Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rounds 2-3
Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rounds 2-3
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 2:
Jeremy Williams (Force) - Came off with a concussion.
Michael Wells (Force) - Came off with a concussion.
Ollie Callan (Force) - Given a red card for a high tackle so will face the judiciary this week.
Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies) - Came off with a concussion after 10 minutes. Source.
Jack Goodhue (Crusaders) - Came off early with a groin injury.
Brodie McAlister (Crusaders) - Came off after being hit in the face for a blood bin. We don't expect him to miss any time.
Ardie Savea (Hurricanes) - Cited for threatening Louwrens in his game against the Rebels. Will learn his fate Monday night. Source.
Tevita Mafileo (Hurricanes) - Given the first red card after being upgraded off field from a yellow for a dangerous cleanout. Source.
Likely back for Round 3:
Luke Jones (Reds) - Struggling with a neck injury, was a maybe for round 1. Source.
Spencer Jeans (Reds) - Broke his leg around the start of January and is targeting a round-three return. Thanks to Nic Darveniza for the tip!
Josh Nasser (Reds) - On his way back from his shoulder reconstruction, is expected to be back for round 3. Source.
Connal McInerney (Brumbies) - Concussion in rd 1. No confirmation but he could be back this week.
Joey Walton (Waratahs) - Had an operation to clean out a disc in his lower back. As of the end of January, he was 6 weeks away which would mean he is aiming for a round 2-3 return. Source.
Ned Hanigan (Waratahs) - Came off with a knee injury in the Feb 11th trial when Dane Zander fell awkardly on his knee. Looking like an MCL type injury. Aiming to return round 2-4. Source.
Tiaan Tauakipulu (Waratahs) - Has a knee injury from the preseason. Aiming to be back in round 2 or 3. Source.
Dylan Pietsch (Waratahs) - Went down in the trial against the Brumbies on the 4th of Feb with a quad tear. Expected back rd 2-3. Source.
Will Harrison (Waratahs) - Had a big multi-ligament knee injury during Super Round early in 2022 and had surgery on his patella and MCL. Aiming to in round 3 but not confirmed. Source.
Jone Koroiduadua (Drua) - Came off with a concussion in rd 1 so we expect he could be back this week.
Sekope Kepu (Moana) - Snapped his Achilles in September. Isn't expected back until sometime in March. Hoping to be back in rd 3. Source.
Tima Fainga’anuku (Moana) - Missed the final trial with a concussion. Source.
Devan Flanders (Hurricanes) - We expect him back from his rd 1 concussion.
Ruben Love (Hurricanes) - Has been battling a groin issue and is still a couple of weeks away at a minimum (won't be back until rd 3 at the earliest). Source.
Brett Cameron (Hurricanes) - Has a grade 2 calf tear and looks likely for round 3. Source.
Shannon Frizell (Highlanders) - Sat out his first All Black's rest week in round 2. Source.
Ethan de Groot (Highlanders) - Sat out his first All Black's rest week in round 2. Source.
Fabian Holland (Highlanders) - Dislocated his kneecap in the 2nd week of January. With an estimated 8 week recovery he is now in doubt for the start of the season (8 weeks would be a round 3 return). Source. Hopeful of returning to training after round 2. Source.
Hugh Renton (Highlanders) - Injured, Hopeful of returning to training after round 2. Source.
Fetuli Paea (Highlanders) - Injured, he was hopeful of returning to training after round 2. Source.
Alex Hodgman (Blues) - Missed rd 1 with illness so we assume he will be back. Wasn't listed as unavailable in rd 2. Source.
AJ Lam (Blues) - Missed rd 2 with illness so we assume he will be back. Source.
Returned in Round 2:
James O'Connor (Reds) - Finally made his comeback from ankle surgery via the bench. Looked sharp/
Liam Wright (Reds) - Back after missing round 1 with a concussion. Didn't look to be bothered by it at all.
Jock Campbell (Reds) - Made his comeback from an ankle injury via the bench. Didn't see much action.
