Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rounds 1-2

The regular season Casualty Ward will come out every week to deliver all your injury news. We stay on top of all the latest news, with the added insights of our team's Physiotherapist and Podiatrist.

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New Injuries Round 1:

Izack Rodda (Force) - Was meant to return from his foot osteotomy, then tore his quad in training. Now expected to be out for 6 weeks. Source.
Marley Pearce (Force) - Was cited after the game for his dangerous tackle on Jordie Barrett. Giving a 4 game banning putting his return in rd 6. Source.
Lalakai Foketi (Waratahs) - Rushed to hospital on thursday with a suspected neck injury at training. A CT scan ruled out any fractures, we are now waiting to hear the results of his MRI. Source.
Izaia Perese (Waratahs) - Came off with a concussion and will miss round 2. Source.
Mark Nawaqanitawase (Waratahs) - Pulled up from training with a sore hamstring on Tuesday. Will go get scans and be given every chance to play if he is fit. Source.
Taniela Tupou (Rebels) - Landed awkwardly on his hand then battled on with what looked to be some reasonable discomfort. After the game he said his hands was numb. Our concern is that he has broken it, although this has not been confirmed anywhere. Source.
Josh Flook (Reds) - Came off with an injury but was seen walking freely after the game, so hopefully it is nothing serious.
Suliasi Vunivalu (Reds) - We have heard that he looked to be walking with a saw hammy when he came off, this hasn’t been confirmed though so watch this space. Thanks Nick.

Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders) - Has a “significant” tear in his hamstring from making a break in rd 1. No detail on how long he will be out yet, but they have ruled him out of round 2. Source.
Rivez Reihana (Crusaders) - Came off with an AC injury in his shoulder injury after being cut in half by Finau. Source.
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) - Limped off with a rib injury. Has been cleared of serious injury and will be fit to play in round 2. Source.
Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs) - Came off with a concussion so will go through the standard protocols. Won’t travel with the team to Melbourne for rd 2. Source.
Devan Flanders (Hurricanes) - Came off with what was either an AC joint injury or a stinger. Ruled out for round 2. Source.
Du’Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes) - Fell awkwardly on his ankle but managed to play on. Looked like a low-grade syndesmosis injury. Ruled out for round 2. Source.
Dalton Papali’i (Blues) - Looked to have come off late with a minor injury. Named to play in rd 2.
Rieko Ioane (Blues) - Missing rd 2 due to a minor hamstring injury. Source.
Finlay Christie (Blues) - Is being rested for round 2. Source.
Miracle Fai’ilagi (Moana) - Unavailable for round 2 due to injury. Source.
Alamanda Motuga (Moana) - Unavailable for round 2 due to injury. Source.
James Lay (Moana) - Unavailable for round 2 due to injury. Source.
Pepesana Patafilo (Moana) - Unavailable for round 2 due to injury. Source.
Samuel Slade (Moana) - Unavailable for round 2 due to injury. Source.
Suetena Asomua (Moana) - Unavailable for round 2 due to injury. Source.

Likely Back for Round 2:

Jeremy Williams (Force) - Still going through concussion protocols after a trial 1 concussion (20th Feb). We heard early in the week he wouldn’t play but then he was named too start. Source.
Matt Proctor (Rebels) - Recovered from a hamstring injury in time for rd 2. Source.
Ned Hanigan (Waratahs) - Suffered a hamstring injury, back on the bench for round 2. Source.
Triston Reilly (Waratahs) has successfully recovered from his ankle injury to play rd 2. Source.
Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen (Reds) - Played in the development side in round 1 after recovering quickly from his knee injury. Should be in line to play round 2. Source.

