Casualty Ward Aotearoa Rd 8, AU Rd 5

The rate of breakdown of the NZ players as near the finish of Super Rugby Aotearoa is intense. Luckily the Casualty Ward is your one-stop shop for all injury news, with the added insights of our team's Physiotherapist and Podiatrist.

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Returned from injury (Aotearoa Rd 8 & AU Rd 5):

Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Chiefs) – Came back from his concussion off the bench this week.
Angus Ta’avou (Chiefs) – Back off the bench having recovered from quad tendon repair.

Jordan Petaia (Reds) – Made his comeback from a shoulder reconstruction off the bench. Came on early as injury cover and looked dangerous in his 60 minutes.
Angus Blyth (Reds) – Recovered from his shoulder injury and looked dangerous throughout.
Isi Naisarani (Rebels)  – Finally got his hamstring and fitness right to make his comeback. Had a huge game scoring the winning try.
Brad Wilkin (Rebels) – Made his comeback from an ACL reconstruction off the bench.

Likely back this week (Aotearoa Rd 9 & AU Rd 6):

Braydon Ennor (Crusaders) – On track to return this week with a foot/toe injury from rd 6. Source.
Joe Moody (Crusaders) - Misses rd 8 with a family bereavement, back training with the team but hasn't made a decision on playing this weekend yet. Source.
Peter Umaga-Jensen (Hurricanes) - Suffered a concussion and will go through normal protocols over the next two weeks (with his bye). Source.
Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes) - Pulled from the starting side pre-game in rd 7, Holland mentioned the team was struggling to get right after the week before, so we assume they are all just carrying niggles. Source.
Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes) - Pulled from the starting side pre-game in rd 7, Holland mentioned the team was struggling to get right after the week before, so we assume they are all just carrying niggles. Source.
Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hurricanes) - Pulled from the starting side pre-game in rd 7, Holland mentioned the team was struggling to get right after the week before, so we assume they are all just carrying niggles. Source.
Dane Coles (Hurricanes) – Didn't travel with the squad for rd 7 due to a minor back injury, so we assume he will be fit. Source.

Lalakai Foketi (Waratahs) – Starting at outside centre for his first run after struggling with a torn hamstring earlier in the season. Source.
Angus Bell (Waratah)– Recovered from his back injury to come back via the bench. Source.
Rob Simmons (Waratahs) - Cleared to play after breaking a rib two weeks ago! Source.
James Tuttle (Rebels) – Ruptured his Achilles twice! Finally making his comeback off the bench this week. Source.
Campbell Magnay (Rebels) - Returns to outside centre having recovered from his mystery injury. Source.

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New Injuries (Aotearoa Rd 8 AU Rd 5):

Reuben O'Neill (Chiefs) - Came off with a hamstring injury and won't play in rd 9. Source.
Lachlan Boshier (Chiefs) - Subbed after 63 minutes having battled through an ankle injury for much of the game. Source.
Michael Alaalatoa (Crusaders) - Came off with a knee injury early in the second half. Apparently it isn't as severe as first thought and he could play next week. Source.

Ian Prior (Western Force) – Was meant to make his comeback from a shoulder injury he sustained two weeks earlier, but was pulled pregame, we assume with the same injury.
Tevin Ferris (Western Force) - Stretchered off after 5 minutes but cleared of a serious neck injury. Could go for further scans this week. Source.
Henry Taefu (Western Force) - Failed his HIA so will go through the concussion protocol this week.
Ryan Louwrens (Rebels) - Has had an operation on his ruptured bicep and will miss the rest of the season. Source.
Chris Feauai-Sautia (Reds) - Came off with a calf tear, at long odds to play next week. Source.
Jock Campbell (Reds) - Had a scan during the week for a bicep injury. It must have been good news because he is playing this weekend. Source.

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Ongoing Injury List:

NEW ZEALAND
Highlanders
Nehe Milner-Skudder – Hasn’t played rugby in 18 months after consecutive shoulder injuries. Now doing full-contact training but may not play this season. Source.
Ngatungane Punivai – Still going through concussion protocols, so won’t be available to play the Chiefs in rd 6. Source.

