Waratahs win comes at a cost for Wallabies

The NSW Waratahs' historic Super Rugby triumph came at a significant cost to the Wallabies, with hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau set to miss the Bledisloe Cup opener with a knee injury. Polota-Nau limped off just after halftime in NSW's tense 33-32 final win over the Crusaders with what Waratahs coach Michael Cheika suspected to be a medial ligament tear.

He will have scans on Monday and, although he was putting on a brave front and saying he remains hopeful of being fit for the Rugby Championship, Polota-Nau looks little chance of tackling the All Blacks in Sydney in 13 days.

With Stephen Moore ruled out for the year with a knee injury after being hurt two minutes into his first match as Wallabies captain, Australia will lose a total of 141 Tests of experience if Polota-Nau is also scratched. Such a scenario would likely thrust two-Test reserve Nathan Charles into the Bledisloe Cup cauldron.

The Western Force No.2 and Queensland James Hanson are the back-up hookers in coach Ewen McKenzie's Rugby Championship squad that will assemble in Dubbo on Monday for the start of the Bush2Bledisloe country road tour.

While Crusaders captain Kieran Read, the All Blacks' reigning world player of the year, played down the relevance of NSW's stirring victory as any type of Bledisloe pointer, Waratahs and Wallabies star Adam Ashley-Cooper said an Australian side winning the Super Rugby title could only help.

Ashley-Cooper noted how the Wallabies won the Tri Nations title for the first time in a decade with success over the All Blacks in the series decider in Brisbane after the Queensland Reds beat the Crusaders in the 2011 Super Rugby final.

"I think [we'll gain] a lot of confidence," Ashley-Cooper said. "We had a pretty successful year with the Wallabies post the Reds championship and I'd like to think we could do something similar with the Wallabies this year off the back of what the Waratahs have achieved this year.

"I think across the board a lot of the Australian teams have done extremely well this year and it's probably been our best year to date from an Australian rugby perspective and off the back of that you look at form and we're sitting nicely. But then to respect the All Blacks, they are the best team in the world and we've got a huge challenge ahead of us."

espn.com

 And so the build up begins
Boks of course will have a training run against the Argies as their first game. Should win by 20 points at least or else there is something really wrong. 

 Actually, Argentina are very dangerous fresh up. They gave you two a good go last year running on empty. In fact Australia never came close to competing against the Boks like Argentina did! So far under Meyer Australia have only been competitive in 1 game, Argentina in 3 of 4.

But the injury to Nau wont have changed anything. Aussies will still go down and then cry in despair thinking they were already #1 on the planet with their farce Stupor Rugby tin cup.

Gonzo: Wobblies will be much improved this year. 
But of course they will be talking themselves up but this all adds to the drama, lol

 In what way better? Folau has already been exposed last year, Hooper was beaten at the breakdown, all the same combinations are there under the same coach who guided them to their worst seasons results against the other giants SA and NZ. Palu looks better this year and will give ythem some oomph but everything else is just the same. They are basing all of their hopes on players that are failures. Toomua is the rock they should build on in the backs. The Waratahs model wont work at test level either. I just dont see Australia will be stronger unless NZ have a blowout and SA make stupid selections or suffer critical injuries.

 I'm with you Gonzo cant see much changing the Waratahs have 11 wallabies so it's only the coach that changes really, Mckenzie could prove to be worse than Chikka or whatever his name is... I bet they will be calling for Waratahs coaching staff for the Wallabies before long.... They always do when a SR team does well .

My take on the Wobblies is they have found a good fly half a new wing & a few other missing pieces. Plus they will start another year under the ewe as coach. That has to help them. We won't know until kick off of course & the fact is the ABs are always evolving & have found a few missing pieces themselves (Fekitoa, Coles , etc). Plus dan only has a corked leg injury so he will be available. ABs looking good  Hopefully the Bok posters won't panic, lol 

Hooper looks offside a lot because he often is. Seems to have made an art of getting away with it. Good to hear Carter only has a corkie. No excuses when the wallabies roll them. Great game last night that could have gone either way. Won't mean much come Bledisloe time but it makes a change to be going in with some hope. Special thanks also to Andrew Mehrtens whose kicking coaching saved a nation. He gets my vote for greatest living kiwi.  

 Oaks please I hate repeating myself but here is a very simple thought for you to digest:The brumbies pack was a lot better than the warts pack when they met in the semis. Next point. The warts pack outplayed the crusties laden with wee abs.
Now oaks all you have to do is apply logic.
I only hope Speight gets a shot against the abs becaus e when he joins the wobblies they could just have the best backline. Pack should also be better than the wee abs.
Pity about the wobblies loosing their two top hookers.
GoG is correct about our chances. Will Meyer blunder selection wise and include wee victor 106 kg etc? 
Beeno the voice of reason 

 @ claydog Andrew Mehrtens whose kicking coaching saved a nation. He gets my vote for greatest living kiwi. 

Why doesnt it surprise me that the greatest living kiwi is a Saffa

1. Andrew Philip Mehrtens MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He is a former top Fly-half, having played first for Canterbury in 1993, before being selected for the All Blacks in 1995 when he played in the 1995 World Cup. Wikipedia
3. Born: April 28, 1973 (age 41), Durban

Just think how much better things would have been for you if he'd stayed.  

 Claydog we have over 300 professional rugby players overseas and more Boks overseas than here in the country. Merhtens is like a drop in the ocean as to what we are missing.
But its nice to know the greatest living kiwi is a Saffa. Why am I not sur prised! 

He has to be classified a kiwi because at the moment Pottgeiters the greatest living Saffa  

Merhtens overcome the limitations of his birth in NZ of course .