Do-or-die Waratahs Rush Noriega Back Into Line-up
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday May 1, 2003
The Waratahs last night chose experience by rushing Test prop Patricio Noriega into the starting line-up for Saturday night's Super 12 match against the Highlanders in Dunedin.
NSW must win this match to have any chance of playing in the finals series, prompting Waratahs coach Bob Dwyer to include Noriega in the front row, start with Duncan McRae instead of Shaun Berne at five-eighth, and move Matthew Burke to fullback.
Noriega, who has missed most of the Super 12 with a back injury, was expected to play off the bench but instead takes over at tighthead for Al Baxter .
Dwyer has also gone for outright speed by preferring Milton Thaiday on the wing ahead of Wallaby Scott Staniforth.
NSW: Matthew Burke; Milton Thaiday, Morgan Turinui, Nathan Grey, Lote Tuqiri; Duncan McRae, Chris Whitaker; David Lyons, Phil Waugh, Simon Kasprowicz, Jono West, Tom Bowman, Patricio Noriega, Brendan Cannon, Matt Dunning. Res: Adam Freier, Al Baxter, Van Humphries, Lei Tomiki, Elia Tuqiri, Shaun Berne, Scott Staniforth.
© 2003 Sydney Morning Herald
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