Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rounds 3-4

The regular season Casualty Ward will come out every week to deliver all your injury news. We stay on top of all the latest news, with the added insights of our team's Physiotherapist and Podiatrist.

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New Injuries Round 3:

Rob Leota (Rebels) - Came off early with a knee injury. Source.
Harry Potter (Force) - Came off late in the game for a head injury assessment. Must have passed because he is fit for rd 4.
Michael Wells (Force) - Out of round 4 with a knee injury. Waiting on scans to determine the severity of his injury. Source.
Sef Fa’agase (Reds) - Has been banned for 4 weeks so won’t return until round 8. Source.
Tom Lynagh (Reds) - Came off after being hit hard to the shoulder and the ribs. Is being rested in rd 4 but apparently he is fine. Source.

Manasa Mataele (Crusaders) - Pulled pregame and then replaced in rd 4. Source.
Kershawl Sykes-Martin (Crusaders) - Pulled pregame and not in the squad for rd 4. Source.
Scott Barrett (Crusaders) - Broken his finger before round 4, out for the next six weeks. Source.
Sama Malolo (Moana) - Pulled pregame, back in rd 4.
Zarn Sullivan (Blues) - Came off with a concussion but has recovered for rd 4.
AJ Lam (Blues) - Came off with a concussion so will go through concussion protocols.
Jordan Lay (Blues) - Fractured his ankle in rd 3, had surgery and will be out for the season (3-4 months). Source.
Mark Telea (Blues) - Came off injured late but is playing rd 4. Source.

Likely Back for Round 4:

Dylan Pietsch (Waratahs) - Expected to return from an eye injury this week. Source.
Dave Porecki (Waratahs) - Missed the 2nd trial after picking up an Achilles injury. Currently aiming to be back by round 4 at the earliest but wasn’t named. Source.
Cadeyrn Neville (Brumbies) - Concussed in rd 2, back this week.
Charlie Cale (Brumbies) - Got injured in an off-the-ball incident in rd 2. Larkham said he is a “wait and see” for this week. Source. Apparently, it was nothing serious and he should be available although this isn’t 100% confirmed. Might just be on a squad rotation.
Jordan Petaia (Reds) - Concussed late in rd 2 and returning this week off the bench. Source.
Hunter Paisami (Reds) - Concussed late in rd 2, aiming to play rd 4 but wasn’t named. Source.

Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs) - Concussed in rd 1 and didn’t fly to Melbourne. Returning off the bench this week after their two week away trip. Source.
Josh Lord (Chiefs) - Sprained his ankle in early February. Makes his comeback this week via the bench.
Du’Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes) - Fell awkwardly on his ankle in rd 1 but managed to play on. Looked like a low-grade syndesmosis injury. Back via the bench in rd 4.
Caleb Clarke (Blues) - Back from his rest week to attend a family matter in rd 3. Source.
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues) - Back after being rested in round 3 to work on his fitness. Source.
Sama Malolo (Moana) - Pulled pregame rd 3, back in rd 4.

Returned in Round 3:

Izaia Perese (Waratahs) - Came off with a concussion in rd 1. Played out of his skin on his return this week.
Tom Ross (Waratahs) - Returned from a calf injury and started, played for 32 minutes.
Will Harrison (Waratahs) - Back playing for Waratahs A in rd 3 at flyhalf. Source.
Daniel Botha (Waratahs) - Injured in rd 2. Recovered to play in rd 3 for Waratahs A. Source.
Jack Bowen (Waratahs) - Pulled pregame rd 2. Recovered to play in rd 3 for Waratahs A. Source.
Darcy Swain (Brumbies) - Started at lock.
Ilaisa Droasese (Drua) - Returned at fullback for the Drua.
Taniela Rakuro (Drua) - Returned via the bench this week. Didn’t get a chance to show much.
Ratu Rotuisolia (Drua) - Straight swap for Nasilasila as he returned from injury.

