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Waratahs look to bloom in Super 14

Waratahs look to bloom in Super 14

SYDNEY – New South Wales Waratahs will be looking to overcome a tumultuous week of suspensions as they try to get their Super 14 rugby campaign back on track against South Africa’s Coastal Sharks here Saturday.

Last season’s beaten finalists will be without banned forwards Rocky Elsom and Matt Dunning arising from fighting incidents in last Saturday’s 26-17 loss to the Northern Bulls in Pretoria. The Waratahs suffered further when Wallaby winger Wendell Sailor was suspended for an additional two matches and fined an extra 3 500 Austrialian dollars (US$2 587) in continuing fall-out over an incident outside a Cape Town nightclub while on tour in South Africa last month.It all places extra strain on coach Ewen McKenzie’s bid to keep the Sydney franchise up with the leading pack after fifth-placed NSW won their opening two away games against Queensland Reds and Western Stormers.There was some cheer with the return from compassionate leave of Wallaby back Mat Rogers, who will make his season comeback off the reserves bench following the sudden death of his father and former rugby league international Steve Rogers in January.The Waratahs are expecting a rough time from the Durban-based Sharks, who tackled determinedly in their unlucky 22-20 loss to defending champions Canterbury Crusaders in Timaru last weekend.Adding spice to the encounter is the presence of former Waratahs and Wallabies winger David Campese, now the Sharks’ skills coach.The Crusaders have made three changes for Saturday’s home match against Auckland Blues with inside-centre Aaron Mauger ruled out with a hamstring injury and lock Ross Filipo and centre Casey Laulala also out.Five-time winners Canterbury, a point behind leaders Wellington Hurricanes, have had some great tussles with the Blues in the southern hemisphere series, winning just four of their 10 meetings.Auckland have won three times in Christchurch.The Blues, who climbed off the bottom with last week’s fighting 21-20 win over Queensland in Brisbane, have lost scrum-half Steve Devine with a viral infection and has been replaced by John Senio.The Hurricanes, who have claimed maximum points in their three opening games, play the first of three matches in South Africa on Saturday against competition newcomers Central Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.The Cheetahs have lost their two home matches and coach Rassie Erasmus said his team was starting to feel the pressure.Skipper Stirling Mortlock has been named in an unchanged ACT Brumbies’ team for Friday’s first home game of the season against South Africa’s Golden Cats at Canberra Stadium.Mortlock strained a right medial ligament during last week’s 15-15 draw with the Stormers in Cape Town, but coach Laurie Fisher said early indications were that Mortlock will play against the Cats, who did better than the 16-29 loss to the Hurricanes last week conveyed.In this weekend’s other matches, Waikato Chiefs play at home for the first time against Queensland Reds on Friday and the Stormers take on New Zealand’s Otago Highlanders in Cape Town on Saturday.The Bulls and Western Force have the weekend off.- Nampa-AFPThe Waratahs suffered further when Wallaby winger Wendell Sailor was suspended for an additional two matches and fined an extra 3 500 Austrialian dollars (US$2 587) in continuing fall-out over an incident outside a Cape Town nightclub while on tour in South Africa last month.It all places extra strain on coach Ewen McKenzie’s bid to keep the Sydney franchise up with the leading pack after fifth-placed NSW won their opening two away games against Queensland Reds and Western Stormers.There was some cheer with the return from compassionate leave of Wallaby back Mat Rogers, who will make his season comeback off the reserves bench following the sudden death of his father and former rugby league international Steve Rogers in January.The Waratahs are expecting a rough time from the Durban-based Sharks, who tackled determinedly in their unlucky 22-20 loss to defending champions Canterbury Crusaders in Timaru last weekend.Adding spice to the encounter is the presence of former Waratahs and Wallabies winger David Campese, now the Sharks’ skills coach.The Crusaders have made three changes for Saturday’s home match against Auckland Blues with inside-centre Aaron Mauger ruled out with a hamstring injury and lock Ross Filipo and centre Casey Laulala also out.Five-time winners Canterbury, a point behind leaders Wellington Hurricanes, have had some great tussles with the Blues in the southern hemisphere series, winning just four of their 10 meetings.Auckland have won three times in Christchurch.The Blues, who climbed off the bottom with last week’s fighting 21-20 win over Queensland in Brisbane, have lost scrum-half Steve Devine with a viral infection and has been replaced by John Senio.The Hurricanes, who have claimed maximum points in their three opening games, play the first of three matches in South Africa on Saturday against competition newcomers Central Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.The Cheetahs have lost their two home matches and coach Rassie Erasmus said his team was starting to feel the pressure.Skipper Stirling Mortlock has been named in an unchanged ACT Brumbies’ team for Friday’s first home game of the season against South Africa’s Golden Cats at Canberra Stadium.Mortlock strained a right medial ligament during last week’s 15-15 draw with the Stormers in Cape Town, but coach Laurie Fisher said early indications were that Mortlock will play against the Cats, who did better than the 16-29 loss to the Hurricanes last week conveyed.In this weekend’s other matches, Waikato Chiefs play at home for the first time against Queensland Reds on Friday and the Stormers take on New Zealand’s Otago Highlanders in Cape Town on Saturday.The Bulls and Western Force have the weekend off.- Nampa-AFP

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