Casualty Ward Super Rugby AU Rd 10 & Aotearoa Rd 9
Casualty Ward Super Rugby AU Rd 10 & Aotearoa Rd 9
Super Rugby AU's regular season is done, and Aotearoa has only 1 round left. The Casualty Ward is here to keep you up to date with all your injury news across Super Rugby. We stay on top of all the latest news, with the added insights of our team's Physiotherapist and Podiatrist.
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Returned from injury (AU Rd 10 & Aotearoa Rd 9):
Kurt Eklund (Blues) - Finally made his comeback after serving out his suspension.
Soane Vikena (Blues) - The NZ U20s hooker made his comeback from a shoulder injury from back in November.
Chase Tiatia (Chiefs) - Pulled late from the game last week due to illness. Surely a chance to play this week.
Toni Pulu (Western Force) - Back from a low-grade ankle injury.
Hunter Paisami (Reds) - Came back after missing last week with a calf injury.
Likely back this week (AU semi-final, Aotearoa rd 10):
Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues) - Suffered a shoulder injury in rd 5. "Touch and go" for this week. Source.
Tom Robinson (Blues) - Suffered an early concussion two weeks ago. We expect he will be back.
Luke Jacobson (Chiefs) - Missed last week as a precaution after waking up midweek feeling groggy. They called it possible "concussion symptoms", and were keen to give him a rest anyway. We expect him to be back. Source.
Pete Samu (Brumbies) - Had a neck/shoulder issue and was rested for last week. We assume this means he will be back this week. Source.
Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies) - Suffered a wrist injury in rd 9. Given the radio silence, we assume he is okay. Source.
Henry Stowers (Brumbies) - Signed as injury cover for the Brumbies, he was an absolute weapon last year so we could see him soon! Source.
Cadeyrn Neville (Brumbies) - We hear he might of copped an injury in rd 9, but yet to be confirmed.
New Injuries (AU Rd 10, Aotearoa Rd 9):
Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes) - Ruled out late for an unknown reason. Source.
Tanielu Tele'a (Blues) - Was pulled off despite only having being winded. Source.
Dalton Papalii (Blues) - Unlikely to play next week after limping off in the final 10 minutes. Source.
Kaylum Boshier (Chiefs) - Dislocated his shoulder in rd 9 and will have a reconstruction operation. Out for 6 months. Source.
Mitchell Karpik (Chiefs) - Suffered a knee injury and is having an arthroscopy (surgery) which will rule him out for 2-3 months. We suspect it would be a meniscus injury given the time frame. Source.
Simon Parker (Chiefs) - Had surgery on April 15th for a plantar plate repair (under his big toe), is expected to be out for 6 months. Source.
Hunter Paisami (Reds) - Came off at halftime with a concussion.
Rob Kearney (Western Force) - Ruled out of the game late before kick-off.
Isi Naisarani (Rebels) - Will face the judiciary after a red card for a high tackle.
Pone Fa'amausili (Rebels) - Will also face the judiciary after a red card near the end of the game.
Harry Johnson-Holmes (Waratahs) - Came off with apparently a horrific cut to his ear.
Angus Bell (Waratahs) - Limped off and was seen later with ice on his knee and ankle.
Ongoing Injury List:
AUSTRALIA
Western Force
Jake McIntyre - Came off early with a hamstring injury in rd 6. Source.
Byron Ralston - Taken from the field on a stretcher after being knocked out making a tackle in rd 8. Going through concussion protocols. Source.
Tomas Lezana - Missed rd 8 with a foot injury. No word on the severity. Source.
Brumbies
Connal McInerney - Came off with a bad ankle injury in rd 3. Has apparently fractured his fibula (and probably damaged his syndesmosis). Is expected to be out for an extended period. Source.
Jahrome Brown - Came off with a shoulder injury in rd 6 apparently his season is all but over. Source.
Tom Cusack - Suffered a hamstring injury in rd 8. Source.
James Tucker - Came off with a rib injury in rd 9 that puts him in doubt for Super Rugby AU. The signing of Stowers suggests he is done for the year. Source.
Reds
Suliasi Vunivalu - Tore his hamstring in rd 6, is aiming to return for the last round game against the Force. Source.
Rebels
Emosi Tuqiri - Out with a lower-body injury. Source.
Kailea Isaac Aedo - Suffered a shoulder injury. Not sure what he has done.
Reece Hodge - Had his knee hyperextended by Anstee in rd 8. Tore his MCL and expected to be out for 10-12 weeks. Source.
Trevor Hosea - Ruled out for 2 games after being cited for "foul play in a ruck" in rd 9. Should be back for rd 1 or 2 of Trans Tasman depending on if they make finals. Source.
Dane Haylett-Petty - Still out with ongoing concussion symptoms since the test season last year. Almost played in SR AU, so he should play in SR Trans Tasman. Source.
Waratahs
Robbie Abel - Has an ankle injury and isn't back training two weeks out from round 1. Source.
Joey Walton - Limped off with an ankle injury in rd 1. Could miss up to three months so we might not see him again this season. Source.
Jack Dempsey - Suffered a stress fracture in his foot after the game in rd 5 and won't play rd 6. These things often take 4-6 weeks at least to heal. It will be interesting to see how quickly they push him back in. Source.
