Blow for Waratahs as prop banned for Force clash

Murray Wenzel | April 29, 2026

Daniel Botha has copped a suspension for a dangerous clean-out and will miss the NSW Waratahs’ Super Rugby Pacific derby against the Western Force.

The prop thundered into a ruck in the second half of the Waratahs’ Super Round loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday.

He missed the mark and was initially slapped with a four-game ban for the act of foul play.

But mitigation – including an early guilty plea, his good record and remorse – halved the ban, while he can still apply to complete World Rugby’s coach intervention program and strike a third game off the suspension.

It means he’ll still miss Friday’s clash with the dangerous Force, who beat the Crusaders before enjoying a last-round bye.

The Sydney clash should see the return of Wallabies star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii for the hosts, against the Force’s fellow NRL code-hopper Zac Lomax.

Dan McKellar’s side’s loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch left them teetering at 4-5 in eighth, four points behind the sixth-placed Reds, who have a game in hand.

The Force (3-6) are 10th but, after a string of tight losses before their Crusaders comeback a fortnight ago, have a points differential superior to the Reds.