Jack Debreczeni marked his 100th Super Rugby game as the NSW Waratahs met the Highlanders in Dunedin in a highlanders vs waratahs clash both sides needed to win. The Waratahs arrived off a disappointing home defeat to the Western Force, while both teams were trying to stay in touch with the top six.
Debreczeni leads the Waratahs
Debreczeni led the Waratahs out at flyhalf, with Jake Gordon taking the captaincy in the absence of Matt Philip. The selection gave the visitors a clear spine for a match that carried immediate finals consequences.
The Waratahs named Isaac Kailea, Ethan Dobbins, Dan Botha, Miles Amatosero, Angus Blyth, Angus Scott-Young, Charlie Gamble, Pete Samu, Gordon, Debreczeni, Sid Harvey, Lawson Creighton, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Andrew Kellaway and Max Jorgensen in their starting XV. That group had to reset quickly after the Western Force loss and deliver on the road.
Highlanders keep Tangitau
The Highlanders also needed victory to improve their chances of reaching the finals, and Caleb Tangitau returned after being cleared following a concussion. Henry Bell was added to the bench after initially not being named when the teams were published.
The home side started Ethan de Groot, Jack Taylor, Angus Ta'avao, Tomas Lavanini, Mitch Dunshea, Te Kamaka Howden, Lucas Casey, Nikora Broughton, Adam Lennox, Cameron Millar, Jonah Lowe, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Jona Nareki, Tangitau and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. Jordan Way and George Myers were the assistant referees for the match.
Top six pressure in Dunedin
Both teams came into the contest needing wins to stay in touch with the top six, so the stakes were the same even if the circumstances were different. For the Waratahs, the milestone belonged to Debreczeni; for the Highlanders, the return of Tangitau sharpened a side still chasing consistency at a crucial point in the season.
The result in Dunedin carried more weight than a single round of Super Rugby Pacific. It shaped the next stretch for two clubs that could not afford to fall further behind the group ahead of them.
