Promising back rower Beau Robinson has been given a chance to deliver the goods at Super 14 level, called into the Waratahs squad along with Wallaby hooker Adam Freier for this weekend's clash with the Sharks.

Freier returned to the starting side following a hamstring injury with Tatafu Polota-Nau dropping back to the reserves, while Robinson replaced fellow back rower Tim Davidson on the bench for the game in Durban early Saturday morning (AEDT).

"We think there's going to be a lot of ball movement and we need some physicality," NSW coach Ewen McKenzie said explaining the changes.

"We want to make sure we're contesting at every possible moment."

While Robinson has played most of his club rugby at openside flanker, McKenzie said the 20-year-old Alice Springs born forward had trained in a number of positions.

He has enjoyed a rapid rise through the NSW ranks after returning to rugby last year following a season in rugby league with the Bulldogs.

Robinson said he was disappointed with comparisons made between him and NSW skipper and openside flanker Phil Waugh.

"I don't enjoy the comparisons, I haven't really achieved much, and I don't imagine he'd enjoy either because he's accomplished a lot," Robinson said.

McKenzie said Robinson had been one of the Waratahs' best players in the trials and it had been hard to leave him out of last week's team.

"He's very aggressive and very competitive and one of the abilities he has got is to take the opportunities that have been given to him," McKenzie said.

"He's been given a handful of opportunities and taken every one. We're giving him another opportunity to run on in a game, so hopefully he'll take that opportunity as well.

"He is a guy that can deliver, you ask him to do something, he'll deliver it, so that's a fairly unique trait.

"A lot of people get opportunities and don't take them, this guy has been taking them as soon as they've come along."

McKenzie said Polota-Nau had been playing quite well and the change at hooker was for strategic purposes rather than on form.

"We think Adam has got something to offer, particularly strategically in this game, there are some things around the paddock," McKenzie said.

"They are different types of players so we want to use his (Freier's) strengths earlier in the game for this one".

Freier came off the bench to score a try against the Lions last week.

"I'm feeling pretty good, I'm probably a little nervous about the lactic acids that might creep in at the end of the half," Freier said.

"But apart from that the body is pretty good and mentally I'm really keen to get out there and play."

Waratahs: Sam Norton-Knight, Peter Hewat, Morgan Turinui (vc), Ben Jacobs, Lote Tuqiri, Daniel Halangahu, Josh Valentine, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (capt), Rocky Elsom, Will Caldwell, Ben Hand, Alastair Baxter, Adam Freier, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Aaron Broughton-Rouse, Dean Mumm, Beau Robinson, Brett Sheehan, Kurtley Beale, Sam Harris.

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