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:
Max Jorgensen (Waratahs) - Pulled late from rd 3 with a shoulder injury. Likely to play rd 4.
Ned Hanigan (Waratahs) - Pulled late from rd 3 with swelling in his knee. Likely to play rd 4.
Dave Porecki (Waratahs) - Pulled late from rd 3 with an infection. Likely to play rd 4.
Hugh Sinclair (Waratahs) - Fractured his right shoulder blade and will miss up to 8 weeks. Source.
Teddy Wilson (Waratahs) - Came off for an HIA. No confirmation about whether or not he passed.
Lachie Swinton (Waratahs) - Suffered a foot injury, waiting on scans to reveal the extent of the injury. Source.
Jed Holloway (Waratahs) - Will sit out the round four match under Wallabies resting protocols. Source.
Will Harrison (Waratahs) - Played in the Waratahs A game in rd 3. Injured his Toe and is expected to miss 1-3 rds. Waiting on scan results to confirm. Source.
Archer Holz (Waratahs) - Continues to battle a rib injury. Source.
Trevor Hosea (Rebels) - Limped off the field. No confirmation what the injury is yet.
Josh Canham (Rebels) - Out of rd 4 with a concussion. Source.
Folau Fainga'a (Force) - Suffered a concussion, passed the HIA postr game testing so is a chance to play this week. Source.
Jeremy Thrush (Force) - Will miss at least two weeks due to a heel injury. Source.
Jone Koroiduadua (Drua) - Returned from a rd 1 concussion only to suffer another after 32 minutes.
Mike McKee (Moana) - Red carded for a no arms tackle on Fainga'a. Awaiting the judiciary to learn his fate.
Pari Pari Parkinson (Highlanders) - Came off with an obvious concussion. Source.
Freddie Burns (Highlanders) - Suffered a knee injury. In doubt for next week. Source.
Saula Mau (Highlanders) - Came off with what looked like a rib injury.
Tupou Vaa'i (Chiefs) - Came off with a low-grade MCL injury. Expected to miss 2 weeks. Source.
Brad Weber (Chiefs) - Will sit out rd 4 as part of his All Black's rest week. Source.
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) - Will sit out rd 4 as part of his All Black's rest week. Source.
Mitch Dunshea (Crusaders) - Out for the rest of the season after going for surgery to repair his pec muscle. Source.
Fletcher Newell (Crusaders) - Missed round 2 with a knee and foot injury. Confirmed he will be out for the season after having his plantar plate repaired before rd 3. Source.
David Havili (Crusaders) - Came off with an AC joint injury and will be out for "at least a few weeks". Source.
Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues) - Suffered a grade 2 MCL, expected to be out for four weeks, putting his return at round 8. Source.
Likely back for Round 4:
Spencer Jeans (Reds) - Broke his leg around the start of January and is targeting a round-three return. Thanks to Nic Darveniza for the tip!
Josh Nasser (Reds) - On his way back from his shoulder reconstruction, is expected to be back for round 3. Source.
Joey Walton (Waratahs) - Made his comeback via Waratahs A for a disc cleanout in his lower back. Fit to play this week. Source.
Tiaan Tauakipulu (Waratahs) - Has a knee injury from the preseason. Aiming to be back in round 2 or 3 but hadn't played before this week. Source.
Ned Hanigan (Waratahs) - Pulled from the squad late from his MCL injury because he had swelling in his knee. Expected to play this week. Source.
Dave Porecki (Waratahs) - Pulled late from rd 3 with an infection. Likely to play rd 4. Source.
Jeremy Williams (Force) - Returning from a rd 2 concussion.
Michael Wells (Force) - Returning from a rd 2 concussion.
Feleti Kaitu'u (Force) - Came off in rd 1 with a hamstring injury. In the final stages of his comeback. Source.
Zach Kibirige (Force) - Back from his hamstring injury.
Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies) - Should return from a rd 2 concussion.
Sekope Kepu (Moana) - Snapped his Achilles in September. Isn't expected back until sometime in March. Hoping to be back in rd 3. Source.
Tima Fainga’anuku (Moana) - Missed the final trial with a concussion. Source.
Christian Lealiiifano (Moana) - Missed rd 3 with a concussion.
Ruben Love (Hurricanes) - Has been battling a groin issue and is still a couple of weeks away at a minimum (won't be back until rd 3 at the earliest). Source.
Joe Moody (Crusaders) - Had his All Black's rest week last week. Will return this week. Source.
Codie Taylor (Crusaders) - Had his All Black's rest week last week. Will return this week. Source.
Richie Mo'unga (Crusaders) - Had his All Black's rest week last week. Will return this week. Source.
