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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAustralia welcomes the return of professional rugby union on Friday, live on Sky Sports, as the launch of Super Rugby AU brings to an end a shutdown marked by pay disputes, boardroom upheaval and redundancies triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n
The country’s four Super Rugby teams and Perth-based Western Force will play in a full home-and-away competition culminating in a two-week play-offs.<\/p>\n
The competition kicks off at Brisbane’s Lang Park on Friday when the Reds host the Waratahs, live on Sky Sports Action<\/em> from 10am, a clash of the country’s two traditional rugby powerhouses.<\/p>\n Much like the national Wallabies side, both provinces have fallen on hard times in recent years but the Waratahs have dominated their northern neighbours with a winning streak dating back to 2013.<\/p>\n However, Brad Thorn’s Reds are confident of ending the streak against the rebuilding Waratahs and are keen to give their fans a reason to test the cap of 25,000 permitted at Lang Park under lightened social distancing restrictions.<\/p>\n Barring the Brumbies, Australia’s teams struggled in Super Rugby and the Wallabies’ steady decline since their run to the 2015 World Cup final was evident during their quarter-final exit from the tournament in Japan last year.<\/p>\n Rugby Australia (RA) are hoping a number of law variations borrowed from rugby league, the more popular code in Australia, could contribute to a better spectacle in Super Rugby AU and fire up the faithful.<\/p>\n New Zealand has also tweaked rules to speed up the game for its domestic ‘Super Rugby Aotearoa’ competition, which has proved a success despite some huge penalty counts since kicking off last month.<\/p>\n The rules may be a bit different but class should ultimately prevail, meaning the Dan McKellar-coached Brumbies remain favourites to win the domestic title.<\/p>\n They kick off their campaign in Canberra on Saturday, live on Sky Sports<\/em> from 10.10am, when they host the Melbourne Rebels, a team forced out of their home state of Victoria due to a coronavirus spike.<\/p>\n Many neutrals will throw their support behind Western Force, who have a bye in the first week. RA axed the Force from Super Rugby at the end of the 2017 season in a polarising decision that angered many in Western Australia.<\/p>\n Now backed by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest, the Force hope to be the “feel-good story” of the competition and have recruited a slew of former Wallabies to show they mean business.<\/p>\n First up, it’s the Reds vs the Waratahs on Friday, with team news below:<\/p>\n Reds: <\/strong>15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Jock Campbell, 13 Hunter Paisami, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Tate McDermott; 1 Harry Hoopert, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Angus Blyth, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6 Liam Wright (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson.<\/p>\n Replacements:<\/em> 16 Alex Mafi, 17 JP Smith, 18 Josh Nasser, 19 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20 Angus Scott Young, 21 Scott Malolua, 22 Chris Feauai Sautia, 23 Josh Flook.<\/p>\n Waratahs: <\/strong>15 Jack Maddocks, 14 James Ramm, 13 Alex Newsome, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Mitch Short, 1 Angus Bell, 2 Robbie Abel, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 4 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rob Simmons (c), 6 Lachie Swinton, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 Will Harris.<\/p>\n Replacements: <\/em>16 Tom Horton, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Jack Dempsey, 21 Michael McDonald, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Tepai Moeroa.<\/p>\n Tags:<\/b> Sky Sports<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\nLive Super Rugby<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n![\"Reds](\"https:\/\/e2.365dm.com\/20\/06\/768x432\/skysports-rugby-brad-thorn_5025692.jpg?20200629154024\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nReds head coach Brad Thorn is looking for his side to end a losing streak against the Waratahs which stretches back to 2013<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\nLive Super Rugby<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Summary: <\/strong>
Watch Reds vs Waratahs live on Sky Sports Action on Friday from 10am
See Campaign: <\/strong>https:\/\/www.skysports.com\/rugby-union\/news\/<\/a>
Contact Information:<\/b>
Sky Sports<\/p>\n
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James O’Connor and Michael Hooper are back in action for the Reds and Waratahs on Friday – Who will make a winning start? Australia welcomes the return of professional rugby union on Friday, live on Sky Sports, as the launch of Super Rugby AU brings to an end a shutdown marked by pay disputes, boardroom upheaval … Continue reading Super Rugby AU: Reds vs Waratahs team news<\/span><\/a> Continue Reading