Ethan De Groot (Highlanders) - Missed rd 1 coming back from a knee injury. Clarke Dermody said he was available for selection and has been named to start. Source.
David Havili (Crusaders) - Returning from an extended break and now available for week two. Source.
Fletcher Newell (Crusaders) - Missed round 1 with a concussion. Back this week. Source.
Tyrone Thompson (Chiefs) - is set to be back to full training this week as he recovers from an ankle injury. Source. Back training with the team and not named as unavailable despite his non selection for rd 2. Source.
Akira Ioane (Blues) - Returning from a calf complaint. Source.
Ofa Tu’ungafasi - (Blues) - Back starting this week. Source.

Returned in Round 1:

Max Jorgensen (Waratahs) - Started at fullback having recovered from his ankle operation. They were planning to bring him off the bench but a late injury to Foketi meant he started.
Izaia Perese (Waratahs) - Returned from an injured foot to start at outside centre.
Jack Grant - Returned from a Calf injury via the bench.
Tom Horton (Force) - Recovered from a preseason injury to start in round 1.
Harry Potter (Force) - Recovered from a preseason injury to start in round 1.
Nic White (Force)- Recovered from his minor shoulder (likely bicep) surgery to start at halfback.
Santiago Medrano (Force) Returned from his preseason concussion.
Sefo Kautai (Brumbies) - Back from a preseason neck injury to take his place on the bench.
Cadeyrn Neville (Brumbies) - Tore his hamstring in the first trial, managed to return via the bench.
Rob Valetini (Brumbies) - Recovered from a foot injury to start in round 1.

Samipeni Finau (Chiefs) - Recovered from a preseason injury to start in round 1.
Simon Parker (Chiefs) - Recovered from a preseason injury to start in round 1.
Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes) - Returned in the starting jersey having recovered from his elbow pain.
Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hurricanes) - Started at lock after being unavailable for the trials.

Ongoing Injury List:

AUSTRALIA

Western Force
Siosifa Amone - Dislocated his thumb in training and had surgery to repair his ligaments on Monday. 6-8-week return to play. Source.
Harry Hoopert - Sustained a ligament injury in his right knee in training a fortnight ago (as of 20th Feb). Has since undergone surgery and will miss 3-4 months. Source.
Felix Kalapu - Underwent hamstring surgery last week (mid Feb) following a tear in training. Unavailable for the first half of Super Rugby. Source.
Campbell Parata - Recovering from a hamstring injury. Source.
Papillon Sevele - Undergoing rehab in Sydney in preseason for a right ACL injury sustained playing for his club. Source.
Angus Wagner - Unavailable for the first half of Super Rugby following meniscal surgery. Source.
Reesjan Pasitoa - Dislocated his elbow in training and had surgery to repair his ligaments on Monday 19th Feb. Will require a 10-12-week recovery period. Putting his return around early May. Source.

Brumbies
Allan Alaalatoa - Ruptured his Achilles end of July. Returns around 9 months post-op, he is expected near the start of the season, roughly March/April. Source.
Connal McInerney - Said to be out for an extended period of time before 2024 begins. Source.
Ben O'Donnell - Said to be out for an extended period of time before 2024 begins. Source.
Ed Kennedy - Missing the preseason with an infection. Racing the clock to be fit for round one. Source.

Reds
James O’Connor - Suffered a hamstring injury in preseason. Likely to miss the first 3-4 rounds. Source.
Angus Blyth - Missed the trials with a knee injury, now in doubt for rd 1 with a back injury. Source.
Massimo De Lutiis - Out of Trial 1 with a hamstring injury and still out for rd 1 of the regular season. Source.
Connor Anderson - Out of Trial 1 with an ankle injury and still out for rd 1 of the regular season. Source.

Rebels
Pone Fa’amausili - Needs to prove his fitness to play rd 1. Source.
Cabous Eloff - Needs to prove his fitness to play rd 1. Source.

