Grayson Hart will make his NSW debut when the HSBC Waratahs take on the table-topping Brumbies at ANZ Stadium this Saturday evening (7.40pm).
Impressed by his recent form for club Southern Districts, Head Coach Michael Foley has backed the 24-year-old scrum half and another highly rated youngster, Bernard Foley (22), to unleash a full strength backline that features five Wallabies.
“With (assistant coaches) Alan Gaffney and Scotty Bowen, Grayson has worked particularly hard through the year on his skills and decision making and he’s had a very good run of club rugby,” said Foley. “We’ve been monitoring his performances and we’re very excited for him.”
Hart’s only previous Super Rugby experience came three years ago for the Auckland Blues. “He’s had nine games for the Blues that will stand him in good stead,” added Foley.
The nephew of former All Blacks coach John Hart, it was his uncle’s guidance that saw the New Zealand-born youngster make the move to Australia last year. “He’s the one I always go to for advice,” admitted Hart. “He’s had a massive influence on my career and he was very supportive of my move to the HSBC Waratahs.”
The up and coming halfback also lists New Zealand U20s on his rugby CV, when he played alongside Aaron Smith, Sam Whitelock and Zac Guildford. “Those guys have come along way and it’s great for me to see someone that I played alongside like Aaron doing so well.”
And after several years of hard work and perseverance, Hart is itching to make his mark. “With the long break from Super rugby there was times when I wondered when my time was going to come. With all the training I was putting in, I always give it 100 per cent. I’ve really stuck at it and I’ve really enjoyed being part of the environment but every player wants to be playing for their team. When I found out I was starting this game I was really excited, it’s all been worth it.”
Having made a successful return to action following two try-scoring performances in the Shute Shield, Lachie Turner makes his comeback in an experienced NSW back three that also features Drew Mitchell and Adam Ashley-Cooper. Foley believes that the trio will “most definitely” benefit from the Bernard Foley-Berrick Barnes 10-12 combination.
“It would be silly for us to think that the space (out wide) will be there without us working for it. The Brumbies have a very good defensive record and if we’re to create opportunities for those guys to play with width, we need to do the hard work first.”
Led by prop Benn Robinson, who will make his 100th appearance for NSW, the HSBC Waratahs forward pack features an all-Wallaby front row in Robinson, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Sekope Kepu, with Dean Mumm and Kane Douglas in the second row and Dave Dennis, Chris Alcock and Wycliff Palu completing the pack.
Paying tribute to the contribution of his stand in skipper, Foley says Robinson did an enormous amount of work to return from the cruciate ligament that ruled him out of last year’s Rugby World Cup. “I think he just keeps getting better as the year’s gone on. Throughout what’s been a difficult season, he’s always remained enthusiastic and upbeat and led from the front.
“His tussle with Adam Jones (for the Wallabies against Wales) wasone of the world’s best tight-heads and one of the world’s best loose-heads going at it. it was fantastic for all front row pundits out there.”
A traditional part of the HSBC Waratahs calendar, this Saturday’s fixture against the Brumbies is Rugby Reunion Night, a chance for rugby players and supporters of all ages to wear their old club colours and reunite with their former rugby mates.
This year’s event also includes the annual Junior Clubs’ March Past, with hundreds of participants from junior rugby clubs across NSW expected to wear their colours and display their banners as they march around the stadium prior to the HSBC Waratahs’ final home FxPro Super Rugby match of the season. The march past commences at 6.20pm with the main game kicking off at 7.40pm.
To celebrate prop Benn Robinson achieving his NSW century, members of Shute Shield clubs will be able to claim a 50% discount off adult and child ticket prices, meaning adults can watch the match for just $10 and children $5.
Tickets for the match are available online from
Ticketek, priced from $20 for adults, $10 for children and $50 for a family of four.For transport information call 132 849 or visit the
match day section of
HSBC Waratahs website.HSBC WARATAHS v Brumbies
FxPro Super Rugby round 17
Saturday July 7, 2012
ANZ Stadium, 7.40pm
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Northern Suburbs)
14. Lachie Turner (Eastwood)
13. Rob Horne (Southern Districts)
12. Berrick Barnes (Sydney University), vice captain
11. Drew Mitchell (Balmain)
10. Bernard Foley (Sydney University)
9. Grayson Hart (Southern Districts)
8. Wycliff Palu (Manly)
7. Chris Alcock (Eastwood)
6. Dave Dennis (Sydney University)
5. Kane Douglas (Southern Districts)
4. Dean Mumm (Sydney University)
3. Sekope Kepu (Randwick)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (Parramatta)
1. Benn Robinson (Eastwood), captain
Replacements
16. Josh Mann-Rea (Manly)
17. Paddy Ryan (Sydney University)
18. Sitaleki Timani (Southern Districts)
19. Lopeti Timani (Southern Districts)
20. Brendan McKibbin (Eastern Suburbs)
21. Tom Carter (Sydney University)
22. Tom Kingston (Sydney University)
Coaching Staff
Michael Foley – Head Coach
Alan Gaffney – Senior Assistant Coach
Scott Bowen – Assistant Coach
Greg Mumm – Coaching Coordinator