NSW Waratahs head coach Rob Penney has used the start of the revamped Australian-only Super Rugby competition to blood a host of fresh faces, with seven debutants named in the matchday squad for Friday evening’s opening clash with the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium.

NSW Waratahs head coach Rob Penney has resisted the urge for wholesale changes to his side, after last weekend’s unedifying 51-14 defeat at the hands of the Chiefs. But he has called for a response from his playing group when they take on the high-flying Brumbies in the derby in Canberra on Sunday.

Different season, same old Crusaders. Despite losing a bevy of star names in Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Jordan Taufua and Matt Todd in the off-season, the champion Cantabrians have opened the defence of their Super Rugby title with an impressive 43-25 defeat of the Waratahs in Nelson. But the similarly new-look Tahs can take plenty from their first serious hit-out under head coach Rob Penney, in particular the talents of two-try debutant winger Mark Nawaqanitawase.