The Casualty Ward Rd 1

There may have only been two games over the weekend, but there has still been plenty of new injuries!

New Injuries Rd 1:

Dalton Papali'i (Blues) - Ruled out for six weeks with a hand fracture Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes) - Not technically an injury, but as an all black he also needs to have rest weeks - because of this he reported for Hurricanes duty on January 29 below peak condition and was left out of their squad to play the Bulls, then Jaguares in Buenos Aires the following week. Likely back on the bench in Rd 4. Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs) - Slight calf strain in training, won't be considered for Rd 2.

Izaia Perese (Reds) - Partially torn his ACL against their trial against Fiji. Hopefully back for round 8 at the earliest. Beware, rehab times for partial ACL's are not an exact science! Colby Faingaa (Rebels) - In Tonga on personal leave. Geoff Parling (Rebels) - Won't be considered for Rd 2. Not sure if he is injured or just being rested. Scott Sio (Brumbies) - Won't play in Tokyo this week after McKellar has chosen to rest him for a "minor niggle".

Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers) - Burst appendix before Rd 1 - not going on tour so will be back at the earliest Rd 5. Dan Du Preez (Sharks) - Shoulder ligament injury in Rd 1. Will be treated conservatively for 1 month and reassessed - I assume this means he had a partial dislocation, should be fine in 4 weeks. Cameron White (Sharks) - Concussion, going through return to play (RTP) protocols now. Should be sweet after their Bye in Rd 2. Keegan Daniel (Sharks) - Pulled out pregame with a stomach bug. Should be right for Rd 3 after their bye. Akka Van Der Merwe (Lions) - Came off in the last minute with a mild elbow ligament strain. He is back training with the team so should be back for Rd 3. Jason Jenkins (Bulls) - AC joint injury. Should be back for Rd 3. Aston Fortuin (Bulls) - Same as Jason. A lock set to be back for Rd 3 following an AC Jt. Jannes Kirsten (Bulls) - Played the final on his injury comeback, won't be available until Rd 3 though. Tim Agaba (Bulls) - Struggling with a hamstring injury, should be available from Rd 3. Franco Naude (Bulls) - Undergone shoulder surgery and will be out for four months from Rd 2.

Ruan Smith (Sunwolves) - Has left the club for personal reasons. We won't see him in 2018.

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Likely back this week (Rd 2):

Chris Eves (Hurricanes) - Shoulder stinger in last trial "No long term damage". Should play Rd 2. Atu Moli (Chiefs) - Playing very limited minutes in last trial coming back from last years foot injury. But expected to play Rd 2.

Rob Simmons (Waratahs) – Concussion in last trial against rebels but likely to play Rd 2. Ned Hanigan (Waratahs) - Grd 1 MCL (same knee as last year) in 2nd last trial - Sounds like he should play Rd 2. Damien Fitzpatrick (Waratahs) - (PCL) Knee injury in preseason against rebels - touch and go for Rd 2 depending on his pain.

Will Genia (Rebels) - has recovered from his fractured back and is said to be playing this week. Bill Meakes (Rebels)- First game back from surgery so will come off the bench.

Eto Nabuli (Reds) - Apparently struggling with a wrist injury from preseason but has been rushed back for rd 1. Izack Rodda (Reds) - On the comeback trail from a shoulder reconstruction he too has been rushed back for rd 1.

Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers) - Cleared fit to play after recovering from his back injury. SP Marais (Stormers) - Expected back for the tour in Rd 2. Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers) - In the touring squad after missing rd 1. Caylib Oosthuizen (Stormers) - In the touring squad after missing rd 1. Ivan van Zyl (Bulls) - Shoulder Injury - should return for Rd 2

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Ongoing Injury List:

NEW ZEALAND Highlanders Richard Buckman - Aggravated an old neck injury - The medical team has said they will let the injury settle until after Rd 4 and then reassess him. James Lentjes -  Shoulder injury in last preseason game – back in April

Hurricanes Dane Coles - ACL Start of December, return in "4-6 months" so probably getting a synthetic LARS graft. These have higher rupture rates. So he has a higher risk of reinjury and will probably be undercooked on return. AVOID. Ihaia West - Rumoured to start at flyhalf to start the season while Jordie is injured. Beauden would play fullback. Jordie Barrett - Shoulder Injury - back earliest Rd 3- most likely Rd 6 (some say earliest Rd4) Nehe Milner-Skudder - Shoulder reconstruction - Back in May.

