Hickey confirms pack
of changes for derby
Rupert Guinness | March 12, 2009

http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...26.html?page=2

The Waratahs may still rejig their forward pack for tomorrow night's derby against the Brumbies in Canberra, despite No.8 Wycliff Palu being likely to start with a fractured hand.

The 24-man squad named on Wednesday will travel to the ACT by bus today for their Super 14 clash against the seventh-placed Brumbies.

But coach Chris Hickey admitted yesterday's prediction in the Herald that Chris Thomson might be picked to start in the second row, with Dean Mumm relinquishing the No.4 jersey to start as blindside breakaway (pushing Ben Mowen to the bench) was "fairly accurate".

It is also expected that Timana Tahu will start at No.12, with Tom Carter going to the bench.

"It's about weighing up a good balance for this game. Obviously, we have also wanted to see what they come up with," Hickey said yesterday.

The Brumbies, meanwhile, confirmed they had reconfigured their back line, with halfback Josh Holmes promoted to No.9 for Patrick Phibbs.

"That is probably a pretty significant selection," Hickey said. "Holmes is a good ball-runner. He is a genuine threat as a No.9, and a terrific support player. It probably gives a few clues as to how they want to approach the game."

As reported, Christian Lealiifano has held on to the No.10 jersey, while Tyrone Smith has been promoted to No.12. Stirling Mortlock has moved out one place to No.13. Adam Ashley-Cooper has gone to one of the wings with Francis Fainifo to force Clyde Rathbone onto the bench, while Mark Gerrard remains as starting fullback.

One surprise in the Brumbies' line-up was Peter Kimlin as the run-on blindside breakaway.

Julian Salvi, dropped to the bench as reported, was expected to have been replaced by Sitaleki Timani, who was bracketed with Shawn Mackay as he still has a knee concern.

At Waratahs training yesterday, Palu, with his left hand still bandaged from its fracture in last Friday's win against the Reds, ran with the side before a 40-minute scrummaging session.

"He pulled up well. We are pretty confident that he will be right to start," Hickey said.

Palu will be monitored in this afternoon's captain's run, after which an assessment will also be made on prop Al Baxter's calf muscle strain, and a full NSW team named, with Tatafu Polota-Nau to be included after being cleared of concussion.

Baxter, one game from a 100th cap for the undefeated NSW side, did not train yesterday but rated his playing chances as 50-50.

The Waratahs-Brumbies fixture offered more edge than a NSW-Queensland match, says NSW fullback Sam Norton-Knight, who will play his 50th Super game. He said the derby "has probably caused the most interest from an on-field point of view".

"There has been the off-field stuff from Queensland, and they are starting to play some great rugby. But over the previous five years, they probably haven't been where they want to be."

Norton-Knight, who will play for the Cardiff Blues in Wales after this season, speaks from experience.

He earned nine Super caps with the Brumbies after his debut against the Crusaders in 2005 before playing for NSW from 2006.

He said the Brumbies' rivalry with the Waratahs dated from when the Canberra side, which he joined in 2003, was founded in 1996 with players who were mostly NSW discards.

The Brumbies are still the only Australian side to claim a Super title - in 2001 and 2004.

When he was there, the Brumbies "hated the Waratahs", he said.

"I think that attitude permeates through most of the Australian teams. So it's not unfamiliar. But it was a game that [the Brumbies] really targeted.

"A lot of the players were blokes overlooked for the Waratahs. That was a big part of it, I would have thought."