Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rd 3
Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rd 3
Round 3 of Super Rugby Pacific is done and this year's Casualty Ward is like no other with more players pulled pre-game than ever before! But never fear, the Casualty Ward is here 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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Returned in Rd 3:
Will Harrison (Waratahs) - Made a comeback from his AC joint via the bench.
Hunter Paisami (Reds) - Finally made his comeback from a knee injury.
Teti Tela (Drua) - Made his return from an Achilles tendon rupture and repair off the bench.
Dalton Papalii (Blues) - Played his first game after a preseason concussion.
Beauden Barrett(Blues) - Returned from a concussion he suffered back in November.
Richie Mo'Unga (Crusaders) - Played his first game for the Crusaders in rd 3 off the bench.
Codie Taylor (Crusaders) - Played his first game of the year in rd 3, we assume the early absence was just an All Black's rest.
Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders) - Came back a week early after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Du-Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes) - Came off with a hip pointer in rd 1 and didn't play rd 2. Started this week.
Billy Proctor (Hurricanes) - Was injured in round 1, started again this week.
Likely back this week (Rd 4):
James Ramm (Waratahs) – Suffered a rib injury. Targeting a return in round 3 or 4 so he should be back. Source.
Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco (Waratahs) - We got wind of him having a hip injury before round 1. Due to return this week. Source.
Geoff Cridge (Waratahs) - Suffered an ankle injury in round 2. Due to return this week. Source.
Jeremy Williams (Waratahs) - Suffered a groin infection through the week and couldn't play round 3. Due to return this week. Source.
Andrew Kellaway (Rebels) - Has a stress fracture in his foot. Was hopeful of returning in rd 3. Source.
Reece Hodge (Rebels) - Was suspended for 1 match following his round 2 red card. Source.
Jordan Uelese (Rebels) - Missed round 3 after flaring up the rib injury that had him come off early in rd 1. Given he was close to playing last week, we suspect he will play rd 4. Source.
Lachie Anderson (Rebels) - A late withdrawal before rd 2 with a groin strain. Was a close call for rd 3, so we assume he will be back for rd 3. Source.
George Worth (Rebels) - Suffered a concussion in rd 2 and missed rd 3. We suspect he will be back this week. Source.
Taniela Tupou (Reds) - Suffered a back injury in the warm-up of rd 2. No confirmation yet, but we suspect he will be back.
Alex Mafi (Reds) - Flared up a neck injury in rd 2 and missed the following week. We suspect this means it is not too severe and that he could play this week. Source.
Liam Wright (Reds) - Suffered a right shoulder injury in rd 1, scans showed there was no severe. Source. Will press for selection in rd 4. Source.
Bayley Kuenzle (Western Force) - Suffered a concussion in round 1. Missed rd 3 as the staff were playing it safe with his return given it is his 2nd concussion in a short space of time. Source.
Andrew Ready (Western Force) - Stood down for rd 3 after drinking alcohol on the flight from Melbourne to Perth last week. Source.
Byron Ralston (Western Force) - Stood down for rd 3 after drinking alcohol on the flight from Melbourne to Perth last week. Source.
New Injuries (Rd 3):
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Reds) - Came off after 4 minutes with a high ankle (Syndesmosis) injury. Expected to miss at least 4 weeks. Source.
James Turner (Waratahs) - Rolled his ankle during the warm-up and was ruled out of the game. Source.
Angus Bell (Waratahs) - Came off with what is suspected to be an aggravation of a corked thigh. If this is the case then he will be fine to play next week.
Folau Fainga'a (Brumbies) - Sprained his ankle and managed to play on for another 10 minutes so we suspect it isn't too severe. Could still be a 1-2 week injury.
Kane Koteka (Western Force) - Ruled out prematch. We aren't sure what the injury was yet.
Baden Kerr (Drua) - Pulled pregame with an injury. Source.
Nemani Nagusa (Drua) - Came off in the 2nd half of rd 2. We suspect he has an injury but we aren't sure at this stage.
James Lentjes (Highlanders) - Hadn't recovered from a rd 2 concussion so was pulled from the side late. Source.
Andrew Makalio (Highlanders) - As of rd 3 he was still “a couple of weeks away” from his debut having suffered a leg injury. Source.
Dane Coles (Hurricanes) - Is apparently struggling with a calf injury. The earliest he might play is rd 5 or 6. Source.
Ardie Savea (Hurricanes) - Took a knock to the knee and is in some doubt for rd 4. Source.
Leicester Fainga'anuku (Crusaders) - Was named to play at outside centre but was pulled pregame with a mid-week injury. During the tv coverage they mentioned that he might miss a couple of weeks. Source.
Oli Jager (Crusaders) - Pulled late in the week with calf tightness. Source.
Luke Jacobson (Chiefs) - Tore a ligament in his knee in rd 1 and is expected to miss 3-4 weeks. Source.
Simon Parker (Chiefs) - Currently out as of rd 3 nursing an injury. Source.
Samipeni Finau (Chiefs) - Currently out as of rd 3 nursing an injury. Source.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Blues) - Forced from the game with a shoulder injury. Will go for scans but apparently was very sore. Source. Apparently landed heavily on his shoulder which makes us suspect it is an AC joint injury. Source.
Harry Plummer (Blues) - Forced from the game with a partially dislocated shoulder injury. Will go for scans but apparently was very sore. Source.
Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes) - Was pulled for an unexplained reason. Rumoured to have been pulled due to Covid. Given the lockdown rules in NZ it would mean he probably misses rd 4 as well. Source.
