Folau out – to relief of Sharks
THE Waratahs will start this weekend without Israel Folau for only the third time in his Super Rugby career, but Sharks coach Jake White does not expect the Australians to be crippled by his absence.
The terrorising fullback has been ruled out with a bruised throat for the Sharks clash at Kings Park this weekend and could miss the one against the Stormers as well.
Folau did not travel with the team to South Africa and remained in Sydney to see a specialist about his throat problem. The extent of the injury will be assessed this week, the Waratahs said, and a call will then be made on whether he will rejoin the touring squad for the trip to Cape Town next weekend.
Folau is the tournament’s leading try scorer with eight in four matches and his exclusion means the Sharks coach can reset his backline without the worry of facing one of the deadliest attackers in world rugby.
He has scored a third of his team’s total points tally to date through touchdowns alone and was looking good to add to that.
The injury curse also arrived at the Sharks’ doorstep like an enraged Merlin last weekend, taking with it Pat Lambie for the rest of the tournament and Cobus Reinach for eight weeks.
White’s ship, which appeared to be cruising during the first four weeks of the competition, hit some rocky waters with the 23-19 defeat to the Bulls at Loftus last week.
The game against the Australians is a chance to put themselves back on an even keel and not facing Folau will definitely enhance the chance of getting their groove back.
“Folau is such a fantastic player who has scored most of his tries from broken play — where he really expresses himself,” White said.
“It doesn’t alter much in our plans, but having a dangerous player like Folau out will definitely alter the Waratahs’ preparations.
“But I can’t see them wanting to move away from playing the way they have been in the last four weeks. They look settled in their game plan.
“Plus Jono Lance, who is coming in Folau’s place, is a good player. He’s a talented footballer, who can play centre, flyhalf and fullback.
“I’ve got no doubt that by keeping Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale as their 10-12 combination allows them to field two great passers in midfield.”
Inexperienced flyhalf Fred Zeilinga, who had a decent Currie Cup, is expected to take the stage at pivot in Lambie’s absence while Charl McLeod gets the No 9 jersey.
Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has not tampered with the Wallaby midfield combination of Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper either, which has served the team so well so far.
With Lambie out, White thanked the heavens that Frans Steyn is fit and is in dazzling form. ting up chances with most of their opportunities in the first half coming from set pieces, including the opening goal on the half-hour mark from Ivan Bukenya.
The imposing Ugandan international centre back forced a strong header home from a 30th minute corner after a missing a glancing chance 20 minutes earlier.
In the other game last night, SuperSport United beat Moroka Swallows 1-0.