Waratahs hooker out of semi-final
May 19 2008
Waratahs first-choice hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau will miss Saturday's Super 14 semi-final against the Sharks due to a sprained wrist.
Polota-Nau sustained the injury in his side's hard fought 18-11 victory over Australian rivals the Reds over the weekend, forcing him off the field after 35 minutes.
"My hand's swollen so I can't throw or bind at the moment, but I'm confident the guys can do the job on Saturday and hopefully I'll be right for next week if we get through," said Polota-Nau.
After some impressive early season form for Northern Suburbs in the Shute Shield, Junior Waratahs captain Al Manning has joined the Super 14 squad.
Manning, 26, made his Waratahs debut in 2004 and has since played 16 times for NSW, with his only Super 14 appearance coming against the Bulls in March 2007.
"It's disappointing but once the swelling's gone, hopefully I can give it another crack and get ready for next week," added Polota-Nau.
Coach Ewen McKenzie conceded Polota-Nau's loss was unfortunate but has every confidence in Adam Freier and rookie Manning to fill the void.
"Obviously Tatafu's been starting for us for a while now so you don't want to have people dropping out of your 22," McKenzie told Sportal.
"We've been pretty lucky with our injury run but it's inevitable that it will happen and you do get injuries and it's just how you cover it."
"We're pretty happy, I mean, obviously with him dropping out that'll elevate Adam Freier and we'll bring Al Manning into the fray - he's been waiting patiently and been part of our program for a long time so I've got no problem elevating him into the squad for the preparation."
Freier, who began the season as McKenzie's starting hooker, said although the loss of his team-mate is a blow for the Waratahs the disruption will be minimal.
"I don't think it's an adjustment because I am used to playing off the bench but I'm also used to starting - I started most games last year," Freier said.
"I think the whole game has changed now, I don't think you find that there is a starting and a reserve hooker, it's just two hookers and where they fit into the picture."
But the experienced 28-year-old, who was a member of the Wallabies 30-man World Cup squad, was under no illusions as to the strength of their South African visitors.
"They're full of Springboks," he said.
"We had a meeting before just to outline how important it was set-piece wise that we do well this week."
"If you look at the Chiefs game last week, their (the Sharks) scrum was very dynamic and it's something that we've been playing very close attention to."