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'We haven't got enough numbers': Waratahs face dire predicament ahead of Chiefs Trans-Tasman clash
By AAP
The NSW Waratahs will limp to the finish line of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, with interim coach Chris Whitaker revealing they barely have enough players for their final round clash this Saturday with the Chiefs.
NSW have one final chance to bank their first win of a horror year but will be seriously undermanned with more players joining the casualty ward ahead of the Brookvale Oval match.
Skipper and halfback Jake Gordon (knee), hooker Dave Porecki (calf) and tighthead prop Darcy Breen (neck) all picked up injuries during last round's loss to the Highlanders.
Fellow props Angus Bell (illness), Harry Johnson-Holmes (neck) and Tetetra Faulkner (back), who missed the Highlanders, are also in some doubt.
Whitaker said Gordon would undergo a scan on Wednesday, which could threaten his availability for the Wallabies Test series against France next month.
Asked if it was a "good thing" the season was almost over, Whitaker replied that they would struggle to even field a competitive team.
"We couldn't keep going - we haven't got enough numbers," Whitaker said on Tuesday.
"I think we've got 19 or 20 guys on the injured list at the moment and a lot of them are serious.
"We had three Wallabies props pull out on the Wednesday and we lost a few more on the weekend as well."
Whitaker praised his players for their efforts in the face of record scorelines throughout the five-week competition against Kiwi teams which came after a winless Super Rugby AU.
"You can't pat the guys on the back enough - even in the last minute (against the Highlanders), there's no chance we're in the game, the boys have still tried to score.
"There's still plenty of positives in the group, unfortunately, we're just running low (on players).
"We'll get out to Shute Shield and see who's around and get some players in."
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It took a whole season to wash the Foster stink out to be fair. There's still been substantial change though. I think only 7 starters from the RWC QF v IRE started the IRE test in Dublin. This year wasn't the year for full innovation, transition needs to be balanced, & incremental. The new coaches will be able to stamp their full mark on the ABs from 2025 when Razor will select his first proper squad from a mega talented player pool. Exciting times ahead.
Go to commentsWhat on earth is Tele'a doing passing the ball away so quickly on his line break, like a fatty making a bust and trying to find a winger to give the ball to lol
The amount of inconsistency with the head contact law coming into the game. No red yesterday and no yellow today, but then another player gets a suspension for a side on headonhead (as apposed to these two sweet shoulders) contact last week. Happy if there is a referee change to having a bit more commensense.
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