Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Barnes, Beale doubt lingers for Waratahs

Posted April 26, 2011 12:23:00

Berrick Barnes needs to show confidence in contact training if he is to play in the NSW Waratahs' Super Rugby clash with the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday night.


Five-eighth Barnes has missed several matches while recovering from concussion and, while he has been passed medically fit, the 24-year-old must feel comfortable in his role in a contact session before being given the green light by coach Chris Hickey.


Fellow Wallaby Kurtley Beale did not train on Tuesday as he battles to recover from lateral ligament damage in his knee.


The injury is not serious, but Beale will need to be monitored and his chances of turning out at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday depend on how he responds to training later in the week.


The Waratahs mounting injury woes again claimed Phil Waugh, the captain picking up a nasty hamstring tear in the weekend loss to Queensland which will keep him out at least two weeks.


It is the third different injury for Waugh this season and the ageing warrior admits he is struggling to find a balance of how hard to push his body.


"It's extremely frustrating but it's a fine line and you've got to push yourself throughout your career all the time and sometimes you push yourself harder than the body can handle," Waugh said on Tuesday.


"Right at the end of the game, literally as I was about to come off, pretty much the last run (I did my hamstring).


"Unfortunately that's sport and I just need to recover as quickly as possible.


"It's fairly significant so it's just a matter of trying to rehab it as quick as possible and get back on the field ... it'll at least be a couple of weeks."


Australian representatives Drew Mitchell, Rob Horne and Wycliff Palu are also on the NSW injury list.


However in good news for the team, Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau is on track to face the Rebels after a head knock forced him from the field against the Reds.



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