© 2021 Getty ImagesPERTH, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 15: Tom Robertson poses during a Western Force Super Rugby training session at Guildford Grammar School on January 15, 2021 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Wallabies prop Tom Robertson has been named to face his former teammates for the first time as the Western Force visit the NSW Waratahs in a clash of two winless Super Rugby AU teams on Friday.
Force loosehead Robertson admitted in pre-season that he "wasn't that happy at the Waratahs" - where he played from 2016-20.
Read on for all the Super Rugby AU and Aotearoa team news.
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SUPER RUGBY AU, ROUND THREE
WARATAHS v FORCE, Friday 7.45pm AEDT at Sydney's Bankwest Stadium
Under pressure NSW coach Rob Penney has reacted to his side's record defeat against the Brumbies by switching outside backs Mark Nawaqanitawase and Jack Maddocks to play the Force.
Nawaqanitawase moves from the right wing to fullback with Test flyer Maddocks now wearing the No.14 jersey after two ineffective games at the back.
In other changes to the starting XV, lock Hugh Sinclair comes in for Jack Whetton, hooker Dave Porecki replaces Tom Horton and prop Tetera Faulkner gets the nod ahead of Angus Bell, who has an ankle injury.
Winger James Ramm said Penney had given the team some tough love this week.
"We did cop a spray deservingly, yes, and it's so that we can better," Ramm said.
"Sometimes you have to be tough on each other."
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© GettyTom Robertson in action during a Western Force training session at UWA Rugby Club.
Meanwhile, Force prop Tom Robertson might come in for some special attention after making some interesting observations about his former club in the pre-season.
"I wasn't that happy at the Waratahs to be honest," Robertson said.
"I was considering staying there for another two years, but in the end the upside to the Force was too big to ignore.
"There's a lot of off-field issues at the Waratahs. I love the players there. The player group is amazing. But just coming over here, it's a breath of fresh air."
Argentina halfback Tomas Cubelli will start ahead of Force captain Ian Prior, with backrower Brynard Stander leading the side for the first time.
"It's nothing but 100 per cent from Brynard," Force coach Tim Sampson said.
"He trains exceptionally well, he's a very passionate and loyal player.
"His contributions to the club from over the years have been outstanding.
"It's a great achievement for Brynard to lead the team out this week."
Former Reds five-eighth Jake McIntyre will steer a Force backline including former Brumbies speedster Toni Pulu.
WARATAHS (15-1): Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jack Maddocks, Alex Newsome (c), Tepai Moeroa, James Ramm, Will Harrison, Jack Grant, Jack Dempsey, Carlo Tizzano, Lachie Swinton, Hugh Sinclair, Sam Caird, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Dave Porecki, Tetera Faulkner
Reserves: Tom Horton, Sio Tatola, Chris Talakai, Jack Whetton, Jeremy Williams, Henry Robertson, Tane Edmed, Triston Reilly
FORCE (15-1): Rob Kearney, Byron Ralston, Tevita Kuridrani, Richard Kahui, Toni Pulu, Jake McIntyre, Tomas Cubelli, Brynard Stander (c), Kane Koteka, Tim Anstee, Fergus Lee Warner, Jeremy Thrush, Santiago Medrano, Feleti Kaitu'u, Tom Robertson
Reserves: Andrew Ready, Angus Wagner, Greg Holmes, Ryan McCauley, Tomas Lezana, Ian Prior, Domingo Miotti, Marcel Brache
BRUMBIES v REBELS, Saturday 7.45pm AEDT at Canberra's GIO Stadium
Wallabies prop Scott Sio will make his first appearance of the Super Rugby season after overcoming a back complaint to start at loosehead for the red-hot Brumbies.
Sio comes in for James Slipper in the only change to Dan McKellar's starting side.
"Scotty's prepared well and got 60 minutes last week with the Runners," coach McKellar said.
