Thumb rules out Barnes

Sydney - Australia playmaker Berrick Barnes will have surgery on a dislocated thumb and miss up to six weeks of action for the Waratahs, the Super Rugby team said on Tuesday.

Barnes hurt the thumb in a tackle during the Waratahs' home loss to the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs on Friday, having just come back into the side after recovering from a knee injury.

Barnes's injury adds to the Sydney-based outfit's woes, with their hopes of making the playoffs already precarious after starting the season 1-3 under new coach Michael Cheika.

The injury is the latest in a long line of setbacks to Barnes' career.

In September, 2012 he suffered a punctured lung while playing for Australia against the Springboks and he missed much of the 2011 season with a series of head injuries.

The Waratahs are also likely to be without Australia hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau (hamstring) and Wallaby No 8 Wycliff Palu (ankle) for their home match against the Blues on Sunday, a team spokesperson said.