The Casualty Ward Rd 2-3

There's been two rounds of footy played and the injury list is already massive. Find out if your favourite players are still standing or if they've been carried off into the Casualty Ward ahead of Round 3.

Returned from Injuries in Rd 2:

Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs) – Showed no sign of his slight calf strain making a modest 6 runs for 52 metres and 13 fantasy points. Might have better like this week shifting to full back. Chris Eves (Hurricanes) – Had a shoulder stinger in the last trial and returned as expected. Played 54 minutes after Toby Smith was injured. Atu Moli (Chiefs) – Came off the bench on his way back from last years foot injury. Definitely not guaranteed a start.

Rob Simmons (Waratahs) – Came back from concussion, didn't make a positive impact, tore his quad.. Ned Hanigan (Waratahs) – Knee didn't stop him considering he scored the match winner on the buzzer for the tahs! Damien Fitzpatrick (Waratahs) – Was touch and go with his PCL knee injury. Thank god he played though taking home man of the match honours and 58pts on prelims. Will Genia (Rebels) – Recovered from his fractured back to absolutely control the entire match against the Reds. Bill Meakes (Rebels)- First game back from surgery so came off the bench. English played well though so who knows if he will start this week. Eto Nabuli (Reds) – Was struggling with a wrist injury from preseason but got rushed back for rd 1. Izack Rodda (Reds) – Came back early from a shoulder reconstruction he too was been rushed back for rd 1. Looked a bit unfit and out of sorts.

Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers) – Cleared fit to play after recovering from his back injury and looked like the beast he always does. 11 runs and 18 tackles.. What a machine. SP Marais (Stormers) – Another player to come back from injury in amazing form. 75pts on prelims, the tackle breaking full back is now also kicking goals full time. Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers) – Came off the bench for the Stormers.

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New Injuries Rd 2:

Sonny Bill Williams (Blues) - Took a knee to the upper calf and limped off, probably just a haematoma (bad bruise), very rarely do players miss a game for that kind of stuff. Antonio Kiri Kiri (Blues) - Was cited for his yellow card tackle and given a one week suspension. Not that anyone have picked him again this week anyway. Glenn Preston (Blues) - limped off with a calf injury. No further news yet. Jackson Hemopo (Highlanders) - Concussion, will go through the normal protocol. Likely back next week. Mitchell Brown (Chiefs) - Concussion, sounds like he is doing well and likely back Rd 3. Dominic Bird (Chiefs) - Came off with a shoulder injury and was worryingly seen in a sling on the sideline but Cooper seems to think he might only be out a couple of weeks. Likely back rd 4. Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs) - Medial knee ligament. The coach expects him out for a couple of weeks, so maybe he could play Rd 4 against the Crusaders. This is heaps better than I first thought! Marty Mckenzie (Chiefs) - Concussion, hopefully back Rd 3. Kane Hames (Chiefs) - Not expected to return in Rd 3 from his "Illness". Codie Taylor (Crusaders) - I thought he was limping off but the media doesn't seem to worried about him. Matt Todd (Crusaders) - Broken thumb. Out for at least six weeks. Probably back Rd 10. Wes Goosen (Hurricanes) - Came off with an ankle injury. Could be out 3-4 weeks. Toby Smith (Hurricanes) - Came off for a blood bin but did not return. Chris Boyd "Not sure" if he will play next week. Alex Fidow (Hurricanes) - Withdrew before the game with a groin injury. UPDATE: It was a "Skin infection" And he should be back this week....

Rob Valentini (Brumbies) - Medial ligament (knee) injury - getting scans this week but the word out of the Brumbies is that he could be gone for 12 weeks! This would have his comeback date set at Round 14 away to the Lions. Richard Hardwick (Rebels) - Knee injury, should be back for Rd 3. Scott Higginbotham (Reds) - Red carded for his shoulder to the head. Copped a 3 game ban so we should see him by round 6 Lukhan Tui (Reds) - Tip tackle on Genia and then drove him into the ground. Copped a 3 game ban so we should see him by round 6 Rob Simmons (Waratahs) - Small quad tear - won't go own tour but should be back for round 5.

Damian Willemse (Stormers) - UPDATE: His bad looking injury was actually just a really bad quadriceps haematoma. He is in doubt for this week but should play Rd 4 at worst.

Kwagga Smith (Lions) - not playing in round 3 because he is on "compassionate leave".

Warrick Gelant (Bulls) - Had a knee injury before Rd 2 and got pulled late. Is in doubt for this week against the Lions. JJ Engelbrecht (Stormers) - Injured, no other news yet.

