Two-try centre Tom Carter has been dropped to the bench to make way for Berrick Barnes’ Super Rugby season debut for the NSW Waratahs against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday.
Wallabies utility star Barnes takes over at inside centre for his first game since injuring his groin in the pre-season, allowing five eighth Daniel Halangahu to retain the five eighth role, captaincy and goal kicking duties and exciting newcomer Bernard Foley to keep his spot at fullback.
It’s a tough call for the passionate and hard-running Carter who scored twice in last week’s win over the Melbourne Rebels – as well as making the on-field eye-gouging allegation which led to Rebels lock Adam Byrnes copping a 10-week ban.
But coach Michael Foley said Halangahu deserved to retain the five eighth spot and indicated he’d opted for greater creativity.
“The way in which Daniel has led the team has been particularly good as has his form in the first two games,” said Foley.
“Berrick is a senior international player with a lot of skills, returning from a short injury, and to have the two play alongside each other will hopefully give us options when it comes to controlling the game and our style of play.”
Having overcome a calf tear sustained in the pre-season, Pat McCutcheon takes over at openside breakaway from Chris Alcock.
Against an unbeaten Highlanders team renowned for their work at the breakdown, Foley was focussing on a strong performance in that area.
“The outstanding feature of the Highlanders is the number of turnovers they force from their opposition, creating more opportunities for themselves,” said Foley.
“From our point of view, they put numbers in the breakdown and if we’re not accurate there then we won’t be able to get our game started.”
NSW Waratahs: Bernard Foley, Tom Kingston, Rob Horne, Berrick Barnes, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Daniel Halangahu (capt), Sarel Pretorius; Wycliff Palu, Pat McCutcheon, Dave Dennis, Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: John Ulugia, Paddy Ryan, Lopeti Timani, Chris Alcock, Brendan McKibbin, Tom Carter, Brackin Karuaria-Henry.