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Jordan Petaia remains on ice while Waratahs struck by hooking crisis
By AAP
The Queensland Reds will keep Jordan Petaia on ice with an eye to the Super Rugby Pacific finals while the Waratahs face a hooking crisis with two regulars ruled out with concussion.
Injury-plagued Petaia hasn't been recalled to face the Chiefs on Friday night after missing last week's loss to the Hurricanes with a minor hamstring issue.
Petaia has been troubled by hamstring complaints in his short career but the Reds insist it's not a serious setback as they adopt a careful approach ahead of finals and a three-test series against England in July.
In Jock Campbell they have adequate cover at fullback, while Filipo Daugunu has lost his wing spot to Josh Flook.
Key pair Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Seru Uru return from injury and are on the bench.
Lawson Creighton will again start in the No 10 jersey with James O'Connor (knee) out for at least another three weeks.
The Chiefs will be without skipper Sam Cane, denying in-form Reds flanker Fraser McReight a shot at the All Blacks star.
The Reds (7-2) beat the Chiefs (6-3) in Townsville last year and will be thirsty for more success in Brisbane after letting a 17-0 lead slip against the Hurricanes in the last round.
The Waratahs will be without concussed hookers Dave Porecki and Tom Horton, while Alex Newsome replaces Will Harrison (knee) at fullback to face the Crusaders.
The pair were ruled out of contention on Wednesday after failing their head injury assessments during the weekend's game, with Mahe Vailanu named to start and his replacement on the bench still to be confirmed.
Allan Alaalatoa (neck) remains out for the top-of-the-table Brumbies, who will welcome fullback Tom Banks' return from a facial injury for their game against the Hurricanes on Sunday in Canberra.
Banks' return sees Tom Wright shift back to the right wing, with Ollie Sapsford's bench inclusion the only other change to the only victorious Australian outfit last weekend.
Following Matt To'omua's head knock last week, Carter Gordon will start at No 10 again for the improved Melbourne Rebels against Moana Pasifika on Saturday.
Pone Fa'amausili (calf) is also back via the bench and Raymond Nu'u returns to the centres alongside Stacey Ili.
The Western Force have welcomed back a host of talent after Covid-19 woes forced the postponement of last weekend's game against Moana Pasifika.
They'll face the equal-first Blues (8-1) in Perth on Friday, needing a win to stay inside the top-eight that will contest finals.
- Murray Wenzel
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Latest Comments
Lakai? Hell no, Kirifi is the like for like. I could never imagine Lakai throwing a dummy like Ardie, his had’s and offload are probably his best asset. Still a good option to replace Ardies function within the group. Happy for that to phase in slowly over the next two years.
Kirifi is someone demanding attention as Ardie’s/the teams go to back up option though. Like with you’re Kaino ref though, happy for that to reverse back again if Lakai simply starts outperforming him again. The Kaino role has really been filled by Cane (perhaps because they didn’t find a replacement) and the 6’s that have been used are more like a Read/Jones/Flavell/Fifita.
I really do like the idea of that rock being a little bigger and a little tougher than Cane though. Miracle looks like that guy, and there are few possible young kiwis coming through too. Barrett over Vaa’i for me, he just has a little of the mongrol and flair you also want.
Go to commentsI think you have gone in the wrong direction here Nick. I think you need to delve down into the rules etc around Moana Pacifica’s selection policies and then you need to understand that a lot of KIWI BORN rugby players have PI heritage. It appears ok for the 4 home nations to pillage NZ born players constantly without retribution but you want to question whether NZ BORN players should be eligible for NZ? Seems a real agenda in there.
Go back and look at the actual Aims and agenda for MP becoming a entity and you see lots of things enshrined in policy that you arnt mentioning here. EG there is an allowance for a percentage of MP to be NZ eligible. This was done so MP could actually become competitive. Lets be real. If it wasnt this way then MP would not be competitive.
There also seems to be some sort of claim ( mainly from the NH ) that NZ is “cashing in” on MP, which , quite frankly is a major error. Are you aware of how much MP costs NZR Financially?
39 NZ born rugby players played at the last world cup for Samoa or Tonga. PLUS plenty for Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.
Taumoefolau is a BORN AND BRED NZer. However I very strongly doubt he will be an AB, but who do you believe he should be allowed to play for? Levi Aumua is ALSO a born and bred Kiwi.
Aumua was eligible to represent Samoa and Fiji for the Pacific Nations Cup in July that year but ended up playing for neither. He IS eligible for his nation of Birth too Nick
He is a Kiwi. Are you saying an NZ born, raised Kiwi cant play for NZ now?
Sorry Nick Kiwi born and bred actually qualify for NZ.
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