Israel Folau kept in cotton wool for semi-finals
Waratahs coach won’t risk playing star fullback in final regulation match, but heat is on other sides to make play-offs
New South Wales Waratahs coach Michael Cheika said he would not risk star Wallaby fullback Israel Folau in their final regulation round Super Rugby match with Queensland this weekend.
Leading try scorer Folau will miss the Australian derby in Brisbane on Saturday due to a bruised thigh, with the Waratahs already assured of finishing top of the Super 15 standings and hosting a home semi-final.
"In another situation, maybe it would have been [worth the risk]," Cheika said.
I know there’s a lot of talk about winning and losing when Izzy’s playing and not playing, but I think we’ve lost just as many games when he’s playing as when he’s not
"But I'm more than confident with the team that we've got to play well up there."
Cam Crawford will replace Folau, with Wallabies lock Will Skelton to start instead of South African Jacques Potgieter in the only other change to the Waratahs side that thrashed the Otago Highlanders 44-16 last weekend.
"Of course, you lose a lot of attacking prowess, a lot of security under the high ball as well, and a strong defensive man," Cheika said of the missing Folau.
"I know there's a lot of talk about winning and losing when Izzy's playing and not playing, but I think we've lost just as many games when he's playing as when he's not playing."
Folau has scored 12 tries from 11 appearances this season and is three tries clear of Canterbury Crusaders winger Nemani Nadolo as Super Rugby's leading try scorer this year.
Izzy really as good as they say? Watch this video to see for yourself.
Four match-ups in this weekend's final round all have a bearing on the make-up of the Super Rugby play-offs.
The two top finishing teams will skip the qualifiers and host semi-finals on July 25-26, but the third-placed team will have to go through the qualifiers, although they will have home advantage.
Seven-time Super Rugby champions Canterbury Crusaders shade South African conference winners Coastal Sharks on points differential for second spot heading into Saturday's home match with the fourth-placed Otago Highlanders.
The Highlanders could finish New Zealand conference winners if they beat the Crusaders with a bonus point, but they have lost their last four encounters against Canterbury.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has made one change with lock Sam Whitelock returning to the starting line-up. "We are going to have to put in the performance of the season to come out on top, and that is exactly what the team has committed to doing," Blackadder said.
The Sharks can still finish second if they win, but the Stormers have won three of their last four home meetings with the Durban-based side and are unbeaten in their last four outings.
"It doesn't matter what happens in the other games, we must just get a win on the weekend," White said. "We want to win again. We haven't won in a while."
The Sharks, who have tasted defeat in four Super Rugby finals, have been shaky, losing their last two games.
Twice winners ACT Brumbies and Western Force get the chance to clinch a play-off berth with a win in their Australian derby in Canberra on Friday.
Both teams are level on 40 points and it will be winner takes all in the national capital.
Last year, the Brumbies suffered a shock loss against the Force in Perth, which cost them an all-important top-two finish.
Coach Stephen Larkham has shrugged that off and said: "We are a big game team. And this is certainly a big game."
If the Force win on Friday, they will be in their first Super Rugby finals' campaign.
Defending back-to-back champions Waikato Chiefs can still make the finals after a disappointing season, but must knock over the Blues in Auckland on Friday. They have won on their last three trips to Eden Park and should they win again they will knock the Hurricanes out of the play-offs.