Chiefs
Nathan Harris – Had a rotator cuff (shoulder muscle) repair on the 15th of January. Out for at least six months and was set to miss all of Super Rugby. A chance to get a run during this season but we haven’t heard anything. Source.
Aidan Ross – Came off with a calf tear in rd 6. Didn't play in rd 7. Source.

Hurricanes
Kane Le’aupepe – Has had hip surgery in mid December to repair a torn labrum and remove a CAM impingement. He will be out for 5-6 months. It is worth noting that these injuries vary massively with a return to sport time, it could really be 4-9 months! Source.

Crusaders
Manasa Mataele - Still in the process of returning from a knee injury as of rd 8. Source.
Whetukamokamo Douglas - Missed rd 8 and expected to miss rd 9 with an MCL (knee) injury. Source.

Blues
Tom Robinson – Had a meniscal tear cleaned up in his knee after rd 1. Recovery said to be 6-8 weeks, they are targeting 5-6. Generally, it varies from 1-12 weeks so it is hard to guess from the outside. Source.
Hoskins Sotutu – Suffered a knee injury which ruled him out of rd 6 and rd 7. No word on a return date yet but there is some language suggesting he might be back soon. Source.
Daniel Carter – Strained his calf in training the Thursday before rd 6. Looks like his only chance to play would be against the Crusaders in rd 9. Source.
James Parsons – Still on the comeback trail from a concussion in Rd 5. Source.

AUSTRALIA

Western Force
Greg Holmes – Broke his thumb in rd 6. It is unclear exactly how long he will be sidelined. Source.

Brumbies
Toni Pulu – Had shoulder surgery early March, still wasn’t back training in mid-May, so he is unlikely to play anytime soon. Source.
Cadeyrn Neville – Expected to miss the first 2-3 weeks of the relaunched Super Rugby season after having ankle surgery during the shutdown. Source.
Ryan Lonergan – Back from his ankle injury training with the squad after rd 5. 
Noah Lolesio – Tore his hamstring in rd 3. The results suggest he is out for 8 weeks, giving him a target of playing in a grand final. Source.

Reds
Moses Sorovi – Seen limping around on crutches during rd 4. Still injured in mid-March. Source.
Harry Hoopert - Sidelined for four or five weeks with an MCL (knee) injury suffered against the Force in Round Three. Source.

Rebels
Anaru Rangi  – Could miss the full season with “a personal health issue”. Source.
Tom English – Was meant to be playing in Japan, training with the squad but can’t be selected unless his trip is canceled. Source.
Semisi Tupou – Suffered an ACL injury in the preseason, a slight chance to come back before the end of the season. Source.
Dane Haylett-Petty - Out for at least 5 weeks after picking up a knee injury in rd 4. Source.

Waratahs
Nil

Gone for the season:

