Injuries have depleted the NSW Waratahs' forward stocks for their potentially season-defining, two-game Super Rugby tour of South Africa.
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Already reeling from a demoralising 23-15 home loss to the Sharks on Saturday night, the Waratahs have lost Wallabies hooker Tolu Latu (calf), prop Rory O'Connor (ribs) and flanker Jack Dempsey (back) for crunch matches against the Bulls and Lions on the high veldt.
Lock Jed Holloway will also remain in Sydney ahead of a SANZAAR code of conduct hearing after being sent off for striking Sharks prop Thomas du Toit.
In one positive, Test prop Tom Robertson will make his long awaited return to the squad after being sidelined for six months with an ACL injury.
The Waratahs' latest stumble left coach Daryl Gibson exasperated and his side's season on life support.
Gibson was unable to hide his frustration after the Waratahs hit the self-destruct button at Parramatta's plush new Bankwest Stadium.
Holloway became the first NSW player in eight years to be red-carded before Dempsey was yellow-carded five minutes later for a tip tackle on Sharks winger Sbusiso Nkosi., leaving the Waratahs with 13 men against 15 for a crucial five-minute period in the second half.
"That was the critical moment for the game: 45 minutes in, 10-all and fairly even to that point," Gibson said after the Waratahs lost to the South African side in Sydney for the first time in 19 years.
"It changed the nature of the game."
The Waratahs squandered the chance to leapfrog the Melbourne Rebels to take the Australian conference lead as the Sharks skipped clear before Bernard Foley missed the chance to secure at least a bonus point by missing a routine conversion attempt after his own last-minute try.
"We're certainly at a critical juncture. The season's thrown a lot at us and it's going to require us showing a great deal of resilience," Gibson said.
"We've got a two-week tour now and it's very clear what we need to get from that tour."
Waratahs squad to tour South Africa: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Alex Newsome, Andrew Tuala, Bernard Foley, Cam Clark, Chris Talakai, Cody Walker, Curtis Rona, Damien Fitzpatrick, Harry Johnson Holmes, Hugh Sinclair, Jake Gordon, Karmichael Hunt, Kurtley Beale, Lachlan Swinton, Lalakai Foketi, Mack Mason, Michael Hooper (capt), Michael Wells, Ned Hanigan, Nick Phipps, Rob Simmons, Ryan McCauley, Sekope Kepu, Tom Robertson, Tom Staniforth, Will Miller.
Australian Associated Press