Waratahs
Will Harrison - Darren Coleman says he is aiming to go back through club rugby around rounds 2-5 (via the Pick and Drive podcast).
Mesu Kunavula – Knee, will be out for the season. Source.
Dave Porecki - Missed the 2nd trial after picking up an Achilles injury last week. We heard he was expected back for round 2. Source. Definitely won’t play round 1. Source.
Tom Lambert - Likely to miss at least the first month of the season after suffering a meniscus injury at training. The injury is likely to see him miss up to three months, having had surgery the week of Feb 12th after hurting his knee in a rolling maul. Source.
Archer Holz - Aiming to return from a shoulder injury in round 2. Source.
Tom Ross - Aiming to return from a calf injury in round 2 at the earliest. Source.

NEW ZEALAND
The All Blacks are on leave until early February. Although not confirmed, this may delay their entry into the SR Pacific competition.

Highlanders
Will Tucker - Injured and aiming to return in mid April. Source.
Mitch Dunshea - Recovering from an Achilles Rupture and repair, aiming to return in April. Source.
Thomas Umaga-Jensen - Had an ACL rupture and repair mid September. A 9 month recovery puts him back in mid June so he is likely gone for season. Source.

Chiefs
Gideon Wrampling - Is a couple more weeks away (leading into rd 1) as he recovers from an elbow injury. Source.
Kaleb Trask - is still managing a long-term injury and has now been replaced in the official squad. Source.
Emoni Narawa - Injured his back on the eve of the RWC. Has suffered a setback and won’t be ready for rd 1 as he continues to try to build up his strength during his recovery. Source. Back training with the team and hoping to be fit for rd 2. Source.
Josh Lord - Sprained his ankle in early February. Back running as of Feb 19th but won’t be ready early enough to play rd 1. Source. Back training with the team and hoping to be fit for rd 2. Source.

Hurricanes
TJ Perenara - Aiming for a return from his twice operated Achilles tendon in round 3 despite getting a few minutes in preseason. Source.
Brad Shields - Missed the 2nd trial and now round 1 with plantarfasciitis. This will be an overload issue so no doubt it will compromise how much he can train and potentially play through the early parts of the season. Source.
Jacob Devery - Suffered a knee injury in pre-season and didn’t fly to Australia. Source.
Richard Judd - Injured a bicep in training on the Wednesday two weeks before round 1. Didn’t go on the two week tour to Australia. Source.

Crusaders
Braydon Ennor - Out for the season as he recovers from an ACL reconstruction in August. Apparently he had an infection in his knee early post op which has slowed his recovery. He is aiming to play in the back half of 2024. Source.
Fergus Burke - Suffered an Achilles Injury in October. They are optimistic he could return shortly after the team’s round seven bye in mid-April which would be six months. If he has ruptured it that would be the quickest return but it could be much slower. Source.
Codie Taylor - Will miss most of Super Rugby by taking a ‘non-playing sabbatical’. They are reporting that he is expected to return a few weeks before the playoffs, but coach Penney didn’t rule out an early return. Source.
Leigh Halfpenny - Tore his pec muscle in the first trial on February 3rd that forced him from the field in their game with Munster. Expected back in 3-4 months. Source.
Will Jordan - Will go for surgery just before the season kicks off to repair a shoulder that has been a lingering problem since last season. Will miss the entire Super Rugby season. Source.
Ethan Blackadder - Expected to miss the first three or four games with a calf injury. Source.
Brodie McAlister - Injured his knee in the last trial and won’t play rd 1. Source.
Ioane Moananu - Injured his chest during last week’s pre-season match against the Highlanders and won’t play round 1. Source.

Blues
Patrick Tuipulotu - Suffered a fracture to his jaw in the first trial on February 3rd. Said on the season launch that he didn’t need surgery so is expecting to return round 5-6.

PACIFIKA TEAMS

Fiji Drua
Caleb Muntz - Ruptured his ACL in training in September last year. A 9 months post return puts him at mid June. Source.
Kitione Salawa - Injured his left shoulder in round 7 last year and had surgery in Australia. Aiming to return in March this year and is apparently on track at this point. Source.
Ilaisa Droasese - Came off after taking a heavy knock to his knee in the final trial. Source.

Moana Pasifika
Nil reported.

Gone for the season:

This will be completed during the season.

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

Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.