Foketi cleared as Waratahs stay optimistic for clash with defending champs

With a tough trip to face the Crusaders looming, Waratahs coach Darren Coleman has revealed injured centre Lalakai Foketi is out of hospital and could return to light exercise next week.

Foketi watched the Waratahs’ loss against the Reds from his home in Sydney and is recovering from ligament damage to his neck sustained in training last Thursday.

“It’s a very similar injury to Dom Young from the Roosters that happened a couple of weeks ago,” Coleman said. “He’s going to go and see another neurospecialist next week, but he should be in and around the place sometime next week, or the week after, maybe to start some light exercise in a neck brace and then start rebuilding from there.”

The positive news on Foketi’s recovery comes on the back of an improved Waratahs performance in Brisbane, particularly in the first half of a 40-22 defeat.

After losing heavily to the same opposition two weeks ago in pre-season, Coleman reflected on his team’s committed performance in testing humid and wet conditions in Brisbane.

“They [the Reds] had more energy towards the end, but I just felt that was off the back of us getting deflated, and I’m frustrated with our execution quality,” Coleman said.

“We got some steals, we stunted and stopped their momentum, then we’d get a shot with it and turn it over easy. They’re getting excited, we’re trying to stay in the fight, but the enthusiasm and that momentum sort of swings towards them, so that was frustrating and disheartening.

“We definitely stepped forward from last time we played as a team two weeks ago against the same team, but we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

As he leads his team into one of the toughest opening schedules in Super Rugby, Coleman will be focusing on improving his back row’s work at the breakdown after they were comprehensively outmuscled by the Reds.

The Waratahs will travel to Melbourne to face the Crusaders next Saturday as part of Super Round, avoiding the defending champions’ loyal fan base in Christchurch. The Crusaders will have a point to prove after falling to a rare defeat against the Chiefs in Hamilton in their opening round.

Waratah Langi Gleeson is tackled during the clash against the Reds in Brisbane.

The Waratahs will then stay on the road, facing the Highlanders and the Blues in New Zealand.

Wallabies winger Izaia Perese is in doubt for the Crusaders game after failing to return to the field after half-time in Brisbane having taken a knock to the head. Perese will go through concussion protocols but as per World Rugby guidelines, he is likely to face a 12-day stand down.

Captain Jake Gordon is looking forward to facing the defending champions and feels that the Waratahs have reasons to be optimistic ahead of a daunting assignment in Melbourne.

“They’re coming off a loss, too, so they’ll be pretty fired up,” Gordon said. “Those match-ups you really get excited for, we’ve got some stuff we need to improve on and learn. But you know, if we can do a little bit longer what we did in that first half tonight, we’ll have a good crack.”

The halfback is also looking forward to reuniting with the Crusaders new head coach Rob Penney who previously coached the Waratahs three years ago.

“I spoke to Pens [Penney] probably about a month ago. He seems to be enjoying his time over there and he’s a good rugby man. I’m excited to not so much go up against him but go up against the Crusaders.”

Coleman refused to blame the referee for a costly yellow card to Max Jorgensen late in the first half that also resulted in a penalty try, after the fullback tackled his opposite number Jordan Petaia fractionally early before he gathered the ball.

The coach was pleased that Jorgensen was able to get minutes under his belt after a difficult return from injury, but believes that he can improve significantly ahead of the clash against the Crusaders.

“It’s not near Max’s best, but he’d agree with that. There’s some good things in there, but there are one or two little errors and he looked dangerous at times.

“He’ll be better for it, I’m glad he got a touch early, getting touching him from our first sequence of attacks, that was good for him. I reckon he’ll be better again next week, he knows where he’s at now.”

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