players unavailable for Friday’s hitout include winger Drew Mitchell (ankle), prop Benn Robinson (knee), winger Atieli Pakalani (knee) and Dan Vickerman (knee).

Second-rower Sitaleki Timani is unavailable until round two due to Japanese club commitments.

Wallabies’ utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper will make his Waratahs’ debut against Tonga.

“The advice we’ve had from our head of athletic development is with such a long season ahead and such a long season behind him, it’s pretty important we give him another week to prepare as best we can,” Foley said.

NSW Waratahs first-half team: Brackin Karauria-Henry, Lachie Turner, Rob Horne, Tom Carter, Tom Kingston, Berrick Barnes (capt), Sarel Pretorius, Pat McCutcheon, Chris Alcock, Dave Dennis, Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Paddy Ryan, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sekope Kepu.

Second-half team: Toby Browne, Nathan Trist, Michael Hodge, Bernard Foley, Peter Betham, Daniel Halangahu (capt), Brendan McKibbin, Lopeti Timani, Seilala Lam, Tevita Metuisela, Greg Peterson, Richard Stanford, John Ulugia, Damien Fitzpatrick, Jeremy Tilse.

Res: Lotu Taukeiaho, Liam Winton, Jono Jenkins, Grayson Hart, Jesse Leota, Tom Hill.

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