The Waratahs are biting their nails over the fitness of influential flyhalf Berrick Barnes who has suffered yet another concussion, this time after a bump against the Lions. Barnes is a doubtful starter for the crunch game against the Sharks this weekend in Durban.
Barnes picked up a concussion against the Brumbies early in the season and was then ruled out for four weeks, but is said to be feeling much better than he did then. He has been included in the Waratahs squad that are making their way to South Africa for matches against the Sharks and Bulls.
Should Barnes not be able to play, this will result in a few changes and we will see either Daniel Halangahu or Kurtley Beale taking over the flyhalf reigns. It is more likely that Beale will be staying in the fullback slot, but one never knows, especially after the game Beale had against the Lions where he often slotted into first receiver.
Either way, the battle between the flyhalves will be a crucial battle against the Sharks, and with Luke Burgess in such great form in the scrumhalf position, it is going to be interesting to see how John Plumtree and his charges approach this.
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could work to our favour…. what will they do without hm? I doubt they’d move Beale from fullback. Halangahu is competent at best, I’d say
@robdylan (Comment 1) :
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Beale in at 10, to be honest..
He popped up there a lot in the Lions game..
@robdylan (Comment 1) :
And Burgess scares me a bit.. the guy is in great form!
He reads the game well and his kicking is good..
Barnes seriously needs to stop playing rugby….he is just going to cause permanent damage to himself. How many concussions has he had?
Beale is more than a capable 10…..great player!
@Pokkel (Comment 4) :
This is the third one as far as I know..
It can only get worse..
But he is a great talent!!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : “He *pooped* up there a lot in the Lions game..”
Must’ve been a hella unpleasant game! 😈
@Culling Song (Comment 7) :
Hahaha.. my bad..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : He pooped up there? That’s because he is a sh!t flyhalf 😆 😆
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 6) :
It might be the 3rd one this year but I’m pretty sure he’s had a lot more concussions in his career.
@Pokkel (Comment 10) :
Wouldn’t surprise me..
Beale at 10 would be a huge threat for us.
So finally got the courage to log on to sharksworld ,but damn this is hard,that was a really pathetic game by our boys,even the “supporters” started walking out around 76min in droves!! That must have been hard to watch for lambie when he was tacking his last kick and the rest of the boys 2 hopefully they pick up they socks
@Original Pierre (Comment 12) : If the boys play like they did on Saturday, anyone the ‘tahs put at 10 could be a huge threat.
Looks like Tahs will be practising at Northwood BH.