Super Rugby Round 1 LIVE: Waratahs take on the Highlanders in Sydney

A little bit greasy underfoot

There have been some heavy spells of rain in Sydney and it is going to make handling difficult.

The Waratahs pack will have a huge job to do tonight and any team coached by Dan McKellar will have some bite in collisions.

Taniela Tupou will be vital in the scrum given he is facing the All Blacks loosehead prop Ethan de Groot. That first scrum will be a major marker.

Allianz Stadium before the Waratahs v Highlanders round one clashCredit: Getty Images

Welcome to the Suaalii show

Despite all of the Wallabies on display tonight for the Waratahs, there is one man the fans have come to see, Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii.

Suaalii played 15 at school, alongside wing and it will be interesting to see how he fares with a lot more space in front of him.

Suaalii has said how much he utilised winger Andrew Kellaway’s help for plays for the Waratahs, and we can expect these two to dovetail well.

oseph-Aukuso Suaalii of the Waratahs warms up before the round one Super Rugby Pacific match between NSW Waratahs and HighlandersCredit: Getty Images

Jack Bowen and his number one fan

I loved this story from one of our very talented cadets Frances Howe who is doing some great work in the sports department of the SMH at the moment.

Jack Bowen’s grandfather Tony Roche, the Australian tennis great is the young player’s number one fan and travels to every game he can. Their close bond is forged through sport and they catch up regularly.

Roche coached Roger Federer and the champion tennis player will hope that Bowen can come off the bench tonight and get a much-needed win for the Waratahs against a tough Highlanders team.

Not a bad man to ask for advice when the game is in the balance. My grandfather’s exploits on the school 5th XV in Belfast just didn’t resonate as much.

Read the piece about their relationship here

Young Waratah Jack Bowen made his debut for the team last season and ahead of the season starting on Friday, Jack’s grandfather is the eminent tennis player Tony Roche Credit: Steven Siewert

A reminder of how the Tahs will line out tonight

It can’t be forgotten, amidst the star recruits that have landed in Sydney from the Rebels and the Roosters, the Waratahs have also lost some high quality players. Izaia Perese, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Dylan Pietsch being three that come to mind.

But there is quality across this Waratahs team, the major issue will be how they click as a unit. Dan McKellar and captain Jake Gordon have reiterated that they won’t be perfect.

Nobody is expecting them be, but the crowd tonight in Sydney will definitely expect a win with this amount of talent in sky blue jerseys.

Who have you got ?

We are back

By Jonathan Drennan

Good evening and happy Valentine’s Day to all of you rugby fans.

We have waited patiently, and finally, it is here, the new-look Waratahs are taking on the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium in round one of Super Rugby.

I will be taking you through the first part of proceedings and my colleague Dom Brock could well come in as an impact sub later.

Talking points? There are quite a few. After last season’s annus horribilis where the Tahs were welded to bottom of the ladder with just two wins against a decidedly off-colour Crusaders, we are back with a new coach in Dan McKellar and a new roster filled with Wallabies who have arrived from Melbourne.

The Waratahs have also been given a kind draw, they face a well-organised Highlanders tonight at home, buoyed by a home crowd desperate to see what Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii can do with more space at fullback.

Suaalii will hog the headlines, but spare some love for the frontrow. We have a potential Wallabies starting front three of Angus Bell, a fit again Dave Porecki at hooker and Taniela Tupou who is looking to shine at his new club.

Last year in the Waratahs’ first home game against the Highlanders in round three five-eighth Tane Edmed missed a penalty after the siren, time for redemption?

Looking forward to this.