The Casualty Ward Rd 7

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/rugby/2018-04-05-lions-have-bok-combrinck-back-for-stormers/ Round 7 is done and dusted and the injuries keep coming. Don't worry, the #CasualtyWard is here to save the day! Have a read to keep up to date with everything happening behind the scenes on the injury front.

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Returned from Injuries in Rd 7:

Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes) – Missed round 6 with a minor shoulder injury. Started at lock this week. Wes Goosen (Hurricanes) – Missed out on the last few weeks with an ankle injury. Came off the bench this week, it will be interesting to see if he can get his spot back from the on fire Ben Lam, or the experienced Julian Savea. Tiaan Falcon (Chiefs) – Carrying “a niggle” so didn't play rd 6. It is most likely that he will stay out of the 23 for now with Marty playing back up 10. Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs) – Came back from his medial (inside) knee ligament injury. Great to see him come off the bench and even setup in line defence at 12! Leni Apisai (Blues) – Concussion in Rd 5. Played off the bench as per normal. Mike Delany (Crusaders) – Named as the backup fly half for the rd 7-8 tour after recovering from his knee injury. Matt Todd (Crusaders) – Rib injury. Named to start regardless, now carrying two injuries. Seta Tamanivalu (Crusaders) – Missed rd 6 with a groin strain. Back on the wing this week.

Jake Gordon (Waratahs) – Ruled out of Rd 5 with concussion. Played all game this week. Ned Hanigan (Waratahs) – Didn't show any signs of his shoulder injury. Lalakai Foketi (Waratahs) – Injured his leg last week. Came off the bench due to selection only. Unlikely to start while Rona is being pushed to outside centre.

David Pocock (Brumbies) – Recovered from his knee op, terrorised the ruck as per normal, the gun is back, BANG! Robbie Abel (Brumbies) – Recovered from a niggling rib problems. Off the bench this week, it will be interesting to see if he starts next week. Jordan Uelese (Rebels) – Minor hamstring injury ruled him out of round 5 and 6. Came back via the bench this week and will probably start after their bye in Rd 7.

Dillyn Leyds (Stormers) - Pulled out mid week with a grade 1 calf tear last week. Looked back to his old self this week on the wing. Scarra Ntubeni (Stormers) – Hamstring injury in preseason. Came off the bench for 15 minutes to finish the game. SP Marais (Stormers) – Picked up a rib injury in round 4. Back to form from the back this week. Jano Vermaak (Stormers) – Came off the bench this week. Named to start this week. Philip van der Walt (Sharls) – Ankle ligament sprain before Rd 3, Flown over on tour last week as injury cover and started the game. Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks) – Came off in rd 5 with a right ankle injury. We thought he might go missing for a few weeks but he was his dominant self against the Blues this week. He sat both the Ioane brothers down this week, a machine! Andries Ferreira (Lions) – Back spasms ruled him out last week. Started this week. Jacobie Adriaanse (Lions) – Coming back from a sprained ankle. Off the bench this week. [getty src="940350064" width="594" height="405" tld="com.au"] Credit to Getty Images.

New Injuries Rd 7:

Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders) - Grade 1 calf tear, should be sweet after the Rd 7 Bye. Thanks to Lima for the update while the game was still rolling!

Brad Weber (Chiefs) - Has injured his wrist and won't play round 8. No exact return date but apparently he is likely to start next week. Taleni Seu (Chiefs) - Has a back "niggle" and won't play round 8. Melani Nanai (Blues) - Rolled his ankle really early in the try fest against the Sharks. Had to be helped off the field, then was spotted on the sideline in a moon boot so it doesn't look good. Likely 6 weeks plus would be my guess. Scott Scrafton (Blues) - This isn't a new injury but its news to us! Scrafton has been ruled out for the season with an ACL tear. Jack Goodhue (Crusaders) - Came off in the second half with a hamstring tear. Flown home to NZ so he won't play the Jaguares in round 8. Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders) - Came off with a concussion. Apparently HE ASKED FOR THE HIA! Surely that has to be an automatic sign of no concussion! Ryan Crotty (Crusaders) - Needs a permanent spot on this list.. Came off at half time, word is that he was absolutely gassed after struggling all week with the flu. Good news! Oli Jager (Crusaders) - Hurt his shoulder during training before the Lions game. Meant he gave up his spot on the bench to Chris king. Now waiting on scans to determine the damage. Has been flown home and won't play the Jaguares in Rd 8.

