Reds may rest James Horwill from Waratahs clash
JAMES Horwill may be rested from Saturday night's clash against NSW Waratahs so a calf niggle can heal before the Reds rip into the play-offs.
EMOTIONALLY drained leader James Horwill may be rested from Saturday night's clash against NSW Waratahs so a calf niggle can heal before the Reds rip into the play-offs.
Strange as it sounds, the Reds had their top six play-offs spot confirmed during a five-week period where they didn't play a game because the Hurricanes and Blues bombed.
As stand-alone important as any match against the Waratahs is, top priority is having lock Horwill and halfback Will Genia in top nick for a sudden-death July 20 playoff.
Horwill was understandably given a day off from Reds training yesterday and a call on his involvement will be made later in the week.
The indomitable Genia ran out the heartache of last Saturday's third Test crash to the British and Irish Lions by joining in for touch and a light team run without any strapping on his knee.
He wants to play against the Waratahs, but the greater wisdom for Australian rugby would be to give the knee a break, considering the minor tweak it took early in build-up to the Lions series.
Halfback Nick Frisby's effort in the Reds-Lions clash was of the quality that gives the Queenslanders a strong back-up option for the last round fixture.
Reds players have not been idle during their lay-off.
Utility back Mike Harris slotted 12-from-12 with the boot in a recent University-Sunshine Coast club match to tune his goalkicking.
Winger Luke Morahan played the World Cup Sevens in Moscow and centre Chris Feauai-Sautia has repaired his famously dodgy hamstring so he can be considered.
The eighth-placed Waratahs cannot reach the play-offs which makes it even more sensible for centre Adam Ashley-Cooper and No.8 Wycliff Palu to miss the game to heal injuries.
The hamstring injury that has grounded strike force Israel Folau takes lustre from interstate night because he is an exponential improver since the teams met in round one in mid-February.