VENUE & TIME: ANZ Stadium, Saturday February 25, 7.40pm (AEDT).
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 17 (Super Rugby only) - Reds 9, Waratahs 7, Draw 1.
LAST TIME: April 23, 2011 (Brisbane) - Reds 19-15 Waratahs (round 10).
WALKING WOUNDED: The Waratahs enter the season opener without several Test stars including Berrick Barnes who was ruled out with a minor groin strain on Thursday morning. He joins Drew Mitchell (ankle), Lachie Turner (hamstring), Rocky Elsom (hamstring) and Dan Vickerman (leg) in a crowded Waratahs casualty ward. Daniel Halangahu will play at five-eighth and wear the captain's armband in Barnes' absence, while rookies Tom Kingston and Brackin Karauria-Henry replace Turner and Mitchell on the wings. Prop Benn Robinson and No.8 Wycliff Palu will both return from long-term injuries, while new recruits Sarel Pretorius and Adam Ashley-Cooper will make their Waratahs debuts. Reds playmaker Quade Cooper will miss at least the first two months of the campaign with a knee injury, with Mike Harris given first crack at the No.10 jumper. Hooker Saia Fainga'a (ankle) and winger Rod Davies (hamstring) will miss the Round 1 clash, with James Hanson and Dom Shipperley promoted to the starting side. Scott Higginbotham returns from a back injury to boost the number of Wallabies in the Reds squad to 10.
FORM:
Waratahs Past Five:
Week 1 Finals: Loss: 26-13 v Blues, Auckland
Week 18: Loss, 41-7 v Waratahs, Sydney
Week 17: Win, 32-17 v Rebels, Canberra
Week 16: Win 22-14 v Reds, Brisbane
Week 15: Loss, 16-3 v Stormers, Canberra
Reds Past Five:
Final: Win, 18-13 v Crusaders, Brisbane
Semi-final: Win, 30-13 v Blues, Brisbane
Week 18: Win, 19-11 v Chiefs, Hamilton
Week 17: Win, 24-21 v Force, Perth
Week 16: Loss, 22-14 v Brumbies, Brisbane
The Waratahs smashed second-string Samoa and Tonga in their trial matches, but injuries to key players will test their depth in the opening round. The line-out was an area of concern for the 'Tahs against Tonga last week, while it will take a few weeks for the backline to click given that half-back Sarel Pretorius and replacement flyhalf Daniel Halangahu have barely played together. The Reds tuned up for their title defence with trial wins over the Brumbies 27-20 and the Force 40-10. Cooper's absence is definitely a factor, but with 15 members of the squad that beat the Crusaders in the 2011 final backing up this weekend, combinations shouldn't be a problem for Ewen McKenzie's men.
WHO'S HOT: South African recruit and half-back Sarel Pretorius has been impressive in the pre-season and should more than cover the loss of departed No.9 Luke Burgess. Pretorius, the leading try scorer in the competition for the Cheetahs last season, possesses blinding speed and can cut opponents to pieces at any moment. His battle with opposite number Will Genia will be a highlight. The above mentioned Genia is the best player in the world in his position and, while injured five-eighth Quade Cooper gets most of the headlines, the No.9 is the true superstar of the Reds. His service is first class, his tactical kicking game underpinned Queensland's 2011 success, while his ability to snipe from the base of the ruck helped drag his side across the line in the Super Rugby final.
WE THINK: The bookies can't split these two old foes,