The desperate NSW Waratahs are hopeful inspirational hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau can shrug off his battering in Canberra in time to line up for their must-win Super Rugby clash with the Bulls.
A dazed Polota-Nau was replaced before halftime in Saturday night’s 23-6 loss to the Brumbies in Canberra after a sickening collision with Wallabies teammate Pat McCabe.
The 31-Test hooker had already been down earlier in the match before copping a heavy head knock when he fell into McCabe’s tackle, putting him in doubt for Friday night’s home match against the in-form and highly-physical South Africans.
Waratahs coach Michael Foley told AAP on Sunday the Wallabies hooker should be right to bounce back but will be assessed early in what is a short six-day preparation.
Polota-Nau was sorely missed in the second half with replacement John Ulugia struggling with his lineout throwing as the Waratahs battled to stay in the contest with the impressive Brumbies.
Foley admitted time was fast running out for the Waratahs to make the finals after falling nine points adrift of the Brumbies (35) in the Australian conference.
Although they had much to play for, the Waratahs wasted a promising start as they were outpointed by the hungry Brumbies forwards at the breakdown and failed to score a try.
“The Brumbies are two wins ahead of us now and clearly that’s a fair bit of ground to make up,” he said. “We don’t have much time to make it up.
“The Brumbies are definitely in control of their own destiny. All we can do is focus on the things we have control of.”
The Waratahs have an ominous schedule looming, starting with the second-placed Bulls, before heading to South Africa to play the Stormers and the Cheetahs.
Against the Brumbies, Foley said his squad had squandered their chances when they dominated possession for the first half, running the ball and looking dangerous in the Brumbies’ 22.
“We’d got past half of their team to two-thirds of their team and there was a few defenders left to beat and we’d throw a loose pass,” Foley said.
“When you build pressure after five or six phases and you’re about to do the job – you’ve just got to do that.”
The Waratahs also paid for key defensive lapses, no more obvious than when winger Henry Speight, with hardly a metre to work in, evaded Berrick Barnes and two other would-be tacklers for the Brumbies’ first try, while Andrew Smith brushed past Adam Ashley-Cooper and Atieli Pakalani for their second.
“If you don’t make your tackles, people are going to score tries,” a disappointed Foley said.
sph45
Guest
jameswm, I am so conflicted by this! I absolutely love rugby. And I think it can offer so much to those who play - strength, a deep seated confidence, respect. And I don't think this is offered by all team sports. Soccer (football, whatever) could be a great game but the way the players carry on is just juvenile. There's no strength of character in that sport, and it is strength of character I want to instill in my son. So I would love him to play rugby. But rugby is a brutal game. The injuries that commonly occur are in no way trivial, and then there are the head knocks. So rugby has a two-fold legacy for players as far as I see it - it can build strength and character, but it also has the capacity to seriously damage a player's body...and mind. What to do...?
jameswm
Guest
My 12yo's son's violin teacher shivers at the thought of him playing rugby. Sport is OK, but he's very worried about the science on those head knocks. Stick to the running he says, no collisions in that. It is a bit of a worry though. One or two decent head knocks and I think I wouldn't let him play again. It'd break his heart, but what do you do?
MikeG
Roar Rookie
I saw that advertised last night too Blinky...I get the sense that it'll mainly be focussed on the NFL/NHL experience (and the current class action suits taking place), but it has obvious similiarities to our contact sports as well. Personally, it's why I agree that Rugby is correct to maintain the ban on shoulder charges. The NRL maybe wise to do this also.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
There's a story coming up next week on 4 Corners about head knocks in footy.
MikeG
Roar Rookie
Seems pretty obvious that TPN needs to either refine his technique or take a break from the game. This is not bring alarmist, just realistic. He's very popular because we all love the fact he plays the game so tough and of course the Tahs suffer massively when he's off the pitch....but I don't want to see him interviewed in 20 years and not be able to speak properly.
sph45
Guest
I really hadn't thought about it like this before, but it makes sense. The commentators and presumably coaches, etc, marvel out loud at TPN's courage but by doing so they are actually distracting themselves from what is an underlying failing of TPN's. He is as strong as a bull; if they can fix his technique he could be a far more formidable player.
sph45
Guest
This is going to be a real problem for rugby when it is challenged, in the courts, the same way NFL and ice hockey are being challenged in North America. The scientific, medical and 'personal' evidence about the short and long-term consequences of head knocks is building and it is a bit scary. I still really can't get over the way that 'they' were calling the results of Berrick's concussions last year "footballer's migraine". To me this euphemism reeks of denial. The code would do well to confront this issue pro-actively rather than wait for the tragic and not-so tragic evidence to pile up.
Big Steve
Guest
i was surprised one of the touch judges didnt say anything. I was at the game and he was in big trouble. he got up and fell straight over. The ball got kicked into touch and they should have stopped the game then to check if he was ok. The touch judge would have know he was knocked out, they also have a responsibility to protect the players. From the quick throw in the play came back onto that side of the field and could have made the siuation worse. He should have come straight off.
Markus
Guest
I think he was fortunate (for lack of a better word) that both sides kept the ball in play while he was down, which gave him time to come back to reality and sneak back into the defensive line. Had play stopped, the referee would have likely told them to get him off right away. I agree entirely. Having seen his eyes from the sideline when he was attempting to get back into the defensive line - he was still standing about 2 metres offside, oblivious to everything - it is disgusting that the team medic allowed him to continue.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
It stops him gaining any sort of fitness too. He comes back from injury, is too unfit to put in proper work, makes a big hit using improper technique, gets injured again or can’t train properly due to niggles. The level of fitness is not raised, and he tries to compensate for this by making a ‘dominant’ play using bad technique. Rinse and repeat.
Campbell Watts
Guest
He was clearly knocked out earlier (before McCabe tackle) when he dived low, head first into a tackle. As play continued the camera caught a shot of him trying to run back into the defensive line and he couldn't stay on his feet! Where was the respect for a players health from the coaches??? He should have been pulled off imediately for his own sake! Do the aussie sides conduct bio-metric tests on players regarding concussions? I recall when the Crusaders were having trouble with concussions (to McCaw and Leon McDonald) they would be automatically stood down the following week and not cleared to play until they had passed the preseason base-line biometric tests. TPL needs to be told to stop tackling like that - he seems to knock himself out every 2-3 games!
jameswm
Guest
Yeah it's really a bit of an issue now. Going low with your head at their knees, what do you expect to happen? Just smash your shoulder into their ribcage or a bit lower.
Justin
Guest
TPN needs to address his technique. If you lead with your head you are going to knock yourself out. Its pretty dam simple... and its not only irresponsible to himself but also his team if they continue to lose him during matches.