Philip van der Walt (Sharks) - Ankle ligament sprain, no news on how bad it is.

Tomas Lavanini (Jaguares) - Concussion Leonardo Senatore (Jaguares) - Concussion Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares) - Tore his hamstring playing against the Lions. Trained normally on Tuesday morning but then had pain in the afternoon. Scans then showed he had a tear. Won't play in Rd 3 but likely to play the following week.

Kotaro Matsushima (Sunwolves) - Right knee ligament damage, my best twitter spamming had someone tell me he was pencilled in for start of April but who knows really! Yu Tamura (Sunwolves) - Left knee meniscal tear. no word on a return date but apparently some published photos showed him running in training. Shinya Makabe (Sunwolves) - Sprained ankle. No word on a return date. Wimpie Van Der Walt (Sunwolves) - Groin pain - being managed. Gerhard Van Den Heever (Sunwolves) - Groin pain - being managed. Kazuki Himeno (Sunwolves) - Hip injury, expected to be back in a week or so. Lomano Lemeki (Sunwolves) - Hand injury, expected to be back in a week or so. Jaba Bregvadeze (Sunwolves) - Knee injury, expected to be back in a week or so. Hosea Saumaki (Sunwolves) - Twisted his knee in training. Jason Emery (Sunwolves) - Surgery for a broken thumb on Thursday 1st March out for 8-10 weeks.

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Likely back for this week (Rd 3):

Jimmy Tupou (Blues) - Reaggravated a rib injury - Given an extra week to recover. Back at glanker for Rd 3. Jerome Kaino (Blues) - Tweaked an ankle in the last trial - given an extra week to recovver. Back on the bench for Rd 3. TJ Faiane - Back from his calf injury in place of SBW. Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes) - Shoulder injury - has been flown to Argentina as injury cover for Wes Goosen.

Colby Faingaa (Rebels) – In Tonga on personal leave in memory of his fathers passing 1 year ago. I assume he will be back for Rd 3. Geoff Parling (Rebels) – Not sure if he is injured or just being rested. His Twitter account doesn't give too much away but i'll go out on a limb and pick that he will be back this week.

Caylib Oosthuizen (Stormers) – In the touring squad after missing rd 1 but no word of him actually player. Cameron White (Sharks) – Concussion in Rd 1, 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. Tim Agaba (Bulls) – Struggling with a hamstring injury, should be available from Rd 3. Ivan van Zyl (Bulls) – Shoulder Injury but was meant back for round 2. No word on if he is going to get game time though.

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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. Nehe Milner-Skudder – Shoulder reconstruction – Back in May. Asafo Aumua – 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.

Chiefs Chiefs All Blacks all to miss the may 20th game against the Sharks while in camp. Mitchell Graham – Out for first 6 weeks, had screws removed from old leg fracture operation Sam McNicol – Recurrent Concussions – going through the normal protocol but won't play Rd 3.

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. Dalton Papali’i – Ruled out for six weeks with a hand fracture. Potentially back Rd 7 against the Sharks. Sione Mafileo – Knee Matt Moulds – Knee Kara Pryor – Ankle 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, return now pushed back to round 5 at the earliest after being left at home from the tour. Jack Dempsey – Hamstring Injury – Back week 9 Sekope Kepu – Suspension, Back Rd 5 after being left at home due to a lack of fitness  – 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) Scott Sio – Didn't play in Tokyo Rd 1 because of a calf tear from training. Unlikely to play in Rd 3 against the Reds but is doing light training at this stage.

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. Izaia Perese – 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!

Rebels Jordy Reid – apparently injured – set for early season return Marika Koroibete – Knee injury – Likely back Rd 4. Richard Hardwick – Knee injury

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. Dan Du Preez – 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.

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? Bongi Mbonambi – Burst appendix before Rd 1 – not going on tour so will be back at the earliest Rd 5.

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 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). This would be Rd 10 after their bye. Jannes Kirsten – Played the final on his injury comeback, won’t be available until Rd 3. Mitchell said he wanted him to get his fitness right so probably won't stop. Franco Naude – Undergone shoulder surgery and will be out for four months from Rd 2 - Roughly Rd 15.

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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 – Recovering from knee surgery.

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 Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs) – Injured shoulder in final trial against Brumbies – having surgery and will be out for the season. Nick Frisby (Reds) – His services will not be needed. Markus Vanzati (Reds) – His services will not be needed. Ruan Smith (Sunwolves) – Has left the club for personal reasons. We won’t see him in 2018.

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

Written by Harrison Dale