Izzy Folau (Waratahs)  - Tore his hamstring early in the game against the Brums. Announced on twitter that he is expected to miss 3-4 weeks but they will surely scan him during the week to confirm the time frame. Love that they are getting the info out though! Kurtley Beale (Waratahs) - Got hit late by Speight and looked like he was back to square one with his rib injury. May continue to play through it next week but he is a risk as it stands.

Amanaki Mafi (Rebels) - Played out of his skin for 40 minutes! Didn't come back after half time though, makes you think how early his concussion happened. Should be sweet after the Rd 7 bye but who knows when it comes to concussion. Akihito Yamada (Sunwolves) – Not technically an injury but to any of those interested in him it is worth knowing he has been named in the Japanese reserve team as they tour NZ, so he is very unlikely to get a run for the Sunwolves at this stage.

Akker Van Der Merwe (Sharks) -Pulled pregame with an injury, there are a few sites saying he could play this week but the Sharks official account says Chilliboy will start rd 8 with Franco Marais on the bench. Cobus Wiese (Stormers) - Tore his hamstring around the 25 minute mark against the Bulls. At this stage they are still investigating it, my gut says he will miss at least this week. Justin Phillips (Stormers) - In doubt for this week with a rib injury. Vermaak likely to start instead. Travis Ismael (Bulls) – Pulled pregame with a back strain. No idea how long he will be out, it's one of those injuries that could be a week or 3 months... Tim Agaba (Bulls) - Pulled pregame with tonsillitis. If he ends up having them removed he could be gone for a while. Emiliano Boffelli (Jaguares) - Tore a deep muscle in his hip this week and is in doubt for this week. [getty src="940347596" width="474" height="594" tld="com.au"] Melani Nanai is helped off the field with an ankle injury.

Likely back for this week (Rd 8):

Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Blues) - All Blacks rest week last game. Matt Duffie (Blues) - All Blacks rest week last game. Bracketed this week so there must be some concern over an injury. Kara Pryor (Blues) - Back from his ankle injury to take on the number 7 jersey this week. Dalton Papali’i (Blues) – Ruled out for six weeks with a hand fracture. Back on the bench this week. Matt Moulds (Blues) – Returning from off season knee surgery the Northland captain takes his spot back on the bench. Michael Allardice (Chiefs) - Picked up a groin injury two days before Rd 6. Cooper decided to rest him last week in the hope that he would be right for rd 7 then didn't play him with Ardron going so well. Should be back in the mix this week. Pete Samu (Crusaders) – Came off in Rd 3 with a shoulder injury. Has now been flown over to Argentina to meet up with the team along with Billy Harmon. Dane Haylett-Petty (Rebels) – Concussion in Rd 5, looked like a bad one and still had symptoms before Rd 7. Wessels seems positive that he should play Rd 8. Sam Carter (Brumbies) – Concussion against the Rebels in Rd 4. Comes back via the bench this week. Lukhan Tui (Reds) – Tip tackle on Genia and then drove him into the ground. Copped a 3 game ban in Rd 6. Will come off the benchh this week. Kotaro Matsushima (Sunwolves) - Pulled mid week before Rd 6 with an adductor muscle fasciitis. Listed to "miss 1-2 weeks". Now named to play Round 8. Sam Wykes (Sunwolves) – “Severe concussion”, back starting this week. Hayden Parker (Sunwolves) – Hamstring tear/ knee injury? Named on the bench for rd 8. Jaba Bregvadze (Sunwolves) - Back on the bench this week. JJ Engelbrecht (Stormers) - Pulled pregame Rd 6 with a quad haematoma (cork) that didn't settle as hoped. Should be sweet for Rd 8 but he may not be selected. Ali Vermaak (Stormers) – Back in full training. No idea where he stands in the pecking order this year given that the Stormers have so many good props. Nic Groom (Lions) - Signed with the Lions as injury cover from the Northhampton Saints. We could see him have a run as soon as this week. Ruan Combrinck (Lions) – Shoulder surgery – Back starting straight away, the legend is back! Andre Warner (Bulls) – Concussion Rd 5, with the Bulls back home he should play soon. Leonardo Senatore (Jaguares) – Concussion in Rd 2, he is either dead, unwanted, or back this week Santiago González Iglesias (Jaguares) – Came off after taking a blow to the shoulder in Rd 6. The Argentinian reports don't seem too worried but I doubt he will start again anyway.

