The Casualty Ward Rd 7

Round Seven

Returned from Injury into Round 7:

Toni Pulu (Chiefs) - Was the standout player to return from injury this week, running in 100 metres and busting 5 tackles on the way to bagging himself a brace of tries (62 points). Sonny Bill Williams (Blues) – Demonstrated some of his characteristic flare, running 50 metres, breaking the line once and busting 5 tackles in 25 minutes (22 points). Ben Smith (Highlanders) - Ran in a try and a relatively sound performance in the Highlanders win over conference bottom dwellers the Blues (35 points). Cory Jane (Hurricanes) - Played his first game of the season and played well, however he didn't stamp his name on one of the Hurricanes' outside back positions. Liam Squire (Highlanders) - Came off the bench for 33 minutes, getting straight to work with 7 tackles, 1 linebreak and 2 tackle busts of 4 runs (24 points). Hanro Liebenberg (Bulls) – Returned for 80 minutes, however he failed to make a large impact, especially in defence where he only made 1 of 2 tackle attempts (21 points). Ben McCalman (Force) - McCalman looked dangerous off the back of the scrum and with ball in hand during his 20 minute cameo off the bench. He also managed to dot the ball over the line, whilst getting help up on another occasion (20 points). Sef Fa’agase (Reds) Vaea Fafita (Hurricanes) also returned.

New Injuries Round 7:

Shout out to Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks) for giving us his injury news directly - "Hip Pointer" - bruising around the pelvis, could be anywhere from 1-6 weeks.

Sekope Kepu (Waratahs) - Suspension for 1 week (3 yellow cards this season). Rob Horne (Waratahs) - Pulled up sore from training, likely to be back after the bye. Sean McMahon (Rebels) – A knee injury has setback his return date until June. Kyle Godwin (Brumbies) -  Broken Hand, Out for Rd 8 & 9. Jordan Smiler (Brumbies) - Hamstring injury, Larkham is expecting him to have at least a couple of weeks on the sidelines. Ryan Crotty (Crusaders) - Minor ankle injury against the Waratahs, Likely back Rd 9 against the Stormers. Digby Ioane (Crusaders) - Re-aggravated his pinky finger injury now requiring an operation. Digby has said he was out for five weeks but his coach has said there is no timeframe on his recovery. Pieter-Steph Du Doit (Stormers) - Knee swelled last week so was rested for Rd 7, Most likely back this week. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers) - Calf strain, at risk of missing Rd 8. JD Schickerling (Stormers) - Ankle injury - out for a few weeks. Cobus Wiese (Stormers) - Suspected shoulder dislocation but no scans yet. No good for this weekend, aiming to return for the NZ tour. Nizaam Carr most likely to take his spot in the team. Garth April (Sharks) - A late injury change before the Jaguares game in Rd 7 with a calf strain Andries Coetzee (Lions) - Battling a hamstring injury, will undergo a fitness test this week. Matias Alemanno (Jaguares) - indirect shoulder to left shoulder, out for at least Rd 8 & 9.

Likely Back This Week:

Kieran Read (Crusaders) – He has been given the all clear for a Super Rugby return this week. Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders) – Potentially returning this week after competing in club footy last week. Dane Coles (Hurricanes) – Likely to play this week. Jack Goodhue (Crusaders) – Calf strain. Likely back for round 8 (after bye). Seta Tamanivalu (Crusaders) – Hamstring tear. Given the all clear for round 8. Ardie Savea (Hurricanes) – Calf strain, may return this week Quade Cooper (Reds) - He has served is 3 week suspension and should be ready and raring to go. Lopeti Timani (Rebels) - Due to return for the Rebels this week, should slot straight into the loose forwards with the loss of Reid and McMahon. Lionel Mapoe (Lions) – Should be right to play this week. Jano Vermaak (Stormers) – Past Concussion protocols so he should play this week. Sergeal Petersen (Cheetahs) – Returning this week. Harumichi Tatekawa (Sunwolves) – Knock on the knee. Expected to return this week. Ed Quirk (Sunwolves) - Back this week after being rested in Rd 7.

