Super 15: Barnes ruled out for Waratahs

SYDNEY - NSW five-eighth Berrick Barnes has been ruled out of Friday's Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders after suffering concussion.

Barnes took a heavy head knock in last week's victory over Queensland, and he struggled to walk properly as he was helped off the field.

The Wallabies star pulled up well after the match and was expected to be fit to travel to New Zealand.

But Daniel Halangahu will start in the No.10 jersey with Waratahs medical staff preferring Barnes to spend a week on the sidelines.

Halangahu started at five-eighth on nine occasions in 2010, including a run of five straight victories which tied the Tahs' record for most consecutive Super Rugby wins.

"The players welfare is always our primary concern, and after checking him out after training this morning we think it's best to keep Berrick out this week," said coach Chris Hickey.

"This is definitely a situation where we need to err on the side of caution and were lucky to have someone of Daniel's experience to step straight in."

When Halangahu takes the field it will be his 41st Super Rugby cap at first five-eighths, which equals the NSW record currently held by Manny Edmonds.

Afa Pakalani, who scored two tries in the opening trial match of 2011 against the Fiji Warriors, moves onto the bench and will make his Super Rugby debut should he take the field.

The only other change to the match day squad sees Pat McCutcheon come onto the bench for the first time in 2011, in place of Chris Alcock.

Waratahs squad: Kurtley Beale, Lachie Turner, Rob Horne, Tom Carter, Drew Mitchell, Daniel Halangahu, Luke Burgess, Ben Mowen, Phil Waugh (c), Dave Dennis, Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sekope Kepu. Interchange: Damien Fitzpatrick, Benn Robinson, Sitaleki Timani, Pat McCutcheon, Brendan McKibbin, Ryan Cross (Eastern Suburbs), Afa Pakalani, Pat O'Connor

- AAP