Suliasi Vunivalu (Reds) - returned after rolling his ankle in the last trial. Played well but left the field with a calf cramp after an 80 metre break away try where he never really looked comfortable.
Folau Fainga'a (Force) - No sign of the achilles tendon issue that kept him out of round 1. Played 52 minutes and scored a try.
Manasa Mataele (Force) - Back after missing rd 1 with an achilles tendon issue. Didn't see much ball.
Lachlan Lonergan (Brumbies) - Missed round 1 with illness. Started this week.
Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Moana) - Returned after being ruled out of rd 1 with a neck injury.
Lotu Inisi (Moana) - Back from ankle injury via the bench.
Ray Niuia (Moana) - Played 23 minutes off the bench having recovered from a neck injury.
Tom Robinson (Blues) - Missed 2 weeks with illness. recovered to play 53 minutes but didn't quite have his normal big work rate.
James Lay (Blues) - Returned via the bench with an ankle injury.
Sam Whitelock (Crusaders) - Back from a rd 1 concussion.
Etene Nanai-Seturo (Chiefs) - Back after a scare pre-game last week when he pulled up with hamstring tightness. Only had the 1 carry for the night so never really tested the hammy out.
Ongoing Injury List:
AUSTRALIA
Western Force
Izack Rodda - Broke his foot again in the final trial against the Drua. His return time hasn't been set yet but it wouldn't surprise us if he misses at least the first six weeks. Source.
Ryan McCauley - Suffered a pre-season shoulder injury. Source.
Feleti Kaitu'u - Came off in rd 1 with a hamstring injury. Source.
Sam Spink - Tore his hammy in rd 1. Source.
Brumbies
Tom Hooper - Suffered a potentially serious foot injury on the Feb 11 trial. Source. Was seen in a cast and not weight-bearing at the final trial so we think he will be out for at least 3 months.
Reds
Angus Blyth - Has an high ankle (syndesmosis) injury. Expected to miss the first month of Super Rugby. Source.
Wilson Blyth - Suffering with a knee injury, expecting to miss the first couple of rounds of Super Rugby. Source.
Conor Vest - Suffering a thumb injury, expecting to miss the first couple of rounds of Super Rugby. Source.
Isaac Henry - Fractured his hand in round 1. We expect he will be out for 4-6 weeks. Source.
Rebels
Matt Philip - Ruptured his ACL at training on October 19th meaning he will miss almost the entire season. Source.
Rob Leota - Ruptured his Achilles against the All Blacks in September 15th. Expected to miss the bulk of Super Rugby. Source.
Andrew Kellaway - Has started to run early in Feb on his comeback from his foot fracture. He is aiming to play before his original target of round 6. Source.
Ray Nu’u - Helped off with a right knee injury on Feb 11. No word yet on the severity. Source.
Waratahs
Harry Johnson-Holmes - Ruptured his Achilles in Wallabies camp before the July test. Aiming to return by rd 3-4. Source. But he might still be too far away. 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
Scott Gregory - Currently out as of rd 2 with a knee injury. Source.
James Arscott - Currently out as of round 2 with a knee injury. Source.
Vilimoni Koroi - Currently out as of round 2 with a knee injury. Source.
Marty Banks - Currently out as of round 2 with a groin injury. Source.
Jeff Thwaites - Currently out as of round 2 with a back injury. Source.
Jona Nareki - Has a bone stress injury in his foot before rd 1. Apparently he is expected to miss the first four to six weeks. Source.
Marino Mikaele Tu'u - Came off with a fractured rib injury in rd 1. Out for 4-7 weeks. Source.
Chiefs
Quinn Tupaea - Tore his ACL late in September. Probably won't be back until late June. Source.
Josh Lord - Tore his ACL on the 14th of June. That puts his return around mid march, but it could very a lot.
Atu Moli - Came off injured after 5 minutes in the Feb 18th trial with a shoulder injury. He was interviewed post-game and said he was okay.
Emoni Narawa - Not considered for round 1 due to injury. Source.
Ngantungane Punivai - Not considered for round 1 due to injury. Source.
