NSW Waratahs coach Chris Hickey remains hopeful Tatafu Polota-Nau and Benn Robinson will be fit to face the Brumbies in Saturday’s crucial Super Rugby clash in Sydney.
The injury-ravaged Waratahs must beat the ACT side at ANZ Stadium to secure a playoff berth as they continued to count the cost of their 33-7 victory last Saturday over the Highlanders.
NSW lost powerhouse No.8 Wycliff Palu for the remainder of the season with a fractured shoulder while hooker Polota-Nau is battling a knee injury and prop Robinson has an ankle problem.
And on Tuesday inside back Berrick Barnes announced that he was taking an indefinite break from the game to deal with head knock-related issues after lasting just 33 minutes against the Highlanders.
“There’s a few players who probably won’t train until Friday,” Hickey said.
“We’re still hopeful of Benn Robinson and Tatafu Polota-Nau that they’ll be right.
“Lachie Turner (hamstring) is one of those players who may only train on Friday … very lightly at least on Friday but we’re still optimistic.”
There was some good news on the injury front for the Waratahs with centre Ryan Cross passing a fitness test.
Cross injured his knee in the loss to the Sharks in South Africa and has missed the Waratahs past two matches.
The Waratahs also have returning Wallaby second-rower Dan Vickerman available for selection.
Vickerman, who last played for NSW in 2008, had spent the intervening period studying in England and only returned to Australia on Saturday.
Hickey is expecting a torrid clash with the Brumbies who are aiming for three consecutive wins after beating Queensland and Melbourne.
“This will be a tough game … they’ll have their agenda and we have our agenda, that’s what’s most important to us. It’s about winning this game and getting a spot in the finals series,” he said.
One man capable of preventing the Waratahs from playing in the finals is their 2012 signing Adam Ashley-Cooper.
The Wallabies utility said the Brumbies had plenty to play for after a difficult season.
“The fact that it’s my last game with the Brumbies is important to me and it’s certainly a special game knowing there’s a few other guys leaving next year, so it’s the last time we’ll be able to play again together,” Ashley-Cooper said.
“It would be a shame to go out and make the last two wins a waste.
“All of the guys love playing the Waratahs and they beat us last time at Canberra and with it being up there it would be great to get one back.
“I’ve alluded to the boys during the week that I’m not a Waratah yet, so I’ll be going out there to perform as well as I can.”
niwdEyaJ
Guest
For the sake of Australian Rugby and the World Cup, I dearly hope Robinson and TPN are not fit to play and the Waratahs bow out of this season after losing to the Brumbies. Both these guys are key to our world cup squad yet Hickey will no doubt shove both in to play a "meaningless" game even if they are only 50% fit. This benefits no one but Hickey. When I say this game is "meaningless", of course I realise a win will ensure a finals beth but that finals berth will be an away game against most likely the Crusaders or Blues. There is little to gain from this as the Tah's are highly unlikely to win such a game, and being an away fixture they'll make relatively little revenue from it so why risk two of our best players, not to mention Kurtly who is also a walk-in to the Aussie squad, for the sake of a lost cause?
Ben S
Roar Guru
I genuinely can't find a Northampton team sheet with Vickerman's name on it for last season. I think the Australian media/Waratahs have been telling porky pies. Btw, Eaton has never been overseas and Jack was a disgrace. His lack of fitness was his fault.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
I would think that the Tahs should win but the Brumbies are having a bit of a pink patch at the moment and could easily thwart the Tahs run to a finals position. About the only interest I will have in this match is if Vickerman can last more than 15 minutes at Super pace. I would imagine that Super rugby will be a tad faster than Northhampton, add to this that he hasn't played in 3 months, that would indicate to me that he will be blowing up big time after 15 to 20 minutes. I will be interested to see if his skill set has diminished in any way and if he still retains any of his ability that made him a force within the Wallaby side before he left 3 years ago. IMO it's hard to imagine that he will be good, having seen Jack, Eaton and a few others that have sojourned overseas having to spend at least a season getting back to shape to show some form
Who Needs Melon
Guest
Bush, I cringe watching TPN play. What do you want more: A good fantasy rugby score or TPN at the World Cup? :)
The Bush
Roar Guru
Come on Tatafu, my fantasy team really needs you!