NSW Waratahs backrower Hugh Sinclair, who will captain the side against NSW Pasifica on Saturday, is urging teammates to seize their first trial match as an opportunity to push for selection in Round 1 of Super Rugby Pacific 2025.
Sinclair, selected at Number 8 for Saturday’s game at Eric Tweedale Stadium in Granville, Sydney, will skipper the side in the absence of NSW Waratahs captain Jake Gordon who has only recently returned from Wallabies duties.
Saturday’s trial features in a triple header, starting with NSW Waratahs Under 20s playing NSW Pasifica Under 20s at 1 pm.
The NSW Waratahs play NSW Pasifica at 4 pm, then the NSW Waratahs Women play NSW Pasifica Women at 6 pm.
NSW Waratahs Head Coach Dan McKellar has picked a twenty-seven-strong team for the first of two trials before Super Rugby Pacific starts on 14 February.
The NSW Waratahs’ campaign begins with them hosting the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium in Moore Park, Sydney.
The team for Saturday is made up of players who have spent most of the last fourteen weeks in pre-season training at Daceyville in Sydney; and Sinclair says they are all excited to put into practice all they have learned in that time.
“Everyone gets over running into each other for twelve or fourteen weeks,” Sinclair said.
“It’s has been a tough preseason. So, the boys are ready to have a crack.
“It's a weird one. You don't really know anything about the opposition.
“The boys are just excited to have a crack in this trial this week, the trial next week [against the ACT Brumbies in Bowral], and then we're into it [Super Rugby Pacific]. Everyone wants be in that team on ‘Feb 14,’
“[Saturday is] one of those games where if we play together, we'll get the result we're after. But if you do your own thing, it might go the wrong way.
“We have just got to focus on ourselves. We can't really preview or review the opposition.
"We must focus on ourselves and play our game, play the game that the coaches have instilled over the last few months, and go from there.”
Sinclair said while there is plenty of experience in the side for Saturday, he is excited by what the younger players in the team will bring to the game as well.
“It's super important we have these games and that the boys step up at that at that young age and push for spots,” Sinclair said.
“Like yesterday, we probably had our most intense and best session during pre-season.
“All the boys put it out on the park. Now it’s against a different opposition, and [they should] put their foot forward.
“You never know. You have a good game this week, you get selected next week, and then all of a sudden you could be in the team on 14 [February].
“Everyone's angling towards that and wants to play well.”
- Loosehead Prop: Tom Lambert
- Hooker: Julian Heavan
- Tighthead Prop: Daniel Botha
- Left Lock: Felix Kalapu
- Right Lock: Ben Grant
- Left Flanker: Leafi Talataina
- Right Flanker: Jamie Adamson
- Number Eight: Hugh Sinclair (C)
- Scrumhalf: Teddy Wilson
- Flyhalf: Jack Bowen
- Left Wing: Darby Lancaster
- Inside Centre: Joey Walton
- Outside Centre: Henry O’Donnell
- Right Wing: Triston Rielly
- Fullback: James Hendren
- Reserve: Ethan Dobbins
- Reserve: Adrian Brown
- Reserve: Siosifa Amone
- Reserve: Ale Aho
- Reserve: Clem Halaholo
- Reserve: Jack Grant
- Reserve: Joey Fowler
- Reserve: Archie Saunders
- Reserve: Brad Amituanai
- Reserve: Mesu Kunavula
- Reserve: Jackson Ropata
- Reserve: Charlie Gamble
When: Saturday 25 January
Where: Eric Tweedale Stadium, Granville
Times:
1pm - NSW Waratahs U20s v NSW Pacifica U20s
4pm - NSW Waratahs v NSW Pacifica
6pm -NSW Waratah Women v NSW Pacifica
All three games will be broadcast live and free on NSW Rugby TV https://www.nswrugbytv.com.au/
