The Casualty Ward Rd 6
Round Six
Returned from Injury into Round 6:
Cheslin Kolbe (Stormers) - looked good after returning from an ankle injury. He not only played a hand in a try but he also made a try saving tackle. Jano Vermaak (Stormers) - failed to make an impact on his return from a calf injury due to a concussion. James Lowe (Chiefs) - jumped straight back into action after being rested with back pains in round 4 and a bye in round 5, gaining over 100 run metres. Michael Leitch (Chiefs) - returned from a bye and 1 week ban, however he failed to impress.
New Injuries Round 6:
Sergeal Petersen (Cheetahs) - Hamstring injury, likely back Rd 6. Steve Cummins (Rebels) - concussion in the 18th second. Jordy Reid (Rebels) - stress fracture in the back. Out for up to 6 weeks Callum Retallick (Rebels) - injured in the second minute. Ryan Louwrens (Western Force) - Confirmed ACL rupture. Out for the season. Karmichael Hunt (Reds) - Out for Rd 7, no other news. Jimmy Tupou (Blues) - concussion. Ihaia West (Blues) - Ankle injury - will miss the next 4 weeks, expected back Rd 10. Nepo Laulala (Chiefs) - concussion. Absent from the 3 week touring squad. Sam Cane (Chiefs) - concussion. Likely to miss at least 1 week, however he is traveling as a part of the Chiefs squad. Arno Botha (Bulls) - knee injury. Undergoing scans on Tuesday. Ruan Steenkamp (Bulls) - knee injury. Undergoing scans on Tuesday. Jano Vermaak (Stormers) - concussion. Likely to miss at least 1 week. Waylon Murray (Kings) - Hamstring injury, sent home from tour of Aus. Waiting on further scans for more news. Johnny Fa'auli (Chiefs) - suspended for 4 weeks due to a shoulder charge. Ardie Savea (Hurricanes) - calf strain, doubtful for this week
Likely Back This Week:
Hanro Liebenberg (Bulls) - has been declared fit to replace the injured Arno Botha at number 8. Sef Fa'agase (Reds) Izack Rodda (Reds) - Ankle injury. Liam Squire (Highlanders) - is a chance to play having missed a month with a knee injury. Sonny Bill Williams (Blues) - Ruptured Achilles. Could return as early as this week, at worst after the bye (round 10) Ben Smith (Highlanders) - is likely to recover from a hamstring strain. Dane Coles (Hurricanes) - rested as a precaution due to knee bruising Vaea Fafita (Hurricanes) - Likely to return this week. Toni Pulu (Chiefs) - Hamstring injury in rd 4. Named in touring squad. Ben McCalman (Force)- will need to pass a fitness test on his thumb if he is to play in round 7. Lionel Mapoe (Lions) - failed fitness test to play last week. Harumichi Tatekawa (Sunwolves) - Knock on the knee. Expected to return this week.
Ongoing Injury List:
NEW ZEALAND Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes) - Fractured Metatarsals. Out for at least 6 weeks but our resident physio, Harrison Dale suggests this will likely be longer. Blade Thomson (Hurricanes) - Shoulder surgery - "two to three weeks away" Reggie Goodes (Hurricanes) - ongoing concussion symptoms - out for unknown time. Loni Uhila (Hurricanes) - calf injury - "3 or 4 weeks away" Ash Dixon (Highlanders) - Back Injury. Unclear when he will return. Waisake Naholo (Highlanders) - Hamstring (Looking to be 4-6 weeks) Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders) - Hamstring (Looking to be 4-6 weeks) Nathan Harris (Chiefs) - Return in April from ACL reconstruction Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs) - Dislocated shoulder rd 3. Return end of April Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs) - Ongoing concussion symptoms. No eta on his return. Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders) - Broken Hand round 1. Out for at least 8 weeks. Kieran Read (Crusaders) - Wrist operation, likely back round 8 (after the bye). Seta Tamanivalu (Crusaders) - hamstring tear, back rd 8 after the bye. Israel Dagg (Crusaders) - Patella injury sustained rd 3. Likely out for 4-6 weeks Jack Goodhue (Crusaders) - Calf strain. Likely back for round 8 (after bye).