Chiefs Mitchell Graham - Out for first 6 weeks, had screws removed from old leg fracture operation Sam McNicol - Recurrent Concussions - going through the normal protocol Tim Nanai-Williams - Injured shoulder in final trial against Brumbies - apparently it is touch and go between surgery or a long physio process. Either way he isn't expected back for a substantial part of the season.

Crusaders Owen Franks - Achilles rupture in September for NZ-  Targeting 21st April (Rd 10) Israel Dagg - Knee Injury from 2017. Targeting 21st April Rd 10 Joe Moody  - Shoulder injury - Targeting 21st April Rd 10

Blues Stephen Perofeta - Back in Rd 7 after the Bye - Broken Hand in trial against chiefs Blake Gibson - Shoulder injury, I hear he will miss Rd 2 but that's all i can find. Jimmy Tupou - Reaggravated a rib injury -  Given an extra week to recover. Back Rd 3. Jerome Kaino - Tweaked an ankle in the last trial - Given an extra week to recover. Back Rd 3. Sione Mafileo - Knee Matt Moulds - Knee Kara Pryor - Ankle TJ Faiane - Calf injury Isaac Salmon - Elbow

AUSTRALIA Waratahs Ben McCalman - 4th Fractured Scapula (Shoulder blade) in 2 years, Waratahs want a medical before signing him. The silence around him makes me think he will be a no show. Nick Phipps - Calf injury Feb 7th, Back for Rd 3 or 4 - probably gives the start to Jake Gordon for now. Jack Dempsey - Hamstring Injury - Back week 9 Sekope Kepu - Suspension, Back Rd 4 - shoulder to the head against Scotland in 2017 Cameron Clark - Torn Hamstring in Brizzy 10s, in doubt for Rd 1, Likely Rd 4-5

Brumbies David Pocock - Knee Op - Back Rd 7 (could be Rds 4-9)

Reds Karmichael Hunt - Cleared from his Cocaine trial - Doesn't look like he will come straight back into the side though and there are rumours he will head overseas. Stay away for now! Ben Lucas - Minor knee surgery, will be considered for selection from Rd 3. George Smith - Back surgery - back April 7th against Brumbies In Rd 8 Quade Cooper - unwanted by reds but still contracted - unlikely to see him play this season.

Rebels Jordy Reid - apparently injured - set for early season return Marika Koroibete - Knee injury - no other news other than that it looks like it happened a while ago. Richard Hardwick - Knee injury

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SOUTH AFRICA Sharks Jean-Luc du Preez - Ankle inj in Currie Cup final - likely to return early march Louis Schreuder - Hamstring injury in preseason, will miss the first month of competition. Will rejoin training after Rd 2. Leolin Zas - Not coming back well from injury - flown to Switzerland to try and get better.

Stormers Scarra Ntubeni - Hamstring injury in preseason. Frans Malherbe - Neck Injury - no return date set (as of 15th Feb) - at least missing until after the tour (Rd 5) Jean-Luc du Plessis - Op Dec 1st GROIN, back ~ 15th March Daniel du Plessis - Shoulder Inj - back ~15th March Likely starting Centre with De Allende Eben Etzebeth - Shoulder Injury, Back around 18th May! ! RD11?

Lions Courtnall Skosan - ACL in January - Originally gone until start of July/Aug at earliest - now saying ~10weeks so could be back mid April. This only works if they are planning on not reconstructing his ACL, which is a huge risk in rugby union. Avoid him like the plague! Jaco Kriel - Shoulder Op - Should be back Rd 3-4 Ruan Combrinck - Shoulder surgery - return Mid April

Bulls Travis Ismaiel - Concussion in preseason - No word on his return but rumours are that they are being very careful. Ruan Steenkamp - Knee - back mid feb? Jamba Ulengo - Ongoing Patella Tendon issue- Had a small operation in Sweden and now expected to be out for 8 weeks (16th April).

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ARGENTINA/JAPAN Jaguares Tomás Cubelli - Fractured neck vertebra, back end of april/start of may Jerónimo de la Fuente - Muscle tear - likely back after rd 3 Santiago Garcia Botta - Rib Injury against Argentina XV Matías Moroni - Shoulder operation - back early april?

Sunwolves Kenki Fukuoka - Injured for 4 weeks – ongoing knee injury

OUT FOR THE SEASON:

Otere Black (Blues) - ACL reconstruction Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks) - ACL reconstruction Rudy Paige (Bulls) - cut from the squad Enrique Pieretto (Jaguares) - ACL Reconstruction Reggie Goodes (Hurricanes) – Retired due to concussion Nick Frisby (Reds) - His services will not be needed. Markus Vanzati (Reds) - His services will not be needed.

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Written by Harrison Dale