Taione gets Waratahs call

Elvis Taione has been called up by the Waratahs' for Friday¿s play-off clash against Auckland.

Shopping mall security guard drafted into injury-hit NSW

Shopping mall security guard Elvis Taione looks set to make his Waratahs debut after being named on the bench for Friday's play-off clash against Auckland. Taione was called into the New South Wales squad after Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau was ruled out of the showdown at Eden Park with a knee problem. The club reserve grade hooker will provide back-up for John Ulugia as the injury-plagued Waratahs look to secure a semi-final date with the Queensland Reds or Stormers. The Waratah's heavy injury toll will see fullback Kurtley Beale start pull on the number 10 shirt speedy winger Lachie Turner move to fullback. Australia's sevens captain Bernard Foley has also been up from Sydney club rugby to provide cover for Beale.

Confidence

Chris Hickey has been forced to tinker with his squad for much of the season because of the injury problems. And the Waratahs coach believes that his players were by now well accustomed to adapting their game to the personnel available. "If you've had a settled line-up all year and then things are thrown around in a semi-final week it might cause a bit of panic," said Hickey. "However we haven't been able to field the same team week to week in almost four months, so we're used to changing things around. "We've been training since November and playing since February so everyone has confidence in each other, and the players who have come in from club rugby have taken everything in their stride."