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Palu wants some luck

Palu looking for some luck

02/14/2012 11:08:46 PM

If you happen to bump in to giant Waratahs No.8 Wycliff Palu in the street this week, it's probably safest not to mention his recent run of injuries.

The imposing 29-year-old is understandably sick of talking about the knee, hamstring and shoulder injuries that have kept him sidelined for the best part of two seasons.

Palu tore his anterior cruciate ligament late in the 2010 Super Rugby campaign and missed the entire Test season that year.

He returned for the Waratahs last season but was plagued by a chronic hamstring injury that limited him to a handful of appearances before fracturing his shoulder blade playing club rugby.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans took a leap of faith in the destructive forward by naming him in the 30-man World Cup squad, however Palu's troublesome hammy again gave way after half a game against the United States and he was sent home.

Five months later, an edgy Palu is just hoping to survive the opening minute of his latest comeback against Tonga at the SFS on Friday night.

"I'm not too sure I'd just be happy to play one I think," Palu said when asked how much game time he's hoping to get through.

"The last couple of years hasn't been the best but hopefully I get a good run this week and move on after that."

"I've had a bit more time to get everything right this time around so everything's good at the moment and I'm just trying not to look too much in the past, I'm kind of getting sick of the old 'how's the hammy feeling' question."

"And I say the same thing every time ... and that's probably the reason why I keep getting injured because I keep talking about it."

"It (the Rugby World Cup) was disappointing but what can you do, that's in the past now and I'm trying to look forward now."

He added of his fitness levels after a gruelling pre-season: "I'll tell you after the game on Friday but I'm feeling pretty good, this time last year I was coming back from a knee injury and that's a year stronger now so that's a positive."

"(I'm looking forward) just to run out again and throw the ball around instead of running 50s (50m sprints), I couldn't tell you how many 50s I've run over the last two years."

Asked what he's expecting from his fellow Tongan's on Friday, he replied: "I'm not too sure what their team is but they're a lot of local boys so they'll definitely be pretty good and I'll definitely have a target on my head, as the other Tongan boys will as well."

"If you're Tongan and you're playing in the other side you probably get a bit more attention but it's alright."

"I don't know about testing my hammy, it'll probably test my jaw though."

Wallabies prop Benn Robinson will also make his return from injury against Tonga while new recruit Adam Ashley-Cooper will make his first appearance since joining the Waratahs from the Brumbies.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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