Ongoing Injury List:

NEW ZEALAND Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes) – Fractured Metatarsals (injured Rd 3). 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 – Could be back as early as Rd 9. Ash Dixon (Highlanders) – Back Injury - potential back for Rd 9. Waisake Naholo (Highlanders) – Hamstring - potential back for Rd 9. Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders) – Hamstring - potential back for Rd 9. Rob Thompson (Highlanders) - On Bereavement leave since Rd 6 following the death of his father. No word on his return Nathan Harris (Chiefs) – Return in April from ACL reconstruction. Not in squad for South Africa. Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs) – Dislocated shoulder rd 3. Return end of April Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs) – Ongoing concussion symptoms. No eta on his return. Johnny Fa’auli (Chiefs) – Suspended for 4 weeks due to a shoulder charge. 3 weeks remaining 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 back this week. Ryan Crotty (Crusaders) - Ankle injury. Likely to return next week. Digby Ioane (Crusaders) - Reaggrevated his pinky injury resulting in surgery. He has stated on social media he is expecting 5 weeks on the sidelines. Israel Dagg (Crusaders) – Patella injury sustained rd 3. Likely back early May.

AUSTRALIA Jack Dempsey (Waratahs) – Right ankle/ leg injury sustained in rd 4. 8-12 wks out. Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin (Brumbies) – TBA. Toby Smith (Rebels) – Hamstring Rd 12-13 Josh Mann-Rea (Brumbies) – Likely Knee (Meniscus injury) return date TBC 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. Kane Koteka (Force) – Head knock. Will be assessed. Steve Cummins (Rebels) – Concussion, return date TBC. Jordy Reid (Rebels) – Stress fracture in the back. Out for up to 6 weeks from Rd 6 Culum Retallick (Rebels) – Concussion, return date TBC. Karmichael Hunt (Reds) – Concussion, return date TBC. Sam Jefferies (Rebels) - Ankle, indefinite. Harley Fox (Rebels) - Ankle 10-12 weeks. Semisi Tupou (Rebels) - Knee, 3-4 weeks. Cruz Ah-Nau (Rebels) - Knee, 3-4 weeks. Jack Maddocks (Rebels) - Shoulder, 3-4 weeks. Tim Metcher (Rebels) - Foot, 2-4 weeks. Amanaki Mafi (Rebels) - Ankle, waiting on testing.

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, Should be back around Rd 10-12. Jean-Luc du Plessis (Stormers) – Is progressing well following a pelvic bone stress injury and should be available somewhere around Rd 9-12. 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. Cyle Brink (Lions) – Shoulder injury. Severity still unknown. Dylan Smith (Lions) Shoulder operation – 4 months Ruan Combrinck (Lions) – Shoulder operation in the off season. Likely return round 10. 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 12-16 weeks from Rd 6. Jaco Van Der Walt (Lions) – Dislocated foot, Hopefully back in 4 weeks (Rd 12) Huw Jones (Stomers) – Torn hamstring, to undergo surgery. Rynhardt Elstadt (Stormers) – Complete syndesmosis, to undergo surgery and will be out for 3 months. Seabelo Senatla (Stormers) – Foot. Out for 4-6 weeks. John-Roy Jenkinson (Bulls) – Grade 2 hamstring injury. To miss at least 1 more week. Arno Botha (Bulls) – Knee injury. Severity still unknown. Ruan Steenkamp (Bulls) – Knee injury. Severity still unknown. Waylon Murray (Kings) – Hamstring injury, sent home from tour of Aus. Waiting on further scans for more news.

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) – Reinjured on the road to recovery - we think hamstring? Martin Landajo (Jaguares) – Could be back within the next few weeks - Rd 9-12??

Out for the Season:

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 Ryan Louwrens (Western Force) – Ruptured ACL Dom Shipperley (Rebels) - Knee Pama Fou (Rebels) - Knee Alex Toolis (Rebels) - Neck Rob Leota (Rebels) - Knee

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

Written by Nelson Dale