The NSW Waratahs will head to the Gold Coast this Friday to take on the Western Force in Round 7 of Vodafone Super Rugby AU @ 11:05 SA Time. The Waratahs won 23-14 against the Western Force in their Round Two meeting. The Waratahs are currently third on the Super Rugby AU log with eleven points after a great win of 45-12 against the Reds last weekend,
Rob Simmons will return from injury after being a late scratching from his side's convincing last-start victory over the Reds.
The returning skipper will partner Tom Staniforth in the second row, with Ned Hanigan shifting to the reserves.
Tetera Faulkner earns his first start for the Waratahs in Super Rugby AU, while Robbe Abel returns to the bench after being unavailable for personal reasons.
It's an unchanged starting backline for Rob Penney, with Mich Short, Ben Donaldson and Joey Walton all on the bench.
Waratahs: 1. Tom Robertson, 2. Ton Horton, 3. Te Tera Faulkner, 4. Tom Staniforth, 5. Rob Simmons (c), 6. Lachie Swinton, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Jack Dempsey, 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Will Harrison, 11. Alex Newsome, 12. Karmichael Hunt, 13. Lalakai Foketi, 14. James Ramm, 15. Jack Maddocks. Replacements: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19. Ned Hanigan, 20. Hugh Sinclair, 21. Mitch Short, 22. Ben Donaldson, 23. Joey Walton.