Leicester Fainga'anuku (Crusaders) - Had his All Black's rest week last week. Will return this week. Source.
Brodie McAlister (Crusaders) - Missed rd 2 with a concussion. Named on the bench.
Ardie Savea (Hurricanes) - Expected back after his 1-week ban meant he missed round 3.
Mitch Hunt (Highlanders) - Expected to play having recovered from a shoulder injury in rd 4. Source.
Sam Gilbert (Highlanders) - Expected to play having recovered from a shoulder injury in rd 4. Source.
Jonah Lowe (Highlanders) - A chance of returning from a concussion injury in rd 4. Source.
Josh Timu (Highlanders) - A chance of returning from a shoulder injury in rd 4. Source.
Billy Harmon (Highlanders) - Back after his rd 2 All Black's rest week. Source.
Returned in Round 3:
Connal McInerney (Brumbies) - Returned from his round 1 concussion off the bench.
Ryan McCauley (Force) - Back via the bench after suffering a pre-season shoulder injury. Source.
Harry Johnson-Holmes (Waratahs) - Ruptured his Achilles in Wallabies camp before the July test. Returned off the bench in rd 3.
Connor Vest (Reds) - Back from a thumb injury.
Jone Koroiduadua (Drua) - Came back from his rd 1 concussion.
Meli Derenalagi (Drua) - Made his comeback from an ACL injury via the bench.
Meli Tuni (Drua) - Recovered from a back injury.
Emosi Tuqiri (Drua) - Injured his ankle in rd 1. Back off the bench this week.
Devan Flanders (Hurricanes) - Back from his rd 1 concussion.
Brett Cameron (Hurricanes) - Made his start having recovered from his grade 2 calf tear.
Shannon Frizell (Highlanders) - Came back from his first All Black's rest week.
Ethan de Groot (Highlanders) - Came back from his first All Black's rest week.
Fabian Holland (Highlanders) - Back after dislocating his kneecap in the 2nd week of January.
Hugh Renton (Highlanders) - Returned from injury to take his place at number 8. Was immediately in solid form.
Fetuli Paea (Highlanders) - Played at outside centre after being called in late in the warm up.
Alex Hodgman (Blues) - Back on the bench after missing rds 1 & 2 with illness.
AJ Lam (Blues) - Back after missing rd 2 with illness.
Emoni Narawa (Chiefs) - Made his comeback on the right wing.
Ongoing Injury List:
AUSTRALIA
Western Force
Izack Rodda - Broke his foot again in the final trial against the Drua. His return time hasn't been set yet but it wouldn't surprise us if he misses at least the first six weeks. Source.
Sam Spink - Tore his hammy in rd 1. Source.
Brumbies
Tom Hooper - Suffered a potentially serious foot injury on the Feb 11 trial. Source. Was seen in a cast and not weight-bearing at the final trial so we think he will be out for at least 3 months.
Reds
Angus Blyth - Has an high ankle (syndesmosis) injury. Expected to miss the first month of Super Rugby. Source.
Wilson Blyth - Suffering with a knee injury, expecting to miss the first couple of rounds of Super Rugby. Source.
Isaac Henry - Fractured his hand in round 1. We expect he will be out for 4-6 weeks. Source.
Luke Jones - Struggling with a neck injury, was a maybe for round 1. Source.
Rebels
Matt Philip - Ruptured his ACL at training on October 19th meaning he will miss almost the entire season. Source.
Rob Leota - Ruptured his Achilles against the All Blacks in September 15th. Expected to miss the bulk of Super Rugby. Source.
Andrew Kellaway - Has started to run early in Feb on his comeback from his foot fracture. He is aiming to play before his original target of round 6. Source.
Ray Nu’u - Helped off with a right knee injury on Feb 11. No word yet on the severity. Source.
Waratahs
Dylan Pietsch - Went down in the trial against the Brumbies on the 4th of Feb with a quad tear. Still a week or two away as of rd 4. 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
Scott Gregory - Currently out as of rd 2 with a knee injury. Source.
James Arscott - Currently out as of round 2 with a knee injury. Source.
Vilimoni Koroi - Currently out as of round 2 with a knee injury. Source.
Marty Banks - Currently out as of round 2 with a groin injury. Source.
Jeff Thwaites - Currently out as of round 2 with a back injury. Source.
Jona Nareki - Has a bone stress injury in his foot before rd 1. Apparently he is expected to miss the first four to six weeks. Source.
Marino Mikaele Tu'u - Came off with a fractured rib injury in rd 1. Out for 4-7 weeks. Source.
Chiefs
Quinn Tupaea - Tore his ACL late in September. Probably won't be back until late June. Source.
Josh Lord - Tore his ACL on the 14th of June. That puts his return around mid march, but it could very a lot.
