Fantasy XV Draft Exclusives:
[gallery ids="1085,1086" type="rectangular"]
Returned from Injury into Round 4:
Ben Smith (Highlanders) - Every team needs a Ben Smith and it was massive to have him back against the Hurricanes. Smith did uncharacteristically get bumped off to let in a try by a rampaging Ngani Laumape however it won’t take long for Smith to find his stride again, particularly with the likes of Waisake Naholo and Lima Sopoaga out injured. Jan Serfontein (Bulls) - What a return! Jan crashed over for two tries and looked unstoppable with ball in hand on the weekend. Rohan Janse Van Rensburg (Lions) - not returning from a physical injury but Rohan had taken a week off to mourn the passing of his mother. He created many opportunities for the lions with his hard and direct running. Sefa Naivalu (Rebels) - Super Sefa returned from a knee infection and was looking quick out there. While not many opportunities came his way on the weekend it will only be a matter of time before the big fella turns it on. Adriaan Strauss (Bulls) - The veteran is being slowly brought back in following injury and returned from the bench against the sun wolves. His leadership and ability to step up under pressure will be invaluable going forward. Elton Jantjies (Lions)
Scott Fardy (Brumbies) Will Skelton (Waratahs) Ned Hanigan (Waratahs) Laurie Weeks (Rebels) Liam Messam (Chiefs) Lodewyk De Ager (Bulls) Renaldo Bothma (Bulls) Jannes Kirsten (Bulls) William Small-Smith (Cheetahs) Dan Du Preez (Sharks) Franco Mostert (Lions) Louis Schreuder (Kings) Ramiro Herrera (Jaguares) Juan-Martin Hernandez (Jaguares) Javier Ortega Desio (Jaguares)
[getty src="654771842" width="594" height="396"]
New Injuries Round 4:
Digby Ioane (Crusaders) - Hand Injury. 50/50 to be back for round 5 Jean-Luc du Plessis (Stormers) - Groin Injury, out 4-6 weeks Cyle Brink (Lions) - Shoulder injury. Severity still unknown. Jack Goodhue (Crusaders) - Hamstring Injury, could be out a few weeks. Toni Pulu (Chiefs) - Taken off early. Injury not yet know. Dylan Smith (Lions) - Shoulder, severity unknown. Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders) - Concussion. Josh Mann-Rea (Brumbies) - Knee injury (meniscus). Out for at least a few weeks. Jack Dempsey (Waratahs) - right ankle/ leg 8-12 wks Sekope Kepu (Waratahs) - Concussion James Slipper (Reds) - Torn Achillies, out for the season. Dane Coles (Hurricanes) - seen with alot of ice and heavy strapping to the knee. Michael Fatialofa (Hurricanes) - left the field sporting a limp. Matt Proctor (Hurricanes) - sustained a head knock towards the end of the game.
Renaldo Bothma (Bulls) - Red Card, issued with 4 week ban. Quade Cooper (Reds) - Red Card, no sentence handed down yet.
Likely Back This Week:
Francois Venter (Cheetahs) - You saw it. The man himself told us he will be back next week and is sure to have a huge impact in this Cheetahs side. Dan Kriel (Stormers) - took a week off with a lateral knee sprain and then the bye. Should be back, revved and ready! Nicolás Sánchez (Jaguares) - after serving his 1 week ban for a high tackle, Sanchez will definetely be back in the action in round 5. Matt Todd (Crusaders) - Hamstring in training for round 4. Cautionarily rested and should return round 5 Matt Hodgson (Force) - returns from a hamstring injury.