AUSTRALIA Jack Dempsey (Waratahs) - right ankle/ leg injury sustained in rd 4. 8-12 wks out. Leslie Leulua'iali'i-Makin (Brumbies) - tba. Sean McMahon (Rebels) - Offseason ankle operation. Return rd 8, after the bye. Toby Smith (Rebels) - Hamstring Rd 12-13 Josh Mann-Rea (Brumbies) - Likely Knee (Meniscus injury) return date TBC Jarrad Butler (Brumbies) - Leg injury, should return soon. Adam Coleman (Force) - will miss at least 2 more weeks due to a calf injury. Jermaine Ainsley (Force) - dislocated elbow, probably season. Sefa Naivalu (Rebels) - dislocated his shoulder. 4-6 weeks minimum. Curits Rona (Force) - head knock. Will be assessed. Kane Koteka (Force) - head knock. Will be assessed. Bernard Foley (Waratahs) - returning concussion symptoms. Return unknown.
SOUTH AFRICA Renaldo Bothma (Bulls) - Red Card rd 4. issued with 4 week ban. Keegan Daniel (Sharks) - Fractured Hand (12 weeks). Appears to be recovering fast. Patrick Lambie (Sharks) - Fractured vertebrae in his lower back. Estimated at 5-7 weeks Philip Van Der Walt (Sharks) - fractured cheekbone. Out round 4, further tests needed Jean-Luc du Plessis (Stormers) - is progressing well following a pelvic bone stress injury and should be available for selection in 1 to 3 weeks time. Juan De Jongh (Stormers) - MCL back rd 8-10 Scarra Ntubeni (Stormers) - back running after ruptured achillies last year Damian De Allende (Stormers) - Injured round 1, out for 3 months (syndesmosis) Steph de Wit (Stormers) - fractured his ankle, the bone healing well after surgery. Ruan Combrinck (Lions) - Shoulder operation in the off season. Return round 8 Cyle Brink (Lions) - Shoulder injury. Severity still unknown. Dylan Smith (Lions) Shoulder operation - 4 months CJ Velleman (Kings) - Knee, looking to return early April. Mzwanele Zito (Kings) - Concussion. Back any time. Rudi Van Rooyen (Kings) - Ankle Surgery. Out for 12 weeks. Uzair Cassiem (Cheetahs) - MCL round 2 Schalk Ferreira (Kings) -Torn Biceps - had an operation, out for 12-16weeks from Rd 6. Jaco Van Der Walt (Lions) - dislocated foot, 8 weeks. Huw Jones (Stomers) - torn hamstring, to undergo surgery. Rynhardt Elstadt (Stormers) - complete syndesmosis, to undergo surgery and will be out for 3 months. Wilco Louw (Stormers) - sternum injury. To return to training this week. Seabelo Senatla (Stormers) - Foot. Out for 4-6 weeks. John-Roy Jenkinson (Bulls) - grade 2 hamstring injury. To miss at least 1 more week.
ARGENTINA/JAPAN Thomas Lavanini (Jaguares) - ACL reconstruction - expected back 9 months post op (June), although their medical team was targeting March (Take what the Jaguares medical staff say with a grain of salt!) Juan Manuel Leguizamón (Jaguares) - Knee Ligament Damage. Hoping for a return any week now. Manuel Montero (Jaguares) - Was expected to return in round 3, should be back any week. Keita Inagaki (Sunwolves) - This man is a myth! I assume he is coming back from a shoulder injury but that is going off nothing more than his twitter account!
Out for the Season:
Martin Landajo (Jaguares) - Broken Fibula Tomas Cubelli (Brumbies) - ACL Brad Weber (Chiefs) - Broken Leg out for 6 months Mitchell Graham (Chiefs) - Broken Leg Leolin Zas (Stormers) - Broken Leg Lausii Tauilali (Brumbies) - ACL Christian Lealifano (Brumbies) - Leukemia Howard Minsi (Lions) - ACL James Broadhurst (Hurricanes) - Concussion ongoing James Slipper (Reds) - Torn Achillies
New- Ryan Louwrens (Western Force) - Ruptured ACL
Have we missed something? Drop a comment and let us know.
Written by Nelson Dale