Israel Folau set for a storming Waratahs return in Africa now that throat injury has healed

THE expected return of Israel Folau has given a boost to the Waratahs as they prepare for a Stormers side forced to undergo a shake-up.

THE expected return of Israel Folau has given a boost to the Waratahs as they prepare for a fired up Stormers side that has been forced to undergo a massive off-field shake-up.

Languishing in second-last place after five losses from six games, the Stormers have appointed former Springbok and Ireland assistant coach Gert Smal as their director of rugby, and return to Cape Town following a disastrous winless trans-Tasman tour.

Smal’s addition to the Stormers management, overseeing under-pressure coach Alistair Coetzee, and their return to their Newlands fortress means the Tahs face them at the worst possible time.

News_Rich_Media: Waratahs superstar Israel Folau has been cleared to fly to South Africa and will play in next weekend's match against the Stormers.

Following their 32-10 defeat to the Sharks last weekend and one-week suspension of Rob Horne for a high tackle, NSW was desperate for good news and received it when Kurtley Beale and Tatafu Polota-Nau were cleared to play this weekend after injury scares, and Folau was deemed as a likely starter after his throat injury began to clear.

Tahs five-eighth Bernard Foley said: “He is a wonderful player, you always want him in your side.

“He is a special guy, his ability to attract an extra defender or just go through the line opens up the game.

“He will be handy to have back, but in saying that it’s a whole team effort, we can’t just rely on one guy.”

News_Image_File: Kurtley Beale is manhandled by Charl McLeod as Wycliff Paul arrives to try and help out.

NSW’s attack looked distinctly lacklustre against the Sharks without Folau, and the Stormers are renowned for their constrictive defence.

“They put a lot of people in the front line and want you to run the ball so it will be a great challenge for us,” Foley said.

“We don’t need to change the way we’ve been playing, but we do need to be smarter because we’ve struggled against teams who are set-piece oriented.

“We can’t be arrogant about running the ball all the time because it’s not going to pay running into a brick wall all day.

“We’re fully aware of how tough this test will be for us, the South African teams go to another level when they’re at home, and you write off the Stormers at your peril.”