Nick Phipps’ injury-enforced withdrawal forces Waratahs into late change for Chiefs clash

HALFBACK Nick Phipps has been ruled out of the Waratahs clash with the Chiefs but should be available for selection in the the Wallabies’ first Test squad.

Jake Gordon will take over the halfback role against the Chiefs.

HALFBACK Nick Phipps has been ruled out of the Waratahs clash with the Chiefs in Hamilton with an ankle injury but he should be available for selection in the the Wallabies’ first Test squad.

Phipps has been replaced by Jake Gordon in the Waratahs team to play on Saturday afternoon, and will fly back to Sydney to undergo precautionary scans.

Those scans will rule out a syndesmosis strain or “anything sinister” but Tahs coach Daryl Gibson said NSW medical staff were confident Phipps will only be sidelined for one game.

Jake Gordon will take over the halfback role against the Chiefs.

“He will be fine for next week and be able to take his place at the national camp,” Gibson said.

“It is a 14-day injury and unfortunately he couldn’t make it back. He will fly back to Sydney and have some scans just to rule out syndesmosis or anything sinister. But the indication from our doctor and medical staff is that he should be fine next week.”

Matt Lucas has flown to New Zealand to join up with the squad and take a spot on the bench. That’ll mean he’ll miss the Manly-Warringah showdown.

In the only other change, newly minted Wallabies squad member Jack Dempsey has been added to a 6-2 bench at the expense of centre Irae Simone.

After only returning from an ankle injury last week in club rugby, Dempsey will be given 20-25 minutes off the bench, said Gibson.

“He is a player of immense potential and promise,” Gibson said.

The Waratahs’ hopes of making the finals are slim after they lost to the Highlanders last week, and Australian conference leaders the Brumbies extended their gap with a win in Buenos Aires.

Can Jack Dempsey again be the centre of attention for the Tahs?

The Tahs are now relying on the Brumbies slipping up in their last three games and them claiming the first win in New Zealand in two years.

The Waratahs’ focus is nailing down an 80-minute performance after they led at halftime against the Highlanders but fell away in the second half. It was in contrast to their habit this season of starting slow and coming home strongly in the second 40 minutes.

Waratahs no.10 Bernard Foley said losing control of their finals destiny last weekend had not deflated spirits.

“It’s probably done the opposite. We were so disappointed with last week’s result, knowing how well we competed for that first 40 minutes but in the second half we were able to maintain it,” he said.

“That’s probably fuelled the guys. It was unfortunate to see what the Brumbies did but we have said is control what we can control.

“In the past, the way the Chiefs like to play has always fitted well with us and our style, a ball-in-hand style of rugby.”

Gibson said the team had to cut out out their concentration lulls but they believed they could become the first Aussie mens team in a year to beat a Kiwi team on Saturday.

“We have shown enough that we can compete. The yellow card the other day didn’t help our cause but the simple facts are to beat a New Zealand side you have to play consistently for the full 80,” Gibson said.

Will the Waratahs break their hoodoo in New Zealand?

“If you have periods or lulls where you are dropping off, you can lose focus. It’s very achievable. It’s more around keeping focus and being competitive for the whole time, and we certainly believe it can be done.

“We know the Chiefs will be tough, they’ll challenge us at the breakdown and in every collision so our contact skills have to be right and we have to take a physical edge into this game.”

TEAM

1 - Tom Robertson

2 - Tolu Latu

3 - Sekope Kepu

4 - Dean Mumm

5 - Will Skelton

6 - Ned Hanigan

7 - Michael Hooper (c)

8 - Michael Wells

9 - Jake Gordon

10 - Bernard Foley

11 - Cam Clark

12 - David Horwitz

13 - Rob Horne

14 - Taqele Naiyaravoro

15 - Israel Folau

BENCH

16 - Damien Fitzpatrick

17 - Paddy Ryan

18 - Angus Taavao

19- David McDuling

20 - Jed Holloway

21- Jack Dempsey

22 - Matt Lucas

23 - Bryce Hegarty