Polota-Nau gets a three-week rest

May 03, 2011

Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau is set for a three-week layoff after picking up a head injury in last weekend's Super Rugby win over the Melbourne Rebels.

The Wallabies front-rower will sit out Saturday's derby against the Western Force in Sydney but is likely to return following the Waratahs' bye in the next round.

'Tahs coach Chris Hickey is taking a cautious approach, as he did with fly-half Berrick Barnes earlier in the season. Barnes made his return against the Rebels, having missed a number of weeks due to repeated head knocks.

"Given that we've got the bye the following week, that gives Tatafu a three-week break which is good and hopefully that means he will then be right for the rest of the season," Hickey told AAP.

Meanwhile, Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith is clear to face the Chiefs on Saturday after a SANZAR judicial hearing found him not guilty of foul play.

Smith was sin-binned for the role he played in a dangerous tackle on Blues replacement scrum-half Toby Morland in the 76th minute of the Highlanders' 15-10 loss at Carisbrook last Friday.

Sanzar judicial officer Nigel Hampton QC, after hearing evidence, found that the citing could not be upheld because Smith was not the player primarily responsible for lifting and then dropping or driving Morland to the ground.
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