Vickerman named on Tahs bench

Updated June 15, 2011 14:43:00

New South Wales has named returning Wallabies lock Dan Vickerman on the bench for Saturday's must-win Super Rugby clash with the Brumbies in Sydney.

The injury-ravaged Waratahs must beat the Brumbies at the Olympic stadium to secure a play-off berth.

Vickerman, 32, last played for the Waratahs in 2008 and has spent the intervening period studying in England, only returned to Australia last Saturday.

The South African-born Vickerman is part of a re-shuffled line-up for the Waratahs, who continue their long battle with injuries this year.

Back rower Dave Dennis will start at number eight in place of the injured Wycliff Palu, who was ruled out for the rest of the Super Rugby season after breaking his shoulder in last Saturday's 33-7 victory over the Highlanders at Sydney Football Stadium.

Dennis is looking forward to the contest.

"It doesn't get any bigger than this. Win, and we're in the finals it's as simple as that," he said.

"We showed last week that we're capable of playing an exciting brand of rugby at the business end of the year and we want to bring the same mind-set on Saturday night.

"There's a few changes to the side but we've all got confidence in each other and the win over the Highlanders showed that we have the depth to perform well if we execute accurately."

The Waratahs have named key forwards Tatafu Polota-Nau and Benn Robinson in the starting line-up.

The pair are battling injuries but coach Chris Hickey is hopeful both hooker Polota-Nau (knee) and prop Robinson (ankle) will be right to play.

Ryan Cross will start at outside centre after missing the past two matches with a knee injury.

Last week's hat-trick hero Tom Carter moves back to his regular spot at inside centre after starring in the number 13 jersey.

Dean Mumm moves from the second row to blindside flanker, while Pat O'Connor comes into the starting XV at lock.

Atieli Pakalani will start on the wing with Sosene Anesi moving to the bench.

Waratahs squad: Kurtley Beale, Lachie Turner, Ryan Cross, Tom Carter, Atieli Pakalani, Daniel Halangahu, Luke Burgess, Dave Dennis, Phil Waugh (c), Dean Mumm, Sitaleki Timani, Pat O'Connor, Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson

Reserves: John Ulugia, Jeremy Tilse, Dan Vickerman, Chris Alcock, Hugh Perrett, Josh Holmes, Sosene Anesi

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, sydney-2000

First posted June 15, 2011 14:25:00

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Vickerman back for Tahs' finals push

Posted May 22, 2011 18:57:00

Former Wallabies lock Dan Vickerman is waiting in the wings and ready for a timely Super Rugby comeback in a major boost to the New South Wales Waratahs' play-off hopes.

Vickerman has spent the past three years studying economics at Cambridge University but is due to return home to Australia in the next two weeks.

The fifth-placed Waratahs left for South Africa on Sunday for pivotal games against the Sharks and Bulls, after climbing to fifth spot with a 29-12 bonus-point victory over the Lions on Saturday night.

Coach Chris Hickey was targeting at least one win in the Republic to ensure the Waratahs retained control of their finals destiny, and hoping Vickerman's impending return would lift the side.

"We're expecting to see Dan Vickerman the week we get back from South Africa," Hickey said.

"Given our injury situation, it's pretty handy to have him come back into the squad.

"He's pretty fit, he's in good shape, so he'll certainly be an option for us once we return from South Africa."

A veteran of two World Cup campaigns and 52 Tests for Australia, 31-year-old Vickerman has been playing for Northampton in the Heineken Cup for the past two seasons.

"Pete McDonald, our strength and conditioning coach, has been in touch with him and all reports are that he's fit and healthy and ready to go," Hickey said.

"It's certainly a bonus for us at this point of the season."

With four rounds remaining before the finals, the Waratahs are just two points ahead of the seventh-placed Sharks and five clear of the eighth-placed Bulls.

"The South African leg is always a difficult leg, with the travel and particularly playing two of the top sides over there in the Sharks and the Bulls," Hickey said.

"It's pretty simple: we've got to come back from there with a win.

"If we can do that and come back and have the Highlanders and Brumbies here as home games, then we give ourselves every chance of playing in the finals series.

"If you don't pick up that win in Africa, it means that your fate then is in other people's hands, which may go your way. It may not."

Only 14,123 people - the lowest crowd in New South Wales' 15-year Super Rugby history - were on hand to see the Waratahs respond to Thursday night's savaging at a fan forum with a five-try first half against the Lions.

Although the hosts were kept scoreless in the second half, Hickey was pleased the Tahs were able to turn on a show for their loyal fans and relieved not to pick up any more injuries.

"We've come through pretty well," he said.

There was some concern for Berrick Barnes after he suffered another head knock, his third this season, but the playmaker was cleared to make the trip to South Africa.

"He's fine," Hickey said.

"No issues there at all."

-AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, nsw, sydney-2000, south-africa

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