Anton Lienert-Brown - Rolled his ankle in Rd 1. Mentioned on his instagram that he should be right in 3-5 weeks. Source.
Hurricanes
TJ Perenara - Ruptured his Achilles on the 20th of November playing against England. Originally planning on an August return, he is well ahead of schedule and will try to return towards the end of Super Rugby around late April. Source. Our opinion is that this is far too early and at absolute best, we might see him in early May.
Reed Prinsep - Limped off with an Achilles injury in the last trial. Source. Apparently not a full rupture. Source.
Justin Sangster - Dislocating his thumb in the final trial against the Crusaders. Source.
Crusaders
Oli Jager - Sustained a neck injury late in the NPC in 2022 which required surgery. As of the start of Feb he is back in the gym but won't start contact or scrummaging until cleared by the specialist. Source.
Will Jordan - Progressing his involvement in training with his migraine-related condition diagnosed late last year. Symptoms are not concussion related & he is working towards a return to play for the Crusaders, but the exact time-frame of this is uncertain. Source.
Cullen Grace - Sounds like he broke his collarbone in rd 1. The same one he broke last year. No confirmation on the injury or return date yet. Source.
Fletcher Newell - Missed round 2 with a knee and foot injury from rd 1. Source.
Blues
Sam Nock - Withdrew from the Feb 11 trial with a calf injury. Source.
Sam Darry - Came to Thursday 16th’s season launch wearing a knee brace. We don't have more details yet but we expect he must be at least 2-4 weeks away from playing if that is the case. Source.
Harry Plummer - Missed rd 1 with a rib injury. Source.
Akira Ioane - Limped off in rd 1 with a left knee injury (we think it is an MCL injury). Expected to be out for a couple of months. Source.
PACIFIKA TEAMS
Fiji Drua
Simione Kuruvoli - Injured his shoulder in the Autumn internationals which required surgery, will miss almost the entire 2023 season. Source.
Meli Derenalagi - Apparently recovered from his ACL injury before rd 1 but didn't play. Source.
Vilive Miramira - Back, before rd 1 but didn't play. Source.
Meli Tuni - Back, before rd 1 but didn't play. Source.
Emosi Tuqiri - Injured his ankle in rd 1. No word on a return date yet. The fact that he couldn't play on would suggest he is going to be out for 4-6 weeks.
Moana Pasifika
Niko Jones - Missed the final trial with a knee injury. Source.
Jonathan Taumateine - Missed the final trial with a Hamstring injury. Source.
Jack Lam - Missed the final trial with an ankle injury. Source.
Penitoa Finau - Missed the final trial with a foot injury. Source.
Sosefo ‘Apikotoa - Pulled pregame rd 1. Apparently, he was injured at training during the week. No more information is available.
Gone for the season:
Taniela Tupou (Reds) - Ruptured his Achilles on November 20 and won't play in Super rugby 2023. Source.
Harry Hoopert (Reds) - Ruptured his ACL playing for Australia A on October 8th. Will miss the 2023 season. Source.
Kurtley Beale (Waratahs) - Has been stood down until his legal battle is finished. The next court date is March 22nd so he won't be seen before then. Source.
Angus Bell (Waratahs) - In rd 1 he reruptured the same ligament on his toe that kept him out of the end of 2022. Expected to be out for the entire Super Rugby season with a worst case 6 month return. Source.
Alivereti Veitokani (Drua) - Still hasn't been able to travel to Australia to have his knee reconstruction so is still at least 9 -12 months away from playing again.
Vinaya Habosi (Drua) - Cut from the team immediately on February 7th due to a high-level breach of the club's code of conduct. Source.
Reuben O'Neill (Chiefs) - Missed 2022 through injury and has once again been ruled out for the year.
Angus Ta'avao (Chiefs) - Out for the 2023 season after injuring his neck which required surgery in the NPC in October. Source.
Xavier Roe (Chiefs) - Opted to have shoulder surgery for a niggling injury. This will rule him out for the season. Source.
Luca Inch (Highlanders) - Ruled out for the season. Source.
Have we missed something? Drop a comment or tweet and let us know.
Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.