‘30 dead-end streets, 13 forwards down’ - Waratahs coach reveals unprecedented injury challenge
Waratahs boss Darren Coleman has praised an Australian rugby rival after a landmark-first loan deal to help the NSW side out of an unprecedented injury crisis.
Waratahs coach Darren Coleman has hailed rival Kevin Foote for allowing his prop Pone Fa’amausili to join NSW amid an injury crisis, despite the Melbourne Rebels in strong finals contention.
In a landmark first, Melbourne has loaned Wallabies front rower Fa’amausili to NSW on a game-by-game basis, as the Tahs deal with an unprecedented injury toll to their forward pack.
NSW has 13 front line forwards sidelined for their home game against the Brumbies at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
Coleman had been trying to get 27-year-old Fa’amausili up to Sydney for a couple of weeks.
Foote agreed this week, despite the sixth-placed Rebels playing a crucial game against fifth-placed Queensland on Friday night, while the club faces an uncertain future beyond 2024.
“I am very appreciative of Kevin Foote for allowing Pone to come, that is the sort of guy he is,” Coleman said.
“Pone has been frustrated about his lack of opportunity down there and has wanted a go here, and we finally managed to get a deal done, it’s game-by-game.
“Pone gives us experience and size in the crucial prop position where we have been hit by significant injury numbers.
“He’s played at the highest levels of the game and is hungry for opportunity.”
Coleman has also signed former Argentine prop Enrique Pieretto from Glasgow Warriors also on a week-by-week loan agreement, a deal that took six weeks to finalise.
Coleman described the injury crisis as the most challenging of his coaching career, with his top five props and top four hookers all sidelined.
“It’s been a challenge, we’ve had 30 dead-end streets, you see the one or two that we bring in but for every one of them, a whole bunch don’t,” Coleman said.
“It’s arduous, it is a time burden, I have spent a lot of time watching tape of potential prospects.”
NSW are 11th on the ladder, only above Western Force, and face a tough task against the third-ranked Brumbies.
Having already lost Wallabies hooker David Porecki, Mahe Vailanu, and Theo Fourie, NSW suffered another blow last weekend when Julian Heaven suffered a season-ending right AC joint injury.
Heaven’s absence sees Jay Fonokalafi start in the No. 2 jersey, with Randwick’s Ben Sugars selected on the reserves list to make his Super Rugby Pacific debut.
“It’s a tough blow for Julian,” Coleman said. “He’s been a great story for perseverance and work ethic to grow his game to the level he has got to. I have no doubt he’ll bounce back from this injury.
“Jay’s been with the group on and off for a while now and he showed against the Hurricanes that he’s feeling more comfortable at Super Rugby level. We have full confidence that he’ll take this opportunity with both hands.
“This also provides another opportunity for Ben Sugars from Randwick, who have proven to be a great production line for us this season.”
Rounding out the forward pack, Miles Amatosero switches with Hugh Sinclair to start at lock, Charlie Gamble with Hunter Ward at openside flanker, and Jed Holloway shifts back to Number 8 after Langi Gleeson was ruled out with a calf injury.
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