Jamie Booth (Hurricanes) - Suffered a knee injury in training and was ruled out of rd 3. We don't know the severity of the injury yet. Source.
Ongoing Injury List:
AUSTRALIA
Western Force
Nil
Brumbies
Rodney Iona - Tore his calf in the trial against the Waratahs on the 30th of January. We aren't sure of the severity of the tear. Source.
Reds
Suliasi Vunivalu - Retore his hamstring during the Wallabies season. Still several weeks away from a return as of rd 3. Source.
Isaac Henry - Will be out for the first month of the Super Rugby Pacific season after he broke a bone in his foot at training. Source.
Richie Asiata - Broke his arm in the Reds trial and is due to have surgery on the 7th of Feb. Source.
Tate McDermott - suffered a high ankle (Syndesmosis) injury in rd 2. Is expected to miss 4-6 weeks which puts the earliest return date as round 8. Source.
Angus Scott-Young - Limped off with a knee (MCL) injury in rd 2. Is expected to miss 4-6 weeks which puts the earliest return date as round 8. Source.
Rebels
Trevor Hosea - Fractured his foot and will miss the first three months of Super Rugby. Source.
Pone Fa'amausili - Struggling with a calf injury. Expecting to return in the first few weeks of the competition. Source. But not in rd 3. Source.
Rob Leota - Out with a hamstring injury to start the season. Won't play in rd 3. Source.
Josh Kemeny - Expected to miss the majority of the season with an unknown injury. Source.
Waratahs
Ned Hanigan - Playing in Japan until the end of their 2022 season in May.
Mosese Tuipulotu - The young centre is injured and won't be available to play. Will be out until at least rd 11. Source.
Michael Hooper - Has a Lis Franc injury in his foot from November that will keep him out of the first few rounds of SR Pacific. Source. Also has a negotiated leave period in his contract for this year and is due back by round 5 or 6. Source.
Archer Holz - Has a thigh injury. Back in round 3-4. Source.
Lachie Swinton - Hurt his shoulder late in the drought-breaking win over the Drua. Return date is TBC. Source.
NEW ZEALAND
Highlanders
Billy Harmon - Had a right shoulder operation in October that will keep him out until April. Source.
Solomon Alaimalo - Tony Brown said he was again unavailable due to personal reasons. There is no timeframe on his return. Source.
Rory van Vugt - Broke his wrist in the trial of three halves on the 12th Feb. We suspect he will be out for six weeks. Source.
Christian Lio-Willie - Broke his hand in the lead up to their final trial. We suspect he will be out for roughly the first four weeks of Super Rugby. Source.
Josh Timu - Tore his PCL in rd 2 and will miss 6 weeks. Source.
Chiefs
Mitch Brown - Isn’t expected to be fit for the opening rounds after undergoing minor surgery. Source.
Hurricanes
Owen Franks - The returning All Black was originally said to miss the entire season with an Achilles rupture and repair. Source. Now he is aiming to return on April 8th against the Hurricanes. Source.
Isaia Walker-Leawere - In doubt for most of the season with a shoulder injury. Source.
Dominic Bird - Is nursing an injury and is expected to miss the start of the season. Source.
TJ Perenara - Suffered an MCL injury on the 8th of Feb. Apparently nearing a return as of rd 3. Source.
Cam Roigard - Suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason which has lead to injury cover being called in to the squad. We aren't sure how long he is out, but it doesn't sound good. Source.
Nehe Milner-Skudder - Suffered a concussion in the Crusaders trial on Feb 12th. Will have to go through concussion protocols. Source.
Crusaders
Jack Goodhue - Ruptured his ACL in April 2021. It sounds like he is targeting a 12-month return, meaning he will a large amount of SR Pacifika. Source.
Waisake Naholo - Was set to travel with the team to Queenstown, but tweaked his hamstring at training on the 8th of Feb. Source.
Blues
Akira Ioane - Ruled out of round 2 late with a Lisfranc Injury. Apparently in a cast so we are fearing the worst, it could be the end of his Super Rugby season. Source. Update; he will be out "long term". Source.
PACIFIKA TEAMS
Fiji Drua
Nil
Moana Pasifika
Solomone Kata - Injured his ankle in their first trial against the Chiefs. We don't know how long he will be out for yet.
Gone for the season:
Alivereti Veitokani (Drua) - Has a major knee injury. Expected to return to rugby in 2023. Source.
Joey Walton (Waratahs) - Has done his second ACL in only his second session back for the Waratahs back in October 21. Will miss the entire SR Pacifika season. Source.
Dillon Hunt (Blues) - Forced into early retirement due to Concussion. Source.
Patelesio Tomkinson (Highlanders) - will miss the entirety of the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season after injuring his foot while playing for Otago. Vereniki Tikoisolomone has been called up as his replacement. Source.
Pari Pari Parkinson (Highlanders) - Suffered a "multi-ligament knee injury" in November 2021 (this will be ACL plus others). He won't be back for roughly twelve months. Source.
Jona Nareki (Highlanders) - Ruptured his ACL last August. Even a 9-month recovery wouldn't have him back until May. Source.
Nathan Harris (Chiefs) - Has had to retire due to chronic ankle pain. Source.
Reuben O'Neill (Chiefs) - Out for the year. Thank you to Tom Vinicombe for the inside scoop.
Fraser Armstrong (Hurricanes) - Retired due to injury. Source.
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Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.