"Sol Kata's the same, he played in the Runners game and will get a chance off the bench and James Tucker is looking at his first game for the Brumbies which is a great story.
"He's had to face and deal with a lot of adversity injury-wise so I'm really pleased he's back playing Super Rugby."
Meanwhile, Rebels coach Dave Wessels has shuffled his forward pack.
In come flanker Josh Kemeny, lock Ross Haylett-Petty and hooker James Hanson while out go Brad Wilkin, Steve Cummins and Jordan Uelese.
"We're excited to have Ross back and I think some of the fans, especially those who have been with the Rebels from the start, will be keen to see how Chibba (Hanson) gets on," Rebels forwards coach Geoff Parling said.
"It was very close at lock with Steve Cummins, who's been doing excellent work with our younger players but sometimes it just takes new player a bit of time to get used to a team's system.
"We know this week will be another step up again, so what I really want to see again is a team that looks organised and that has fire in the belly and one that fights hard for each other."
BRUMBIES (15-1): Tom Banks, Andy Muirhead, Len Ikitau, Irae Simone, Mack Hansen, Noah Lolesio, Nic White, Pete Samu, Jahrome Brown, Rob Valetini, Caderyn Neville, Darcy Swain, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Connal McInerney, Scott Sio
Reserves: Lachlan Lonergan, Harry Lloyd, Tom Ross, James Tucker, Tom Cusack, Ryan Lonergan, Reesjan Pasitoa, Solomone Kata
REBELS (15-1): Tom Pincus, Lachie Anderson, Stacey Ili, Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Matt To'omua, Joe Powell, Michael Wells, Richard Hardwick, Josh Kemeny, Trevor Hosea, Ross Haylett-Petty, Pone Fa'amausili, James Hanson, Cabous Eloff
Reserves: Ed Craig, Isaac Aedo Kailea, Lucio Sordoni, Steve Cummins, Rob Leota, James Tuttle/Brad Wilkin/ Tom Nowlan, Frank Lomani, Glen Vaihu
© GettyThe Highlanders perform a haka in recognition of Ash Dixon's 100th Super Rugby game.
SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA, ROUND TWO
CHIEFS v HIGHLANDERS, Friday 5.05pm AEDT at Hamilton's FMG Stadium
Former Highlanders pivot Bryn Gatland will make his Chiefs debut as the Hamilton-based side open their Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign on Friday.
Gatland starts at No.10 while prop Sione Mafileo, flanker Samipeni Finau and winger Jonah Lowe have also been named for their first Chiefs starts.
The Highlanders, meanwhile, have named a new halves pairing with exciting youngsters Folau Fakatava and Josh Ioane starting ahead of Aaron Smith and Mitch Hunt, who moves to fullback.
CHIEFS (15-1): Damian McKenzie, Jonah Lowe, Sean Wainui, Anton Lienert-Brown, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Bryn Gatland, Brad Weber (co-c), Luke Jacobson, Sam Cane (co-c), Samipeni Finau, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Tupou Vaa'i, Sione Mafileo, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Reuben O'Neill
Reserves: Bradley Slater, Ollie Norris, Angus Ta'avao, Mitchell Brown, Mitchell Karpik, Xavier Roe, Alex Nankivell, Shaun Stevenson
HIGHLANDERS (15-1): Mitch Hunt, Connor Garden-Bachop, Ngantungane Punivai, Sio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Josh Ioane, Folau Fakatava, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, Billy Harmon, Shannon Frizell, Jack Regan, Josh Dickson, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon (co-c), Daniel Lienert-Brown
Reserves: Liam Coltman, Josh Hohneck, Jeff Thwaites, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Liam Squire, Aaron Smith (co-c), Solomon Alaimalo, Hugh Renton
CRUSADERS v HURRICANES, Sunday 2.35pm AEDT at Christchurch's Orangetheory Stadium
CRUSADERS (TBC)
HURRICANES (TBC)