Rieko Ioane (Blues) - Returned from a minor hamstring injury.
Finlay Christie (Blues) - Back after being rested for round 2.
TJ Perenara (Hurricanes) - Finally returned from his twice-operated Achilles tendon in round 3.
Devan Flanders (Hurricanes) - Came off the bench after recovering from a minor shoulder injury in rd 1.
Pepesana Patafilo (Moana) - Returned after missing rd 2 with injury.
Ioane Moananu (Crusaders) - Injured his chest the pre-season. Returned via the bench this week.

Ongoing Injury List:

AUSTRALIA

Western Force
Siosifa Amone - Dislocated his thumb in training and had surgery to repair his ligaments on Monday. 6-8-week return to play. Source.
Harry Hoopert - Sustained a ligament injury in his right knee in training a fortnight ago (as of 20th Feb). Has since undergone surgery and will miss 3-4 months. Source.
Felix Kalapu - Underwent hamstring surgery last week (mid Feb) following a tear in training. Unavailable for the first half of Super Rugby. Source.
Campbell Parata - Recovering from a hamstring injury. Source.
Papillon Sevele - Undergoing rehab in Sydney in preseason for a right ACL injury sustained playing for his club. Source.
Angus Wagner - Unavailable for the first half of Super Rugby following meniscal surgery. Source.
Reesjan Pasitoa - Dislocated his elbow in training and had surgery to repair his ligaments on Monday 19th Feb. Will require a 10-12-week recovery period. Putting his return around early May. Source.
Izack Rodda - Was meant to return from his foot osteotomy in rd 1, then tore his quad in training. Now expected to be out for 6 weeks. Source.
Marley Pearce - Was cited after rd 1 for his dangerous tackle on Jordie Barrett. Giving a 4 game ban putting his return in rd 6. Source.
Sam Spink - Tore his calf in rd 2, hoping to return in rd 5. Source.

Brumbies
Allan Alaalatoa - Ruptured his Achilles end of July. Returns around 9 months post-op, he is expected near the start of the season, roughly March/April. Source.
Connal McInerney - Said to be out for an extended period of time before 2024 begins. Source.
Ben O'Donnell - Said to be out for an extended period of time before 2024 begins. Source.
Ed Kennedy - Missing the preseason with an infection. Racing the clock to be fit for round one. Source.

Reds
James O’Connor - Suffered a hamstring injury in preseason. Named to make his comeback from club side Brothers in rd 4. Source.
Massimo De Lutiis - Out of Trial 1 with a hamstring injury and still out for rd 1 of the regular season. Source.
Connor Anderson - Out of Trial 1 with an ankle injury and still out for rd 1 of the regular season. Source.
Alex Hodgman - Came off with a shoulder injury in rd 2. Likely to miss 3-4 weeks putting his return around Rd 6-7. Source.

Rebels
Pone Fa’amausili - Needs to prove his fitness to play rd 1. Source.
Cabous Eloff - Needs to prove his fitness to play rd 1. Source.
Matt Proctor - Came off injured in rd 2. Expected to take roughly a month to return after rushing back from his last injury which puts him his return roughly around rd 7. Source.
Brad Wilkin - Has a grade three hamstring tear and had surgery on the 8th of March. Likely out for 10 weeks (to the season). Source.

Waratahs
Mesu Kunavula – Knee, will be out for the season. Source.
Tom Lambert - Had surgery the week of Feb 12th after damaging his meniscus in his knee in a rolling maul. Was originally said to be a 3 month return but he is now listed as out for the year. Source.
Archer Holz - Aiming to return from a shoulder injury in round 8. Source.
Lalakai Foketi - Rushed to hospital on before rd 1 with a suspected neck injury at training. A CT scan ruled out any fractures, no announcement on his MRI results but he is now listed as out indefinitely. Source.
Lachlan Swinton - Suffered a neck injury and will be out indefinitely. Source.

NEW ZEALAND
The All Blacks are on leave until early February. Although not confirmed, this may delay their entry into the SR Pacific competition.

