NSW Waratahs name unchanged starting line-up

February 18, 2026
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Ultimate Rugby

The Waratahs have named an unchanged starting line-up for the Round 2 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific fixture against the Fijian Drua at Allianz Stadium on Friday night (7.35pm kick-off).

The only switch to the squad of 23 is Ioane Moananu as the replacement hooker, who will make his Waratahs Super Rugby Pacific debut if he takes to the field.

The Waratahs and the Drua made more offloads than any other teams in Round 1 with 11, with the home side’s attacking game paying dividends in the 36-12 bonus point win over rivals the Reds.

And head coach Dan McKellar is expecting another exciting game at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.

“It’s going to be a cracking game for the fans on Friday night,” McKellar said.

“The Drua play a unique brand of rugby. we need to make sure that we are disciplined and consistent in everything we do. They are a dangerous opposition and will punish any team from turnover.

“We were pleased with our performance against the Reds and the continuation of the work we did over the pre-season, but as expected after Round 1, there are areas for improvement.

“We’re delighted that Ioane gets an opportunity. He’s worked hard since he arrived at the club and it was a tough decision to leave him out of the 23 for Round 1.”

In the front row, Tom Lambert, Ethan Dobbins and Daniel Botha are named once again, with Botha remarkably playing the full game last week at tighthead prop.

In the second row, captain Matt Philip will lead the side again from lock, with Miles Amatosero partnering him. Clem Halaholo, one of the seven debutants last week, retains his place at blindside flanker after a hugely impressive performance, with a try and 55 carry metres in just 50 minutes of action.

Openside flanker Charlie Gamble also had an impactful display with 17 tackles (none missed) and two assists, becoming the first Waratahs forward to register multiple try assists in a game since Jack Dempsey in 2020. Pete Samu completes the back-row after an assured performance in his club debut against the Reds.

37-cap Wallaby Jake Gordon and Lawson Creighton are again the halves, with Creighton kicking 11 points from the tee last weekend.

In the centres, Joey Walton and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii line up alongside each other again for the second game in a row, surpassing last season’s total of one game in the centres together.

Max Jorgensen, who has now been directly involved in six tries across his last five Super Rugby Pacific games, scoring four tries and registering two assists, starts again at left wing, with debutants from last week Harry Potter and James Hendren lining up alongside him. Hendren, 23, was particularly impressive, carrying 98m and kicking 129m from just three out of hand.

On the bench, Moananu comes in to replace Folau Faingaa, who suffered a concussion against the Reds.

Moananu, 25, is a qualified nurse of Samoan heritage and won the Super Rugby Pacific competition with the Crusaders last year, scoring five tries in 12 appearances. He was signed in the off-season and scored the match-winning try in the 50-48 trial win against the Brumbies at Marist College earlier this month.

Isaac Kailea and Teddy Wilson, both try scorers off the bench last weekend, are primed along with the other substitutes to make an impact once again.

You can buy tickets for the NSW Waratahs’ Round 2 fixture against the Fijian Drua at Allianz Stadium on Friday 20 February here

NSW Waratahs v Fijian Drua

Round 2 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific, Friday 20 February, 7.35pm kick-off AEDT

Allianz Stadium, 40/44 Driver Ave, Moore Park, NSW 2021

Starting XV: