Waratahs coach wields axe for must-win Reds battle
Dan McKellar has placed his bumbling NSW Waratahs on notice, wielding the axe for the side's Super Rugby Pacific do-or-die derby with the Queensland Reds.
Fed up after losing all five games on the road this campaign and submitting 40-17 to the ACT Brumbies last start in Canberra, McKellar has made a whopping six changes for the Reds' visit to Sydney.
Most significantly, Wallabies hooker David Porecki returns from a chronic calf injury while Tane Edmed will make his first start since round three after replacing playmaker Lawson Creighton for Friday night's must-win battle at Allianz Stadium. Powerhouse lock Fergus Lee-Warner is also back from a foot injury, replacing Jake Gordon's caretaker captain Hugh Sinclair, who, like Creighton, has been unceremoniously dumped from the match-day 23 altogether.
With the third-last-placed Tahs' season on the line, skipper Gordon backed McKellar's hardline selection approach.
Jake Gordon is wrapped up during what's been a difficult few seasons in sky blue for the Waratahs. (James Gourley/AAP PHOTOS)
"Dan's pretty clear on what he expects," Gordon said after recommitting to the Waratahs and Australian rugby for at least two more years on Wednesday.
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"Same with the whole coaching team and I guess if you are not willing to meet that, yeah, he's definitely happy to make calls.
"But I think he's been fair in his decision making."
Centre Lalakai Foketi, flanker Jamie Adamson, second-rower Ben Grant and hooker Ethan Dobbins, who has made way for Porecki, are the other players dumped.
"It's all about performance," McKellar said.
"I say to the players, it's never personal. It's about making individuals better and us better collectively as a team, and that's our job as coaches and as players.
"It's great to have 'Porks' (Porecki) back. A leader in our group, outstanding set piece, top three or four in the world for his lineout throwing and his physicality. "When he's at his best, he plays nice and physical. And again, he just has a strong presence within the group, provides others with a little bit of comfort."
A few familiar faces return to the starting line up.
🆚 Reds
📆 This Friday 7:30pm
🏟️ Allianz Stadium
🎫 Tickets in bio#wearetahs pic.twitter.com/vycp7H909q
— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) May 7, 2025
Wallabies centre Hunter Paisami (corked leg) is out for fourth-placed Reds, but former Test teammate Filipo Daugunu will return from injury.
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Daugunu will play outside centre while Dre Pakeho shifts to his preferred No.12 spot to replace Paisami.
Daugunu (leg) had been in terrific form before injury and will give the Reds a needed jolt after their morale-busting, last-minute loss to Fijian Drua in Suva last week.
Josh Nasser is also back from injury in a boost to their hooking stocks while Tom Lynagh returns to the starting line-up after Harry McLaughlin-Phillips wore the No.10 jersey in Fiji.
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