Polota-Nau WC doubt?
Wallabies and Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau has been given another three weeks to recover from his latest head knock.
Polota-Nau will miss Saturday's crunch game against the Crusaders in Sydney and stay in Australia for the squad's two-game tour of South Africa after coach Michael Cheika decided to take a conservative approach with his valuable front rower.
Polota-Nau, who has a lengthy history of concussions, has already missed the Waratahs' two most recent matches after suffering a head knock against the Brumbies.
"He's more than comfortable to play now but we have to look at the overall picture of the longer term.
"[Tolu Latu] is doing a really good job there and I feel comfortable.
"There's going to be some big games to come and I want to make sure [Polota-Nau] is 100 percent ready for that."
There is also a World Cup approaching, and Polota-Nau is surely going to form an integral part of Chieka's plans, although Cheika said that did not come into his thoughts.
"It's a medical decision, not welfare as in looking after him specially," he said.
"I could push, but I don't think I have to at this stage. We're better in the long run just giving him a stretch to fully recover, then go from there.
"He's not actually showing any symptoms or anything like that, that's just a decision we've decided to take."
Jaques Potgieter also missed the win against his newly signed team the Sharks last week.
Cheika said he would give flank Potgieter until Thursday to overcome a sternum injury that has kept him sidelined.
Source: AAP
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