Corked thigh rules Folau out of the Reds clash

Jul 10 • General News, Super Rugby • 2428 Views • Comments Off on Corked thigh rules Folau out of the Reds clash

Israel Folau has been ruled out of Saturday’s showdown with the Reds. The NSW Waratahs fullback is suffering from a corked thigh and will be replaced by Cam Crawford, who makes his fourth start for the season in place of the injured Folau.

The remainder of the backline is untouched, with Rob Horne and Alofa Alofa on the wings and Adam Ashley-Cooper at 13. Kurtley Beale will play at inside centre while the halves are Bernard Foley at flyhalf and Nick Phipps at scrumhalf.

Will Skelton has been recalled to the starting lineup at lock, alongside Kane Douglas, while Stephen Hoiles has held his spot at blindside flanker, captain Michael Hooper is at openside and Wycliff Palu is the No. 8.

In the forwards, the front row is Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota Nau and Sekope Kepu. Coach Michael Cheika has named a travelling bench with one to be omitted for the matchday 23. If he takes to the field, the match will mark the NSW debut for 22-year-old West Harbour prop Michael Ala’alatoa. The former Samoan Under 20s player has been called into the squad in place of Paddy Ryan, who suffered an ankle injury in the win over the Highlanders.

The match is the NSW Waratahs’ final match of the 2014 regular season. Tahs fans can watch the action live on Fox Sports 2, 2HD and Sports Play from 7.30pm on Saturday evening. Alternatively, those without Foxtel can follow the action with our new online matchcentre and keep up to date with every score, as it happens, with our live score twitter feed. Follow the game, tackle by tackle and score by score by following @NSWWaratahs on twitter or by searching #REDvWAR.

The NSW Waratahs team to take on the Reds at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, July 12 at 7.40pm is: 1. Benn Robinson (Eastwood), 2.Tatafu Polota Nau (Parramatta), 3. Sekope Kepu (Randwick), 4. Will Skelton (Sydney University) 5. Kane Douglas (Southern Districts), 6. Stephen Hoiles (Randwick), 7. Michael Hooper (Manly, captain), 8. Wycliff Palu (Manly), 9. Nick Phipps (Sydney University), 10. Bernard Foley (Sydney University), 11. Rob Horne (Southern Districts), 12. Kurtley Beale (Randwick), 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Northern Suburbs), 14. Alofa Alofa (West Harbour), 15. Cam Crawford (Northern Suburbs).

Replacements (one to be omitted): 16. Tolu Latu (Sydney University), 17. Jeremy Tilse (Sydney University), 18. Michael Ala’alatoa (West Harbour), 19. Jacques Potgieter (Eastern Suburbs), 20. Mitchell Chapman (Eastern Suburbs), 21. Pat McCutcheon (Sydney University), 22. Brendan McKibbin (Eastern Suburbs), 23. Jono Lance (Eastern Suburbs), 24.Taqele Naiyaravoro (Parramatta).