Wallabies No.8 Wycliff Palu has been ruled out the NSW Waratahs’ named for the Super Rugby home clash with the Western Force on Saturday night.
Palu failed to recover sufficiently from the lower leg injury that kept him out of last week’s 18-17 loss to the Highlanders.
He had a light training run on Tuesday but was unable to get the tick of approval from medical staff to face the winless Force at Allianz Stadium, with Tevita Metuisela retained at No.8.
Former Force player Jono Jenkins will start at openside flanker in place of Pat McCutcheon, who has been sidelined for six months with an ankle injury suffered against the Highlanders.
Back from a stint in Japan, big loose forward Sitaleki Timani will make his return to action from the bench.
NSW Waratahs
Bernard Foley, Tom Kingston, Rob Horne, Berrick Barnes, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Daniel Halangahu (capt), Sarel Pretorius, Tevita Metuisela, Jono Jenkins, Dave Dennis, Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: John Ulugia, Paddy Ryan, Sitaleki Timani, Lopeti Timani, Chris Alcock, Brendan McKibbin, Tom Carter.
Red Kev
Guest
Elsom and Palu ... if they were fit and in form would be the best in Australian. It's a familiar refrain the problem is that neither has been fit and in form for the past 3 years. Higginbotham and Mowen will be the Wallabies 6 and 8 this year.
Rory
Guest
So is Rocky
Rory
Guest
They keep paying Rocky to do the same thing - last year @ the Brumbies, this yr @ Waratahs - wish he'd go back 2 Ireland! Then there's Vickerman - the list goes on.
PeterK
Guest
Palu is 29.
Wilson
Guest
I agree with all the posts here. But I bet Deans still picks them for the Wallabies. He is all talk about picking on current form and then goes straight back to picking his favourities. A theory that has worked so well the last 4 years. Shocking. A waste of money and painful to see solid rugby players in form not getting game time for the Wallabies.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
I have to agree, I've said on previous posts that Palu is quite injury prone and is now more of a passenger in the side because of the time he has on the sidelines Elsom is the same, and now they have Vickerman. Lets say conservatively that they are on 300k each, that's a lot of dead money walking around in a rugby club for not much return. I know if it was my business I would be cutting some losses and making some harsh decisions. I'm positive I'm being ultra conservative in my amount, they are probably on twice that amount. It would be different if these players were on the younger side of say 25 then you might have leniency but all of them are thirty or more. It doesn't bode well for a player of that maturity to be injured all the time. Some decisions should be made by either the player or the club. Lets face it guys this is big business these days.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
I dont know why they get signed to be honest. Way to injury prone.
crashy
Guest
Mate Rocky elsom is the biggest waste of money....
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Give it up. This guy is the biggest waste of money in Rugby. Why do they continue to pay him to do nothing.