Ardie Savea missed Rd 7 with an rib injury.

Ongoing Injury List:

NEW ZEALAND Highlanders Richard Buckman – Aggravated an old neck injury that will keep him out until at least Rd 10. James Lentjes –  Shoulder injury in last preseason game – back in April, is now back running with the squad. Thomas Umaga-Jensen – Shoulder injury. Dan Pryor – Hamstring injury. Liam Squire – Fractured his thumb and will be out for up to six weeks. Back between rounds 9-11. 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. Alex Fidow – Fractured cheek, expected back round 8-10. Toby Smith – Still struggling with concussion issues after round 2. Matt Proctor - Sternum injury, not looking good for rd 8, so we are expecting him in rd 9. Ardie Savea - Came off with what looked like some very sore ribs in Rd 6. Not named in rd 8 but should be back soon. 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 Nepo Laulala – Fractured left forearm requiring surgery. Out for 8-12 weeks (30th April to 28th May). Kane Hames – Still no more info about his “mystery illness”. Shaun Stevenson – Injured his knee in the Rd 3 pregame warm up. UPDATE before Rd 6 – He has had a clean up (arthroscopy) and is expected out for 4-6 weeks (roughly 15-29th April). Sam McNicol – Recurrent Concussions – going through the normal protocols but who knows when he will be back. 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 Kieran Read – Coming back from 2017 back surgery. Originally tipped to play in Rd 10 after their bye it is not looking very ujnlikely. Apparently now no official date can be given on his return but he may well miss the international series as well. Not good! Richie Mo’unga – Broken jaw which required surgery. Should be out for 6-8 weeks (Rds 10-11). Sounds like he is a good chance to play round 10. Blues Blake Gibson – Shoulder injury, Likely still 7 weeks away (7/3/18) so roughly round 11. Isaac Salmon – Elbow Glenn Preston – Limped off with a calf tear. We thought likely back after the bye to play Rd 7 but he is still on the injury list for round 8. Augustine Pulu – Came off with a foot injury. Expected to be out for 5-6 weeks which puts his return around Rds 9-10. Sonny Bill Williams – Fractured his wrist in rd 5. out for 6-8 weeks so should be back between Rd 11-14. Alex Hodgman – Injured his arm in rd 5 and has been flown home because he “won’t be fit for this week”.  No idea when he will be back but still not fit for round 8. Daniel Kirkpatrick - Rib injury. Jordan Trainor - Hand injury AUSTRALIA Waratahs Jack Dempsey – Hamstring Injury – Back week 9 Nick Phipps – Calf injury Feb 7th, has now been left out of the tour squad to Japan for rd 8 because is not fit enough. He will play club footy this week and likely Tahs next week. Brumbies Rob Valentini – Medial ligament (knee) injury – Had surgery 28th Feb. Hopefully 6-8 weeks. Could be gone for 12 weeks! This would have his comeback date set at Round 14 away to the Lions. Reds Karmichael Hunt – UPDATE: Given a 4 game suspension after his drug trial that as of round 6 has finished. He will need to get some training sessions under his belt but he could be back as early as round 7. George Smith – Back surgery – back in full training but likely to play Rd 9. 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. Back training with the team but most likely back in Rd 9. Rebels Nil SOUTH AFRICA Sharks 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. Meant to be reassessed for round 5 but now will miss the Australasian tour. Expected back Rd 9. Jeremy Ward – Not on tour, will miss the Australasian tour so out until at least Rd 9. Michael Claassens – Not on tour, will miss the Australasian tour so out until at least Rd 9. Jacques Vermeulen - Copped a two week suspension for dangerous play so we won't see him again until round 9. Stormers Frans Malherbe – Had a preseason neck injury. As of 4th of April he has just started full training with the team. He won't be considered this week due to fitness, but he should be in contention for selection in Rd 10 after their bye. Sounds like the coaches plan will be to rotate him with Louw much like Kitshoff and JC. Dewaldt Duvenage - Came off with a "popped rib". Sounds like he is expected to be back after the bye for rd 10. Jean-Luc du Plessis – Groin operation on Dec 1st. Now back into full training and should be available within the next couple of weeks (7/3/18). Back