VIDEO: Waratahs suffer huge blow ahead of Super Rugby return
INJURY UPDATE: The Waratahs will be without their captain for the final few rounds of the 2018 Super Rugby season.
Michael Hooper is set to be out for a month after he suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday’s third Test between the Wallabies and Ireland in Sydney
“I know our physios are working with the Wallabies physios around the time frames and from what I understand it’s minimum this stage four weeks,” Waratahs forwards coach Simon Cron said.
“We’d hope to have him back in our finals series ideally. It’s very early, so they’ll keep working through it.”
Meanwhile, the Waratahs could be without another star player for their crunch Super Rugby clash against the Melbourne Rebels on Sunday.
Folau will face a disciplinary hearing this week after being cited for a ninth-minute incident in Ireland’s 20-16 win, one of three times Folau competed against Peter O’Mahony in the air at a kick-off.
The incident was not detected by the on-field match officials and was not reviewed by the Television Match Official.
Folau was sin-binned for the third instance after the Irish skipper landed heavily in the 31st minute and was ruled out for the remainder of the match with concussion.
Cron said he will be “stunned” if Folau does get suspended.
“I’d be stunned if he’s not available,” he said.
“Personally, I think it’s an interesting decision to even send him there.
“They’ve made that call, so he’ll go and defend himself. You probably saw it, personally I think if you’re in the air and you’re three foot off the ground, four feet off the ground, he’s quite high off the ground.
“I would think they would look at their one-man lifting technique.
“I know we do a lot of it but I’d be surprised.
“It’d be a bit of a nanny state if they pull him.”
Source: @rugbycomau
