Super Rugby: Waratahs to step up efforts to signs Western Force backrower Ben McCalman

THE Waratahs will step up their efforts to sign Western Force backrower Ben McCalman after it emerged Wycliff Palu will see out his career in Japan.

Western Force backrower Ben McCalman.

THE Waratahs will step up their efforts to sign Western Force backrower Ben McCalman after it emerged long-serving enforcer Wycliff Palu will leave Australian rugby at the end of the World Cup to see out his career in Japan.

The pursuit of McCalman, which was revealed by the Daily Telegraph last week, has great potential to come off given the 26-year-old has failed to agree to terms with the Force despite being in negotiations for weeks.

Palu is the latest player to bid sayonara to Australian rugby, with the 33-year-old taking up a deal to play in Japan’s Top League in a deal that will set up the financial future of his family, a move that even Waratahs and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika won’t begrudge.

The departure of Palu comes on the back of other high-profile Wallabies leaving after the World Cup, including Adam Ashley-Cooper, Sekope Kepu, Nic White, Scott Higginbotham and James Horwill, while Will Genia is also expected to leave and Bernard Foley has signed to play in Japan but is likely to return mid-season.

Palu, who agreed to terms for a two-year contract with a leading Top League outfit, was close to shifting to Japan prior to re-signing with the ARU and Waratahs in 2013, but having battled injury in recent seasons, Palu has jumped at the chance to finish his career in the less intense Japanese competition.

Palu has played 51 Tests and has 112 caps for the Waratahs, and was one of the key driving forces behind NSW’s maiden Super Rugby title last year.

Waratahs star Wycliff Palu will take up a contract in Japan following the Rugby World Cup.

McCalman, who originally hails from NSW and has family here, has been one of the best performing Force players of the past two seasons.

With Palu and Higginbotham both departing, McCalman will be the premier No.8 in the country should he remain in Australia.

Palu’s departure could also see back-up Tala Gray receive more game-time if he remains at NSW.

Gray returned to Australia from France for the 2014 season but since then has played just one game for the Tahs - against the Force last year when most of the NSW squad was on Wallabies duty.

Meanwhile, Cheika has warned of the dangers his side faces on Saturday when they clash with the Highlanders at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium, where the roof should ensure a dry, fast game.

The Highlanders boast one of the most exciting backlines in the tournament featuring All Blacks Ben Smith, Aaron Smith and Malakai Fekitoa.

“Playing over in Dunedin is not an easy task for anyone, and they’ve got a number of X-factor players,” Cheika said.

“In particular in defence, we’re going to have to be really detailed and on our game, work hard on the inside because they’ve got such good footballers.

“The focus we keep in our defensive line is something I want to see improve.

“They’re a very dangerous team.

“Any team with as much X-factor as them, you’ve got to be wary of them in defence.

“They love attacking the ball at the breakdown, everyone has had a good crack at us this year in that area.

“Nick Phipps has got his suit of armour on so hopefully he’ll be able to survive the raids.”

Originally published as Super Rugby: Waratahs to step up efforts to signs Western Force backrower Ben McCalman