Hamstring injury has Israel Folau fighting to be fit for All Blacks clash

ISRAEL Folau faces an anxious wait to see if he can recover from his hamstring injury in time for the Bledisloe Cup opener on August 17.

Israel Folau

ISRAEL Folau faces an anxious wait to see if he can recover from his hamstring injury in time for the Bledisloe Cup opener on August 17.

The Wallabies winger sustained the injury 27 minutes into Saturday night's thrashing by the Lions, immediately shaking his head at the trainer in an indication it was serious.

He sat on the sideline for the remainder of the Test with ice strapped around the muscle, but the full extent of damage remains unclear with Wallabies management only saying that Folau would likely miss this weekend's final-round game between the Waratahs and Reds.

However, Folau's immediate reaction and general nature of hamstring injuries suggest a sideline stint of at least a few weeks, which would make his availability to face the All Blacks in Sydney doubtful.

NSW could also be without Test enforcer Wycliff Palu next weekend, with the backrower struggling with knee damage from the bruising series against the Lions.

But Queensland, who are fifth on the Super Rugby ladder and have secured a finals berth, could be missing Wallaby halfback Will Genia, who is nursing a knee injury.

The Waratahs host the Reds at ANZ Stadium Saturday and will be playing for pride only, with the top six now settled and finals to start the following weekend.

Each conference will have two sides in the playoffs: the Bulls and Cheetahs (South Africa); Chiefs and Crusaders (New Zealand); and Brumbies and Reds (Australia).

Israel Folau