NSW vice captain Phil Waugh says the Waratahs would stand by Wendell Sailor after the dual international was stood down indefinitely from rugby for an alleged serious breach of the ARU Code of Conduct.

Wallaby winger Sailor did not play in the Waratahs 19-14 loss to the Hurricanes - who jumped above NSW to second spot with the win and will host the Waratahs in a semi-final in Wellington next Friday - and his future in the game remains in doubt.

"We are all obviously disappointed for him, we are all feeling for him," flanker Waugh said.

"We will stand by him and stick by him and I think that's one of the good things about the culture of this team."

The Waratahs refused to use the late change to the backline as an excuse for its disjointed performance.

"We found out just before (the game) so probably the lateness of it made it a bit easier, so it's definitely not an excuse," centre Morgan Turinui said.

Sailor's exclusion from the side meant Sam Norton-Knight was switched to the wing, where he has hardly trained this season, with Shaun Berne elevated from the reserves bench to start in a No.12 jersey.

Berne, who was playing his last game at Aussie Stadium, before heading overseas to play in England, found out on Saturday night he would be starting.

"Last night, I was a bit restless as I tried to get to sleep just having that late phone call," Berne said.

NSW coach Ewen McKenzie said at Saturday night's press conference he had yet to speak to Sailor.

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