PORT ELIZABETH (Reuters) - Australia hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau has been ruled out of Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against South Africa due to a hamstring injury.
“Polota-Nau injured his hamstring at Thursday’s training session and was monitored overnight before being ruled out by medical staff,” Rugby Australia said in a statement.
Folau Faingaa will make his first test start in his place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium while Brandon Paenga-Amosa moves onto the bench. Both have three caps each.
Paenga-Amosa made his test debut against Ireland in June but this will be his first involvement in the Rugby Championship.
Team: 15-Dane Haylett-Petty, 14-Israel Folau, 13-Reece Hodge, 12-Matt Toomua, 11-Marika Koroibete, 10-Kurtley Beale, 9-Will Genia, 8-David Pocock, 7-Michael Hooper (captain), 6-Ned Hanigan, 5-Izack Rodda, 4-Adam Coleman, 3-Taniela Tupou, 2-Folau Faingaa, 1-Scott Sio
Replacements: 16-Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17-Sekope Kepu, 18-Allan Alaalatoa, 19-Rory Arnold, 20-Rob Simmons, 21-Nick Phipps, 22-Bernard Foley, 23-Jack Maddocks.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Toby Davis)