Super Rugby
Wycliff Palu learns from concussion woes
February 4, 2015
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Wycliff Palu has learned the hard way to speak up if he feels unwell, after the 54-Test veteran missed Australia's last eight fixtures of 2014 due to lingering concussion issues following a head knock sustained against South Africa in Perth in September.

Palu, who has a long history of knee, shoulder and hamstring injuries, missed the second half of Australia's Rugby Championship campaign and the November tour of Europe because he "had a bit of concussion".

New South Wales Waratahs' Wycliff Palu on the rampage, Queensland Reds v New South Wales Waratahs, Super Rugby, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, July 12, 2014
New South Wales Waratahs' Wycliff Palu is a damaging ball runner © Getty Images
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"But that's all good now, the head is all cleared. I guess you've just got to speak up when you're not feeling the best. Last year I probably didn't speak up early enough."

Palu now is fully fit after a full pre-season, and he was the only member of the Waratahs' Super Rugby final-winning side to start their first trial of the year which consisted of three 30-minute games against Sydney club teams last weekend. He didn't need long to make an impact, crashing over for a try in the opening minutes against Randwick and grabbing another five-pointer later.

"I missed a lot of rugby at the back end of last season so I think for me it was good to get to get that first game out of the way and to get a run," he said.

Palu remains one of Australia's best ball carriers, a genuine X-factor player who can damage an opposition, but he's taking a short-term approach to his prospects of playing at a third World Cup looms large later in the year, Palu is taking a shorter-term approach.

"I'm just trying to break up the season into a few blocks, three-games blocks," Palu said. "At my age, I can't think too far ahead. So I'll just try to take the next few games first and then I'll go from there."

© AAP

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