Tahs shift Beale to five-eighth for Blues

Updated June 20, 2011 16:41:00

New South Wales will call unheralded hooker Elvis Taione onto their bench and switch Kurtley Beale to fly half, as it loses three key players for Friday's Super Rugby qualifying final against the Blues in Auckland.

Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau will miss the match with a knee problem and is to undergo an arthroscopy after struggling through Saturday's 41-7 win over the Brumbies.

Also adding to the Waratahs' already extensive injury absentee list are fly half Daniel Halangahu (hamstring) and prop Al Baxter (head knock).

With Baxter, Polota-Nau and Sekope Kepu all sidelined, New South Wales coach Chris Hickey is again looking to the Sydney club ranks to fortify his diminishing front row stocks.

Taione is expected to be named on the bench with John Ulugia promoted to start in place of Polota-Nau.

Jeremy Tilse and Paddy Ryan are vying for the vacant prop starting position.

With Halangahu injured, Hickey confirmed Beale would switch from full-back to fly half.

With the Waratahs other main playmaker Berrick Barnes already ruled out for the remainder of the Super Rugby campaign, Hickey may again have to raid the club ranks or possibly contemplating using back-up half-back Josh Holmes as an alternative playmaker.

The Waratahs head to New Zealand on Tuesday.

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, nsw, sydney-2000, new-zealand

First posted June 20, 2011 16:34:00

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