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- The NSW Waratahs have won their last eight home games against the Sharks, their last defeat at home to the Durban club coming back in 2000.
- The NSW Waratahs will be facing South African opposition for the first time this season, since the beginning of 2017 they’ve won just one of their seven games against sides from South Africa (D1, L5), that victory coming against the Stormers in February 2018.
- The Sharks have lost their last two matches in Australia, they’ve not lost more consecutive games there since a run of four straight defeats in Australia across the 2008 and 2009 campaigns.
- No side has scored more tries in the opening quarter of games this season than the NSW Waratahs who have crossed eight times in that period (level with Highlanders and Brumbies).
- The Waratahs’ Michael Hooper has made the most tackles of any player this year (122), the Sharks’ Daniel du Preez has made the most carries of any forward in 2019 (106).
The Waratahs have played the Sharks 20 times in Super rugby since 1998 and the Waratahs have won 12 matches, drawn 2 and lost 6 times.
The Waratahs 12 wins out of 20 matches gives them a record of winning 60% of their matches against the Sharks regardless of venue.
This weekend the match will be played in Sydney which is home for the Waratahs and the venue where the teams have met 10 times.
In those 10 matches played in Sydney the Waratahs have won 9 matches and lost 1. This gives the Waratahs a record of winning 90% of their matches against the Sharks at home.
The average score when the Waratahs play the Sharks in Sydney is : Waratahs 34 Sharks 17.
The Waratahs won the first match between these teams in Sydney in 1998. The teams met again in Sydney in March 2000 and the Sharks won. Since then the Waratahs have gone unbeaten at home and have won 8 matches in a row against the Sharks.
The Sharks therefore have not won in Sydney since 2000.
Average score: Waratahs 27 Sharks 22
Last five results
Sat, 03 Mar 2018 Waratahs 24-24 Sharks @Durban
Sat, 11 Mar 2017 Waratahs 14-37 Sharks @Durban
Sat, 16 May 2015 Waratahs 33-18 Sharks @Sydney
Sat, 29 Mar 2014 Waratahs 10-32 Sharks @Durban
Sat, 24 Mar 2012 Waratahs 34-30 Sharks @Sydney
Waratahs overall record against the Sharks
Played 20 , Wins 12 , Losses 6 , Draws 2
Teams
Waratahs
15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Cam Clark, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Curtis Rona, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Jack Dempsey, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes
Replacements:16 Tolu Latu, 17 Rory O’Connor, 18 Chris Talakai, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Lachlan Swinton 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Alex Newsome
Sharks
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 S’bu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Tendai Mtawarira (c)
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Ruan Botha, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Marius Louw
Match Officials and details
Date : Saturday 27 April
Venue : Western Sydney Stadium
Kick Off local: 19:45
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 1:Damon Murphy
Assistant Ref 2:Amy Perrett
TMO : George Ayoub