Highlanders
Will Tucker - Injured and aiming to return in mid-April. Source.
Mitch Dunshea - Recovering from an Achilles Rupture and repair, aiming to return in April. Source.
Thomas Umaga-Jensen - Had an ACL rupture and repair mid-September. A 9-month recovery puts him back in mid-June so he is likely gone for the season. Source.
Pari Pari Parkinson - Trotted off with a leg injury in rd 2. Expected to miss a week or two. Source.
Jared Proffit - Red carded in rd 2 and banned for 3 weeks with a chance to do tackle school and reduce it a week. Could be back round 5 or 6. Source.
Connor McLeod - Injured his ACL around rd 2 and needs surgery. Will be out for 9-12 months. Source.
Blair Ryall - Tore his MCL after rd 2 out will be out for three months. Source.

Chiefs
Gideon Wrampling - Is a couple more weeks away (leading into rd 1) as he recovers from an elbow injury. Source.
Kaleb Trask - is still managing a long-term injury and has now been replaced in the official squad. Source.
Emoni Narawa - Injured his back on the eve of the RWC. Has suffered a setback and won’t be ready for rd 1 as he continues to try to build up his strength during his recovery. Source. Back training with the team and hoping to be fit for rd 2. Source.

Hurricanes
Brad Shields - Missed the 2nd trial and now round 1 with plantar fasciitis. This will be an overload issue so no doubt it will compromise how much he can train and potentially play through the early parts of the season. Source.
Jacob Devery - Suffered a knee injury in pre-season and didn’t fly to Australia. Source.
Richard Judd - Injured a bicep in training on Wednesday, two weeks before round 1. Didn’t go on the two-week tour to Australia. Source.
Jordie Barrett - Red carded in rd 2 and banned for 3 weeks with a chance to do tackle school and reduce it a week his return will be rd 5 or 6. Source.

Crusaders
Braydon Ennor - Out for the season as he recovers from an ACL reconstruction in August. Apparently, he had an infection in his knee early post-op which has slowed his recovery. He is aiming to play in the back half of 2024. Source.
Fergus Burke - Suffered an Achilles Injury in October. They are optimistic he could return shortly after the team’s round seven bye in mid-April which would be six months. Source. Apparently close to a return before rd 4. Source.
Codie Taylor - Will miss most of Super Rugby by taking a ‘non-playing sabbatical’. They are reporting that he is expected to return a few weeks before the playoffs, but coach Penney didn’t rule out an early return. Source.
Leigh Halfpenny - Tore his pec muscle in the first trial on February 3rd that forcing him from the field in their game with Munster. Expected back in 3-4 months. Source.
Will Jordan - Will go for surgery just before the season kicks off to repair a shoulder that has been a lingering problem since last season. Will miss the entire Super Rugby season. Source.
Ethan Blackadder - Was expected to miss the first three or four games with a calf injury, now apparently he is aiming for rd 8. Source.
Brodie McAlister - Injured his knee in the last trial. Now aiming to return in rd 8. Source.
Tamaiti Williams - Has a “significant” tear in his hamstring from making a break in rd 1. No detail on how long he will be out yet, but they have ruled him out of round 2. Source.
Rivez Reihana - Came off with an AC injury in his shoulder in rd 1 after being cut in half by Finau. Source.

Blues
Patrick Tuipulotu - Suffered a fracture to his jaw in the first trial on February 3rd. Said on the season launch that he didn’t need surgery so is expecting to return round 5-6.
Sam Darry - Came off with a serious MCL injury in rd 2. Expected to be out for 6-8 weeks. Source.

PACIFIKA TEAMS

Fiji Drua
Caleb Muntz - Ruptured his ACL in training in September last year. A 9 month post return puts him at mid-June. Source.
Kitione Salawa - Injured his left shoulder in round 7 last year and had surgery in Australia. Aiming to return in March this year and is apparently on track at this point. Source.
Isoa Nasilasila - Came off with an ankle injury in rd 2 that is expected to keep him out for 3-4 weeks. Source.

Moana Pasifika
Miracle Fai’ilagi - Unavailable for round 2 due to injury. Source.
Alamanda Motuga - Unavailable for round 2 due to injury. Source.
James Lay - Unavailable for round 2 due to injury. Source.
Samuel Slade - Unavailable for round 2 due to injury. Source.
Suetena Asomua - Unavailable for round 2 due to injury. Source.
Viliame Fine - Came off injured in rd 2.

Gone for the season:

This will be completed during the season.

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

Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.