Atu Moli - Came off injured after 5 minutes in the Feb 18th trial with a shoulder injury. He was interviewed post-game and said he was okay.
Ngantungane Punivai - Not considered for round 1 due to injury. Source.
Anton Lienert-Brown - Rolled his ankle in Rd 1. Originally meant to be back after 3 weeks, they have delayed his return a further month. We suspect he will play roughly rd 8. Source.
Hurricanes
TJ Perenara - Ruptured his Achilles on the 20th of November playing against England. Originally planning on an August return, he is well ahead of schedule and will try to return towards the end of Super Rugby around late April. Source. Our opinion is that this is far too early and at absolute best, we might see him in early May.
Reed Prinsep - Limped off with an Achilles injury in the last trial. Source. Apparently not a full rupture. Source.
Justin Sangster - Dislocating his thumb in the final trial against the Crusaders. Source.
Tevita Mafileo - A dangerous cleanout led to a red card and a 3 week ban in round 2. We will see him back in round 6. Source.
Crusaders
Oli Jager - Sustained a neck injury late in the NPC in 2022 which required surgery. As of the start of Feb he is back in the gym but won't start contact or scrummaging until cleared by the specialist. Source.
George Bell - has been out since late last year with turf toe (said after rd 3). Source.
Will Jordan - Progressing his involvement in training with his migraine-related condition diagnosed late last year. Symptoms are not concussion related & he is working towards a return to play for the Crusaders, but the exact time-frame of this is uncertain. Source.
Cullen Grace - Broke his collarbone in rd 1. Announced after rd 3 that he would miss 6 weeks, meaning he would be back for round 10. We suspect this could be a mistake and he might be back in rd 8. Source.
Jack Goodhue - Came off with a groin injury in rd 2. No clear timeline to return yet.
Blues
Sam Nock - Withdrew from the Feb 11 trial with a calf injury. Given he is out in rd 3 we think he will be back around the end of March. Source.
Sam Darry - Came to Thursday 16th’s season launch wearing a knee brace. We don't have more details yet but we expect he must be at least 2-4 weeks away from playing if that is the case. Source.
Harry Plummer - Missed rd 1 with a rib injury. Source.
Akira Ioane - Limped off in rd 1 with a left knee injury (we think it is an MCL injury). Expected to be out for a couple of months. Source.
PACIFIKA TEAMS
Fiji Drua
Simione Kuruvoli - Injured his shoulder in the Autumn internationals which required surgery, will miss almost the entire 2023 season. Source.
Vilive Miramira - Back, before rd 1 but didn't play. Source.
Moana Pasifika
Niko Jones - Missed the final trial with a knee injury. Source.
Jonathan Taumateine - Missed the final trial with a Hamstring injury. Source.
Jack Lam - Missed the final trial with an ankle injury. Source.
Penitoa Finau - Missed the final trial with a foot injury. Source.
Sosefo ‘Apikotoa - Pulled pregame rd 1. Apparently, he was injured at training during the week. No more information is available.
Michael Curry - Unavailable for rd 3 with a neck injury.
Samuel Slade - Unavailable for rd 3 with a rib injury.
Alamanda Motuga - Unavailable as of rd 3 with a shoulder injury
Gone for the season:
Taniela Tupou (Reds) - Ruptured his Achilles on November 20 and won't play in Super rugby 2023. Source.
Harry Hoopert (Reds) - Ruptured his ACL playing for Australia A on October 8th. Will miss the 2023 season. Source.
Kurtley Beale (Waratahs) - Has been stood down until his legal battle is finished. The next court date is March 22nd so he won't be seen before then. Source.
Angus Bell (Waratahs) - In rd 1 he reruptured the same ligament on his toe that kept him out of the end of 2022. Expected to be out for the entire Super Rugby season with a worst case 6 month return. Source.
Henry Robertson (Force) - Tore his ACL and gone for the season. Source.
Alivereti Veitokani (Drua) - Still hasn't been able to travel to Australia to have his knee reconstruction so is still at least 9 -12 months away from playing again.
Vinaya Habosi (Drua) - Cut from the team immediately on February 7th due to a high-level breach of the club's code of conduct. Source.
Reuben O'Neill (Chiefs) - Missed 2022 through injury and has once again been ruled out for the year.
Angus Ta'avao (Chiefs) - Out for the 2023 season after injuring his neck which required surgery in the NPC in October. Source.
Xavier Roe (Chiefs) - Opted to have shoulder surgery for a niggling injury. This will rule him out for the season. Source.
Luca Inch (Highlanders) - Ruled out for the season. Source.
Have we missed something? Drop a comment or tweet and let us know.
Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.