Polota-Nau loses fitness race

 

The 26-year-old was named in the original starting XV, although it was always going to be a race against time for the hooker to be ready in time for the match.

 

Waratahs coach Michael Foley explained that he wouldn't risk Polota-Nou if there was still any doubt surrounding him, and John Ulugia will wear the No.2 jersey on Saturday.

 

For the second week in a row John Mann-Rea will take up a spot on the bench for the match.

 

"I think he'll only miss [the Stormers match] by a day," Foley told AAP. "We're so close but playing could be a risk to him and we don't want to take that risk. People have played with corks and sprains and all sorts of things before, but I think it's just so unwise to put people at risk who have had a head knock and they're not 100 percent right."

 

Waratahs (revised): 15 Bernard Foley, 14 Atieli Pakalani, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 11 Tom Kingston, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Dave Dennis, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Rocky Elsom (captain), 5 Sitaleki Timani, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 John Ulugia, 1 Benn Robinson.

Replacements: 16 John Mann-Rea, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Kane Douglas, 19 Jono Jenkins, 20 Wycliff Palu, 21 Sarel Pretorius, 22 Daniel Halangahu.

 

Date: Saturday, May 19

Venue: Newlands, Cape Town

Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Christie du Preez (South Africa)

TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)