Waratahs No. 8 Wycliff Palu to miss clash against Western Force with ankle injury

NSW has suffered a blow ahead of their clash against in-form Western Force, with Wycliff Palu ruled out of Saturday night’s blockbuster clash.

Wycliff Palu has been sidelined by an ankle injury.

THE NSW Waratahs have suffered a blow ahead of their clash against in-form Western Force, with Wycliff Palu ruled out of Saturday night’s blockbuster clash.

Palu was rested from NSW’s round eight win over the Stormers after injuring his ankle in the previous week’s loss to the Sharks in Durban.

The bullocking No. 8 was expected to return against the Force in Perth this weekend, along with star fullback Israel Folau.

But the Waratahs this morning confirmed Palu had failed to recover from the injury and would miss Saturday night’s match at nib Stadium.

Palu will return to Sydney and hopes to be fit for the following weekend’s match against South Africa’s Bulls at Allianz Stadium.

Palu’s injury means rugby fans will miss out on what shaped as an intriguing showdown between the Wallaby veteran and in-form Force No.8 Ben McCalman, who has been in superb form this season.