Baden Wardlaw (Blues) – Forced to retire before the season due to a chronic neck fusion. Source.
Ray Niuia (Blues) – Has a knee injury that will cost him his season. Source.
Tanielu Tele’a (Blues) – Had a shoulder injury after round 6 and is out for the season. Source.
Stephen Perofeta (Blues) – Has been ruled out for the season, opening the door for Dan Carter to sign for the Blues. No more detail on his injury yet.
Ricky Jackson (Highlanders) – The hooker will miss the entire SR campaign with an ankle injury and operation. Nathan Vella brought in to replace him. Source.
James Lentjes (Highlanders) – Fracture dislocated his ankle in rd 5, will have surgery and is gone for the season. The expected recovery is 6-9 months. Source.
Connor Garden-Bachop (Highlanders) – Had an operation on his back due to return in June but his spot in the side has been taken. Source.
Tevita Nabura (Highlanders) – Still getting over an operation on his lower back after he suffered an injury at training just before Christmas, was expected back in April but his spot has been taken. Source.
Sam Gilbert (Highlanders) – Tore his ACL in rd 3 and will miss 9 months. Source.
Josh Dickson (Highlanders) – Has broken a bone in his lower leg in Aotearoa Rd 5 and will miss the remainder of the season. He is expected to be out for four months, so we expect he had to have it operated on. Source.
Kayne Hammington (Highlanders) – Fractured a bone in his hand late in the match against the Hurricanes and will miss the remainder of the campaign. Source.
Atu Moli (Chiefs) – Had FAI (hip impingement) surgery on both hips to treat chronic hip dysfunction. He will miss the entire season. Source.
Michael Allardice (Chiefs) – Gone for the season having undergone surgery for a shoulder reconstruction. Source.
Laghlan McWhannell (Chiefs) – Gone for the season having gone under the knife to have a patellar tendon debridement (this is not a good sign for such a young player). Source.
Sam McNicol (Chiefs) – Gone for the season after ankle surgery to correct his anterior impingement and clean up his joint surfaces. Source.
Luke Jacobson (Chiefs) – Fractured his hand against the Blues. The recovery time for the injury is 5 to 6 weeks but the Chiefs are taking a cautious approach and don’t expect him to play this season. Source.
Tyler Ardron (Chiefs) – Will now leave the squad to start his contract with Castres. Source.
Solomon Alaimalo (Chiefs) - Dislocated his shoulder after scoring a try and won't take part in the rest of SR Aotearoa. Source.
Scott Barrett (Crusaders) – Tore his plantar fascia in the intrasquad trial. Had surgery on the 25th of June and will miss the full Super Rugby season. There is no definite return time as the research is pretty limited, my expectation is roughly 6 months, but it could be double that. Source.
Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders) – Now had a meniscus clean up in his knee after being scratched from rd 4. Gone for the season. Source.
Cullen Grace (Crusaders) – Ruled out of action for 6-8 weeks with a Bennett’s fracture (fractured thumb) that requires an operation in rd 3. Gone for the season. Source.
David Havili (Crusaders) – Suffered a Bennett’s fracture in his thumb and will miss the rest of the Super Rugby season. Source.
Gareth Evans (Hurricanes) – Now ruled out for the full SR Aotearoa season. We suspect from his ankle injury. Source.
Fraser Armstrong (Hurricanes) - Broke his arm and won't play again in SR Aotearoa. Source.
Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes) - Came off with a broken wrist. Having surgery on the 30th of July and aiming for a return in mid-November. Source.

Les Leulua’iali’i-Makin (Brumbies) – ruled out of Super Rugby season after rupturing his Achilles on the 25th of January. Source.
Blake Enever (Brumbies) – Has been released by the Brumbies to return home to Brisbane immediately on compassionate grounds where he will continue his recovery from a lower leg injury. Source. Now confirmed he has signed for Leicester. Source.
Isaac Lucas (Reds) – Had his RA contract torn up after rejecting a pay cut from the Reds. Expected to sign for a Japanese rugby club. Source.
Harry Hockings (Reds) – Had his RA contract torn up after rejecting a pay cut from the Reds. Expected to sign for a Japanese rugby club. Source.
Izack Rodda (Reds) – Had his RA contract torn up after rejecting a pay cut from the Reds. Apparently he still might reverse his decision to leave. Source.
Henry Speight (Reds) – Has been released from his contract to take up a 3-year contract with Biarritz, won’t play Super Rugby AU. Source.
Damien Fitzpatrick (Waratahs) – Retired from professional rugby before the AU season started. Source.
Kurtley Beale (Waratahs) – Won’t take any part in Super Rugby AU after being released early to take up his contract with Racing 92. Source.
Mack Mason (Waratahs) – Still on contract until November but has been allowed to seek employment on his farm in Queensland and isn’t back training with the squad. Source.
Carlo Tizzano (West Harbour), Joe Cotton (Southern Districts), Triston Reilly (Randwick), Henry Robertson (Sydney Uni), as well as sevens player Angus Bell (Sydney Uni) (Waratahs) - All released to play club rugby for the remainder of the season. Source
Chris Alcock (Western Force) – Has just announced his retirement prior to the start of Super Rugby AU. Source.
Luke Jones (Rebels) – Released early to play overseas and won’t play in Super Rugby AU.

Have we missed something? Drop a comment or tweet and let us know.

Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.