Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rounds 2-3

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 2:

Matt Proctor (Rebels) - Came off injured after 28 minutes. Expected to take roughly a month to return after rushing back from his last injury. Source.
Brad Wilkin (Rebels) - Has done a grade three hamstring injury and will undergo surgery on the 8th of March. Likely out for 10 weeks (to the season). Source.
Ryan Coxon (Force) - Came off with a neck injury on a stretcher. Was seen sitting on the bench later in the game which makes us think he was just a concussion (so will miss at least 1 week).
Sam Spink (Force) - Tore his calf, will be out for at least two weeks. Source.
Jack Bowen (Waratahs) - Pulled pregame, we don’t know why.
Dylan Pietsch (Waratahs) - Came off with a concussion and won’t play round 2.
Daniel Botha (Waratahs) - Injured in the second half.
Cadeyrn Neville (Brumbies) - Came off with a concussion.
Charlie Cale (Brumbies) - Got injured in an off the ball incident. Larkham said he is a “wait and see” for next week. Source.
Isoa Nasilasila (Drua) - Came off with an ankle injury that is expected to keep him out for 3-4 weeks. Source.
Alex Hodgman (Reds) - Came off with what a shoulder injury. Return date is TBC but we will hopefully here soon. Source.
Jordan Petaia (Reds) - Concussed late and will go through the HIA protocols meaning he will miss rd 3. Source.
Hunter Paisami (Reds) - Came off with a concussion and will go through the HIA protocols meaning he will miss rd 3. Source.

Sam Darry (Blues) - Came off with a serious MCL injury. Expected to be out for 6-8 weeks. Source.
Pari Pari Parkinson (Highlanders) - Trotted off with a leg injury and has been flown home unstill staying to play the Waratahs, expected to miss a week or two. Source.
Jared Proffit (Highlandes) - Red carded and banned for 3 weeks with a chance to do tackle school and reduce it a week. Source.
Connor McLeod (Highlanders) - Injured his ACL and needs surgery. Will be out for 9-12 months. Source.
Blair Ryall (Highlanders) - Tore his MCL after rd 2 out will be out for three months. Source.
Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes) - Red carded and banned for 3 weeks with a chance to do tackle school and reduce it a week. Source.
Viliame Fine (Moana) - Came off injured.
Sama Malolo (Moana) - Off after 20 minutes.
Nigel Ah Wong (Moana) - Originally given a red card but it has been dropped to just a warning. Despite this he won’t play in round 3. Source.

Likely Back for Round 3:

Izaia Perese (Waratahs) - Came off with a concussion in rd 1. Expected back this week. Source.
Ned Slack-Smith (Waratahs) - Expected back from a neck injury. Source.
Darcy Swain (Brumbies) - Made his comeback via the Brumbies runners in the development side in round 2, Back starting this week. Source.
Angus Blyth (Reds) - Back fit and available for selection again in rd 3 after recovering from a knee and then a back injury. Source.
Ilaisa Droasese (Drua) - Came off after taking a heavy knock to his knee in the final trial. Source. Back running well after rd 2. Source.
Taniela Rakuro (Drua) - Back running well after rd 2. Source.
Ratu Rotuisolia (Drua) - Back training and is expected to slide straight in for Nasilasila. Source.

Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs) - Concussed in rd 1 and didn’t fly to Melbourne. Might return this week (not confirmed) but they’d have to fly him to Queensland solo. Source.
Rieko Ioane (Blues) - Missed rd 2 due to a minor hamstring injury so we expect him back this week. Source.
Finlay Christie (Blues) - Was rested for round 2. Source.
TJ Perenara (Hurricanes) - Aiming for a return from his twice-operated Achilles tendon in round 3 despite getting a few minutes in the preseason. Source.
Pepesana Patafilo (Moana) - Back after missing rd 2 with injury. Source.

Returned in Round 2:

Mark Nawaqanitawase (Waratahs) - Recovered from a midweek hamstring scare to start for the Tahs in rd 2.
Jeremy Williams (Force) - Somewhat unexpectedly returned from concussion in rd 2.
Matt Proctor (Rebels) - Recovered from a hamstring injury in time for rd 2.
Ned Hanigan (Waratahs) - Back from a hamstring injury via the bench for round 2. Source.
Triston Reilly (Waratahs) - Successfully recovered from an ankle injury to play rd 2. Source.

Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) - Recovered from a rd 1 rib injury to start round 2.
Ethan De Groot (Highlanders) - Nack after missing round 1 with a minor knee injury. David Havili (Crusaders) - Returning from an extended break to play at both inside centre then flyhalf.
Fletcher Newell (Crusaders) - Returned after missing round 1 with a concussion.
Akira Ioane (Blues) - Returned from a calf complaint.
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues) - Started in rd 2.

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.

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. Likely to miss the first 3-4 rounds. 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.

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.

Waratahs
Will Harrison - Darren Coleman says he is aiming to go back through club rugby around rounds 2-5 (via the Pick and Drive podcast).
Mesu Kunavula – Knee, will be out for the season. Source.
Dave Porecki - Missed the 2nd trial after picking up an Achilles injury. Currently aiming to be back by round 4 at the earliest. 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.
Tom Ross - Aiming to return from a calf injury in round 2 at the earliest. 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.

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.
Josh Lord - Sprained his ankle in early February. Back running as of Feb 19th but won’t be ready early enough to play rd 1. 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.
Devan Flanders - Came off with what was either an AC joint injury or a stinger in rd 1. Ruled out for round 2. Source.
Du’Plessis Kirifi - Fell awkwardly on his ankle in rd 1 but managed to play on. Looked like a low-grade syndesmosis injury. Ruled out for round 2. 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. If he has ruptured it that would be the quickest return but it could be much slower. 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 - Expected to miss the first three or four games with a calf injury. Source.
Brodie McAlister - Injured his knee in the last trial. Expected to miss another 3-4 weeks as of round 3. Source.
Ioane Moananu (Crusaders) - Injured his chest during last week’s pre-season match against the Highlanders. Back via the bench this week. 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.

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.

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.

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.