Kurtley Beale has been ruled out and veteran prop Benn Robinson is recalled to start for the NSW Waratahs in Sunday’s Super Rugby Clash with the Melbourne Rebels at Allianz Stadium.

Beale has not recovered sufficiently from an elbow injury, meaning the Tahs will feature a new centre pairing with David Horwitz playing alonside Matt Carraro, who replaces the injured Rob Horne.

Robinson comes in to shore up the Waratahs’ shaky scrum and will start in the front row alongside young hooker Hugh Roach and Angus Taavao.

Giant Wallaby lock Will Skelton gets a recall on the bench after being dropped to club rugby and missing last week’s battling win over the Queensland Reds.

US international and former Western Force hooker James Hilterbrand could debut from the bench after being called up from Sydney club rugby as a replacement hooker, with Tolu Latu and Tatafu Polota-Nau both injured.

NSW Waratahs: Israel Folau, Reece Robinson, Matt Carraro, David Horwitz, Zac Guildford, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper (capt), Jack Dempsey, David Dennis, Dean Mumm, Angus Taavao, Hugh Roach, Benn Robinson. Res: James Hilterbrand, Paddy Ryan, Tom Robertson, Will Skelton, Sam Lousi, Wycliff Palu, Matt Lucas, Andrew Kellaway.