Sam Wykes - Suffered an elbow/ bicep injury in rd 6. Not sure of the severity but it looked sore! Source.
Will Harrison - Suffered a hamstring tear against the Brumbies in rd 8 and is out for 3-6 weeks. He'll miss Super Rugby AU but should play in the Trans Tasman. Source.
NEW ZEALAND
Toni Brown has let out that there is no set plan to rest All Blacks this year - Source.
Highlanders
Sam Gilbert – Tore his ACL in rd 3 and will miss 9 months. Due back around April. Playing 20-30min with his club side in rd 7 as he nears a return. Source.
Daniel Lienert-Brown - Came off with a bad-looking shoulder injury. He has fractured his arm and will be back around the end of April. Source.
Pari Pari Parkinson - Flaired up the ankle he had an operation on last year in rd 7. His return date is currently unclear. Source.
Chiefs
Atu Moli – Had FAI (hip impingement) surgery on both hips to treat chronic hip dysfunction. Missed the entire 2020 season. Still on the road to recovery as of rd 2 2021. Source.
Laghlan McWhannell - Currently has a knee injury which we assume is still the patella tendon debridement from last year. Word is that he has had further surgery. Missed all of 2020 and now has had an injury replacement brought in so we assume he is out for some time. Source.
Quinn Tupaea - Ruptured his MCL (knee) in rd 7. He will be out for up to 8 weeks. Source.
Solomon Alaimalo - As of rd 6 he is not training with the squad as he deals with some personal issues. Source.
Nehe Milner-Skudder - As of rd 5 they said he wasn't fully ready for a Super Rugby return following his well-documented shoulder injury. Source.
Hurricanes
Jamie Booth - Tore his MCL and PCL in his knee, plus fractured his tibial plateau (surface of his knee joint). Had an operation in October. I'd suspect he is about six months (April) to return as a minimum but Holland has said he could even miss the entire season. Source.
Ardie Savea - Damaged his MCL in rd 6 and is said to be out for 6-8 weeks. Source.
Jonathan Taumateine - Was a late scratching off the bench for the Hurricanes after rolling his ankle on Friday before rd 7. Source.
Crusaders
Braydon Ennor - Tore his ACL in the North V South game and is not due back until after SR Aotearoa. Source. UPDATE: He is playing club rugby in rd 9 as he nears a return. Source.
Joe Moody - Suffered a serious soft tissue injury under his big toe in rd 6. They will reassess his progress after it settles in a couple of weeks. This could be one of a few things so we won't speculate yet between his plantar plate, flexor tendon etc. Source.
Blues
Ray Niuia – Had a knee injury that cost him his 2020 season. Still struggling with a knee injury this year. Source.
Dillon Hunt - Listed as injured before the last preseason game. Apparently out with a long-term concussion. Source.
Josiah Maraku - Listed as injured before the last preseason game. No other details yet. Source.
Alex Hodgman - Copped a red card for a high tackle. He has been banned for 3 weeks so won't play any more Super Rugby Aotearoa. If they don't make the final then he will also miss rd 1 of SR Trans Tasman. Source.
Gone for the season:
Andrew Makalio (Crusaders) - has been ruled out of the 2021 Super Rugby season due to a neck injury. Source.
Tom Christie (Crusaders) - Dislocated his shoulder in rd 3 and will have surgery. He won't play again this year. Return to sport is roughly 6 months. Source.
Jack Goodhue (Crusaders) - Has torn his ACL, PCL and MCL against the Hurricanes and won't play rugby again in 2021 as he goes under the knife. Source.
Jermaine Ainsley (Highlanders) - Ruled out for the majority of SR Aotearoa due to a high ankle sprain sustained the week before the first trial. Source.
Fetuli Paea (Highlanders) - Ruled out of the rest of the season after injuring his ankle in the last preseason trial. Source.
Freedom Vahaakolo (Highlanders) - Broke his left foot in training during the week and is out for the season. Source.
Thomas Umaga-Jenson (Highlanders) - Out for the season after breaking his arm in rd 6. Expected to recover in 12 weeks. Source.
Folau Fakatava (Highlanders) - Ruptured his ACL and he will be gone for the season. Source.
Connor Garden-Bachop (Highlanders) - Broke his wrist and is out for the rest of the season. Source.
Liam Squire (Highlanders) - Has flared up his knee injury and is out for the season. Source.
Simon Hickey (Hurricanes) - Tore his ACL in preseason and will miss the entire 2021 season. Orbyn Leger is likely to get a full contract as injury cover. Source.
Jackson Garden-Bachop (Hurricanes) - Had surgery on his achilles tear, ruling him out for up to 9 months. Source.
James Parsons (Blues) - Retiring on medical advice, after being out of the game for several months from a head injury. Source.
Jone Macalai (Blues) - Listed as injured before the last preseason game. apparently out for the year. Source.
Kini Naholo (Chiefs) - Will miss the entire 2021 Super Rugby campaign with injury.
Sam Cane (Chiefs) - Ruptured his pec tendon in rd 4, had surgery and is gone for six months. Source.
Julian Montoya (Western Force) - Couldn't get a visa for his wife so is no longer join the Force. He is joining Leicester Tigers instead. Source.
Rhys van Nek (Rebels) - The young prop is out for the season with a hamstring injury. Source.
Have we missed something? Drop a comment or tweet and let us know.
Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.