Foley back for ‘Tahs

Editor

Waratahs fly-half Bernard Foley will return to action against the Brumbies next Sunday but the first-choice pivot says he won't be fixing their arduous Super Rugby start.

Last year’s semi-finalists have just six points on the Super Rugby log from the opening four rounds, and are third in the Australian conference behind the Brumbies and Rebels.

A shoulder injury suffered during a pre-season warm-up match prevented the Wallaby fly-half from playing for the New South Wales outfit this season, and Sunday's outing in the number ten jersey will be his first in the expanded competition.

“I’m not coming back to fix anything, I just want to contribute as part of my role in the team and hopefully that can benefit other players in the team,” Foley told the Sunday Telegraph.

“The team has been functioning quite well, the energy from the players has been awesome.”

The Waratahs staged a remarkable comeback last Friday when they came back from 30-0 deficit to lose 30-26 to defending champions the Highlanders in Sydney.

“They had their backs against the wall, and a lot of teams would have surrendered, but they showed a lot of character to come back the way they did,” Foley said.

“The intent was always there, they didn’t die wondering.”

Daryl Gibson's side have many areas to improve on if they want to feature in the play-offs again this year.

Foley also expressed his frustration with his team's poor first half performance at Allianz Stadium.

“We knew what tactics they were coming in with, at some point we had to put it back on them,” said Foley.

“We played into their hands. We needed to force them to do something they didn’t want to do. We didn’t rush back for the Highlanders, knowing there was nine days until the next one for Sunday’s game. 

The 26-year-old still has to pass a fitness test this coming week.

"Obviously I’ve still got to get through a whole week of training, it’s going to be a good test for the shoulder. We didn’t want to push it too early, I’ve just got to be right. With this type of injury, an AC joint, it’s more of a case that as soon as you’re confident, and are able to tolerate the pain, you’re able to play.”