The New South Wales Waratahs are counting on fiery lock Miles Amatosero to keep his cool against the Queensland Reds in their Super Rugby Pacific opener on Friday following his extraordinary attack on a teammate at training.<\/p>\n
Amatosero was given a four-match suspension in the pre-season for punching Angus Scott-Young in a wild brawl but the ban was halved after he underwent counselling.<\/p>\n
He was barred from even turning up to the Waratahs\u2019 training base in Daceyville for two weeks but coach Dan McKellar named the 23-year-old in his match-day squad to face Reds.<\/p>\n
Waratahs captain Matt Philip said he expected the Reds to bait Amatosero but he was confident the lock would rise above it.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor sure there\u2019ll be words around it, but I think he\u2019s going to be prepared for that,\u201d Philip told reporters on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knows what\u2019s coming and we\u2019re prepared for that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve spoken to him about it, I\u2019ve said: \u2018This is what\u2019s going to come\u2019. And he goes, \u2018Yep, that\u2019s fine\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think he\u2019s going to have any issues on that front, and he\u2019ll show his reaction through the laws of the game of rugby.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former Queensland and Australia winger Wendell Sailor urged the Reds to use the training fight as ammunition on the field, saying it could prove the difference in a tight game.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike all firebrands in any sort of (football) code, you\u2019ve got to try and bait them,\u201d Sailor told Australian Associated Press.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt adds to the spice of the game and I know in the dressing rooms, you talk about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Philip said Amatosero had done a lot of work away from the club and deserved credit for coming back in good condition to be selected for the home game against the Reds at Sydney Football Stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was an unfortunate incident but we\u2019re training at high intensity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, people want to perform for this jersey and unfortunate things happen and it was very unfortunate.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–Reuters–<\/p>\n
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