New South Wales fullback Mat Rogers was on Tuesday ruled out of next weekend’s crunch match against Canterbury, handing his in-form understudy Peter Hewat a chance to impress selectors.
Rogers has failed to recover from a groin injury sustained in South Africa two weeks ago and was ruled out of Saturday’s match when he pulled up sore in a training session.
”I’m extremely disappointed, absolutely shattered not to be playing this week, especially at home in front of a great crowd in what will be a great game against the Crusaders,” Rogers said.
The Wallaby fullback said he does not want to risk playing unless he is 100% fit.
”I could possibly get away with it, but I could also reinjure myself and miss the rest of the season,” he said. ”I figure if we’re at the business end of the season, winning games, no one’s going to remember these few weeks I missed.”
Hewat capitalised on Rogers’s absence last week when he racked up a team record 34 points against the Bulls, as the Waratahs continued a barnstorming start to the season that has them six points clear at the top of the Super 12 table after five rounds.
The Waratahs, perennial Super 12 disappointments whose highest achievement in the tournament remains a 2002 semifinals berth, will face the stiffest test yet of their credentials when they face five-time winners Canterbury on Saturday night. — Sapa-AFP