Rugby: Waratahs have no interest in Michalak

Frederic Michalak. Photo / Getty Images

NSW coach Chris Hickey has laughed off talk former French international Frederic Michalak will join the Waratahs next season as a replacement for Melbourne-bound Wallabies star Kurtley Beale.

Reports out of France overnight claimed Michalak - a two-time World Cup representative who formerly played Super Rugby with the Durban-based Sharks - was set to leave European champions Toulouse and sign for the Waratahs.

But Hickey said NSW had no interest in signing any marquee players for the 2012 season.

"We haven't spoken to anybody called Freddy Michalak," he said.

"I think these things usually emanate from a player manager who decides that he wants to get a player on the market so one of the ways he can do it is by suggesting that they're in negotiations with a particular club.

"We've still got Berrick Barnes, Daniel Halangahu with us. And our tactic that we would prefer to do is to identify a talented young player in Australia that we could contract for a couple of years and really work hard on his development.

"But in terms of Kurtley's move, we're not looking to recruit a high-profile five-eighth or fullback.

"We're fortunate that (Wallabies utility) Adam Ashley-Cooper will be on board for the next couple of years and he can obviously cover that 15 spot as well."

Midi Olympique rugby newspaper is reporting 28-year-old Michalak - capped 54 times for France - was planning on leaving Toulouse after failing to win back his starting place since returning from the Sharks, with whom he won South Africa's Currie Cup in 2008.

Michalak's 2009-10 campaign, however, was ruined by a serious knee injury.

Toulouse has reportedly offered to extend the mercurial Michalak's contract only if he played at halfback, but he is determined to play at fly-half.

His place at the club - where he first appeared aged 18 and with whom he has won one French title and two European Cups - came under more pressure last week when it was announced five-eighth Lionel Beauxis, Waratahs scrum-half Luke Burgess and All Blacks midfielder Luke McAlistair had all signed for next season.

Meanwhile, coach Hickey on Wednesday confirmed hamstring injuries would sideline skipper Phil Waugh and No.8 Wycliff Palu from Saturday night's home clash with the Melbourne Rebels.

But Beale (knee), first-choice five-eighth Berrick Barnes (concussion) and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau (knee) were all named to play.

In the forwards, Pat McCutcheon will fill Waugh's No.7 jumper and Ben Mowen will start at No.8.

With Barnes back after several weeks' absence, Beale reverts to fullback and Soseni Anesi replaces Drew Mitchell (ankle) on the wing, with Tom Kingston relegated to the bench.

NSW: Kurtley Beale, Lachie Turner, Ryan Cross, Tom Carter, Berrick Barnes, Soseni Anesi, Luke Burgess, Ben Mowen, Pat McCutcheon, Dave Dennis, Sitaleki Timani, Dean Mumm (capt), Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: John Ulugia, Al Baxter, Kane Douglas, Chris Alcock, Brendan McKibbin, Daniel Halangahu, Tom Kingston.