Ongoing Injury List:
Charlie Faumuina (Blues) - Back Injury Sonny Bill Williams (Blues) - Ruptured Achilles. Looking to return in round 6 the earliest. Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes) - Ligament Damage lower leg. Set to return round 4 or 5. Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes) - Fractured Metatarsals. Out for at least 6 weeks but our resident physio, Harrison Dale suggests this will likely be longer. Blade Thomson (Hurricanes) - Dislocated shoulder round 1. May require surgery. No eta. Reggie Goodes (Hurricanes) - Concussion - out for unknown time. Cory Jane (Hurricanes) - Neck: expected back round 6 after the bye, although his replacement, Vince Aso has been in very good form. Loni Uhila (Hurricanes) -Injured in round 3. No word on what is wrong with the big lad. Ash Dixon (Highlanders) - Back Injury. Unclear when he will return. Waisake Naholo (Highlanders) - Hamstring (Looking to be 4-6 weeks) Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders) - Hamstring (Looking to be 4-6 weeks) James Lowe (Chiefs) - Back pain, rested in round 4, bye in round 5. Should be back round 6. Michael Leitch (Chiefs) - 1 week ban high tackle, bye in round 5 Should be back round 6. Nathan Harris (Chiefs) - Return in April from ACL reconstruction Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs) - Dislocated shoulder (minimum 4-6 weeks out) Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs) - Ongoing concussion symptoms. No eta on his return. Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders) - Broken Hand round 1. Out for at least 8 weeks. Kieran Read (Crusaders) - Wrist operation, back early April Seta Tamanivalu (Crusaders) - hamstring tear, still not entirely sure how severe or an ETA. Israel Dagg (Crusaders) - Patella tendon? MRI today but likely out for 4-6 weeks
Bernard Foley (Waratahs) - Concussion. Ongoing, should return round 5. Sean McMahon (Rebels) - Offseason ankle operation round 8 return against the brumbies. Toby Smith (Rebels) - Hamstring Rd 12-13 Scott Sio (Brumbies) - Hamstring Injury. Should return soon. Jarrad Butler (Brumbies) - Leg injury, should return soon. Ben McCalman (Force) - Dislocated Thumb. Should return round 5 or 6. Matt Hodgson (Force) - Due back from his hamstring tear in rd 5 or 6.
Arno Botha (Bulls) - Should return round 4 after the bye. Keegan Daniel (Sharks) - Fractured Hand (12 weeks). Appears to be recovering fast. Patrick Lambie (Sharks) - Fractured vertebrae in his lower back. Estimated at 6-8 weeks Philip Van Der Walt (Sharks) - fractured cheekbone. Out round 4, further tests needed Juan De Jongh (Stormers) - MCL back rd 8-10 Damian De Allende (Stormers) - Injured round 1, out for 3 months (syndesmosis) Jean-Luc Du Plessis (Stormers) - son of another WP legend Carel - after the flyhalf suffered a groin strain against the Jaguares. Ruan Combrinck (Lions) - Shoulder operation in the off season. Return round 6-8 CJ Velleman (Kings) - Knee, looking to return early April. Mzwanele Zito (Kings) - Concussion. Back training and should be right for round 4. Rudi Van Rooyen (Kings) - Ankle Surgery. Out for 12 weeks. Nico Lee (Cheetahs) - Shoulder Injury Ox Nche (Cheetahs) - MCL round 2 Uzair Cassiem (Cheetahs) - MCL round 2
Thomas Lavanini (Jaguares) - ACL reconstruction - expected back 9 months post op (June), although their medical team is targeting March (Don’t believe them!) Manuel Leguizamón (Jaguares) - Knee Ligament Damage. Hoping for a return in round 4/5. Manuel Montero (Jaguares) - Was set to return in round 3, should be back round 5 or 6. Emiliano Bofelli (Jaguares) - Should be set to return in round 5 or 6. Harumichi Tatekawa (Sunwolves) - Knock on the knee. Expected return after the tour.
Out for the Season:
Martin Landajo (Jaguares) - Broken Fibula 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 Sergeal Petersen (Cheetahs) - ACL James Broadhurst (Hurricanes) - Concussion ongoing James Slipper (Reds) - Torn Achillies