in full training. Daniel du Plessis – Shoulder Injury – Play in Rd 5 with the western province side and training with the Stormers. Likely to get on the bench in the next few weeks. Dan Kriel – Played Western Province in rd 5 coming back from his foot injury. Similar to Dan Du Plessis, if he is in the frame to play he will get a run in the next few weeks. Eben Etzebeth – Shoulder nerve injury, UPDATE 20th March: Rehab is on schedule, aiming to be back in round 12. He is also rehabbing an old back injury. Bongi Mbonambi – Burst appendix before Rd 1 – was expected to play Rd 5 but he has had a further operation and now won’t  be able to train for another 3 months! This means we might see him from early June at the earliest. JD Schickerling – Suffered a torn pectoral muscle against the Crusaders, has been flown home from the tour. Out for four months (Early July). Juarno Augustus – progressing well from a long term injury. Seabelo Senatla – Tore his groin  in round 3. Out for six weeks. Sergeal Petersen – Injured his MCL (knee) up for Western Province & has been sidelined for four months.  Could be back around the international window. Lions Courtnall Skosan – ACL in January – Said to be back after their Australasian tour for rd 14. Warren Whiteley – Left knee Grade 2 PCL injury in Rd 4. Expected to be out for a month which could put him out until after their Rd 9 bye. Ross Cronje – Rib injury. Coach is still undecided whether or not he will tour with the team in rd 10. Otherwise he would be back in rd 14. Rohan Janse Van Rensburg - Has an upper leg haematoma (thigh bruise) which kept him out of rd 7 and now 8. Should be fine for next week, even missing two weeks is very rare. Bulls Ruan Steenkamp – Knee – back mid feb? No news is coming out.. 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. Franco Naude – Undergone shoulder surgery and will be out for four months from Rd 2 – Roughly Rd 15. Nicholas De Jager – Fractured rib in Rd 4 – should be out for four to six weeks. RG Snyman – Facial fracture in rd 5, has been flown home and will miss 4-6 weeks which puts him back between rounds 9 and 11. Conrad Van Vuuren – Cited after Rd 5 for a swinging arm to the head of Damien McKenzie. Will miss 3 weeks so he should be available in round 9. ARGENTINA/JAPAN Jaguares Tomás Cubelli – Fractured neck vertebra, back end of april/start of may Matías Moroni – Shoulder operation – back early april? Tomás Lezana – UPDATE 9th March they announced he was having an operation that would keep him out for two months. Sunwolves Shinya Makabe – Sprained ankle. No word on a return date. Gerhard Van Den Heever – Groin pain – being managed. Jason Emery – Surgery for a broken thumb on Thursday 1st March out for 8-10 weeks. Will Tupou - Pulled mid week before Rd 7 with a thigh contusion (bruising). Expected to be out for 2-3 weeks. Kenki Fukuoka - Injured for 4 weeks – Recovering from knee surgery. This was announced weeks ago so he is surely back soon OUT FOR THE SEASON: Otere Black (Blues) – ACL reconstruction Matt Johnson (Blues) - Season ending injury. No further information 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. Atu Moli (Chiefs) – Had a complication with a quad haematoma which required surgery. Ruled out for the season. Mitchell Brown (Chiefs) – Ruptured ACL after round 5, had an operation and out for the season. Dominic Bird (Chiefs) – Ruled out for the season after having an operation on his shoulder. Fin Hoeata (Chiefs) – His shoulder needs a reconstruction so he will be out for the season. Nick Frisby (Reds) – His services will not be needed. Markus Vanzati (Reds) – His services will not be needed. Ben McCalman (Waratahs) – 4th Fractured Scapula (Shoulder blade) in 2 years, Waratahs want a medical before signing him. Looks like they didn’t end up signing him. Josh Mann-Rea (Brumbies) – Tore his hamstring off the bone in round 4, has now had surgery and will be out for the season. Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks) – ACL reconstruction Jaco Kriel (Lions) – Off season shoulder op – was expected back for Rd 4 but reinjured his shoulder, is having ANOTHER operation and is expected out for a further six months! Looks like he is done for the season. Rudy Paige (Bulls) – cut from the squad Enrique Pieretto (Jaguares) – ACL Reconstruction Have we missed something? Drop a comment or tweet and let us know. Written by Harrison Dale