Waratahs unleash 16-year-old stars for debuts

1 year ago 83

The NSW Waratahs volition unleash 16-year-old fullback Caitlyn Halse for her Super W debut successful the season-opener against the Western Force.

NSW manager Campbell Aitken has named 9 imaginable debutants successful his 23 for the clash astatine Sydney's Allianz Stadium connected Friday, with different 16-year-old, backrower Bronte Wilson, connected the bench.

The Waratahs are trying to reclaim their acquainted perch connected the Super W throne following a historical nonaccomplishment to the Fijiana Drua past year.

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"They are outstanding players," caller Waratahs skipper Piper Duck told Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven.

"And these young girls coming through, they bash not deficiency endowment and they bash not deficiency heart. So we're precise excited to spot what they bring...

"There's truthful overmuch young endowment coming done and wherefore not utilise that and truly turn the game?"

While the contiguous absorption is connected the Force, Duck admitted the Drua's stirring debut play had sharpened her ain squad successful pre-season.

"Yes, it was difficult, but I bash deliberation it's really made america a amended squad due to the fact that it's allowed america to instrumentality aureate points retired of what we did some incorrect and well, and it's allowed america to benignant of pinpoint those," she said.

"Like anyone that's watched Fiji play, they emotion breached play, offloads and things similar that - precise accelerated game. So the biggest happening for america is staying to our operation and staying to what we cognize we tin bash and playing astatine our gait and not trying to, I accidental alteration for our competition, but emergence to our standard, not theirs."

WARATAHS (15-1): Caitlyn Halse, Maya Stewart, Georgina Friedrichs, Katrina Barker, Margot Vella, Ella Ryan, Layne Morgan, Piper Duck (c), Fi Jones, Grace Hamilton, Rosie Ebbage, Ana-Lise Sio, Bridie O'Gorman, Adiana Talakai, Brianna Hoy

Reserves: Katalina Amosa, Emily Robinson, Georgia Chapple, Bronte Wilson, Leilani Nathan, Iliseva Batibasaga, Jade Sheridan, Desiree Miller

FORCE (15-1): Aiysha Wigley, Rachel Laqertabua, Langley Sesega, Trilleen Pomare, Ariana Ruru-Hinaki, Nicole Ledington, Saelua Leaula, Yuna Sato, Taj Heald, Katie Barnes, Libya Teepa, Michaela Leonard (c), Braxton Walker, Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke, Natsuki Kashiwagi

Reserves: Lynn Koelman, Angel Schwencke, Penina Tuilaepa, Ashlee Knight, Destiny Maui, Kendra Fell, Ariana Hira-Herangi, Paihau Pomare

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