Timing is everything I guess...

I bet Wycliff Palu will be thanking his lucky stars that he penned a two year extension on his Wallaby contract last week, after an injury on Saturday looks likely to rule him out of all rugby for the rest of the year.

This in from the Waratahs’ camp: The HSBC Waratahs will use the bye week to take stock with a number of players hit hard by injuries suffered during the round nine clash in Christchurch, the most serious of which is a season-ending knee injury to Wycliff Palu.

Scans earlier today revealed the worst possible news for the recently re-signed Test No.8 who will require a knee reconstruction after rupturing his right anterior cruciate ligament in the 61st minute of Saturday night’s match.

Head coach Chris Hickey said the loss of Palu was a blow to the squad, but the rest of the team would need to step up in his absence.

“Cliffy’s been voted the players’ player for the last two years and the go forward he gives us is second to none,” said Hickey. “You simply can’t bring someone else in and ask them to do the job of Cliff. It’s up to a number of other players to lift 5-10% which we know they can do and will have to do.”

It was not a good night on the injury front for two other members of the pack whose fitness will continue to be assessed over the next fortnight.

Prop Benn Robinson left the field in the 66th minute after sustaining a blow to his right forearm. Scans have revealed a small fracture and his recovery will continue to be monitored ahead of the clash with the Brumbies at ANZ Stadium on Saturday 24 April.

The third major injury out of the match was to hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau who injured his right shoulder when attempting a tackle in the 77th minute, with an MRI showing some ligament damage, however it is not yet known how long it will take him to return to the field.

“It’s going to be a bit of a waiting game with both Robbo and Tatafu. They both have fairly significant injuries and if we didn’t have the bye this week they definitely wouldn’t be available. In that sense, the injuries have come at a good time.

They’ll both want to be a part of the Brumbies match at Homebush which is going to be a big game for both teams, but we simply won’t risk them if they’re not right.”

Daniel Halangahu was diagnosed with a grade one strain of the right medial ligament sustained in the 32nd minute. Halangahu continued to play on well into the second half and is expected to be fit for the next match.