The Casualty Ward 2020 Rd 4
4 rounds down and the injuries are mounting up! The Casualty Ward is here to make your life easy with all the latest Super Rugby's injuries and bans right here!
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Returning from injury (Rd 4):
Rob Thompson (Highlanders) - Returned after being a late withdrawal from last week with a quad injury.
Tei Walden (Highlanders) - Finally got back no the field via the bench having recovered from his rib injury.
Otere Black (Blues) - Recovered from his rib injury to steer the ship from 10, also kicking a game winning penalty.
Luke Jacobson (Chiefs) - Finally recovered from a long term concussion only to get injured early.
Frank Lomani (Rebels) - Was removed from the Rebels game day squad in rd 3 because they were deemed to have too many international players. Came off the bench this week.
Harry Hoopert (Reds) - Recovered from a bank injury and played a full half of footy.
Fraser McReight (Reds) - Had offseason hip surgery then dislocated his thumb. Came off the bench.
Scott Malolou (Reds) - Tore his ACL and had it reconstructed in September 2019. To be playing now is a really quick comeback!
Irae Simone (Brumbies) - Missed round 3 with mumps, recovered to play this week.
Thomas du Toit (Sharks) - Returned from illness.
Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks) - Recovered from a rd 3 concussion.
Curwin Bosch (Sharks) - Flew back from South Africa to play round 4.
Jaco Coetzee (Stormers) - Missed rd 3 with concussion but was back to his normal self this week.
Herschel Jantjies (Stormers) - Missed rd 3 with injury but started this week and looked sharp!
Ruan Steenkamp (Bulls) - Came back from a September 2019 concussion via the bench.
Joaquin Diaz Bonilla (Jaguares) - Recovered from an oblique (abdominal) muscle strain from rd 1 but came off the bench.
New Injuries (Rd 4):
David Havili (Crusaders) - Looks like an MCL injury (ligament inside his knee), managed to play on for another 40 minutes but required heavy taping and stopped kicking for goal. A grade 1 injury would have him return after next weeks bye. A grade 2 injury could be 6 weeks!
Josh Dickson (Highlanders) - Came off at half time "a bit tender", in doubt for round 5. Source.
James Lentjies (Highlanders) - Came off in the 71st minute for a head injury assessment.
Luke Jacobson (Chiefs) - Has a "neural" hamstring injury. Which basically means it is an irritation of the nerve not an actual tear of his hamstring. Normally only costs players one week on average but the Chiefs say he will at least miss rd 6, maybe another week or two past that. Source.
James Parsons (Blues) - Came off late in the game with what looked like a bad shoulder injury. Could be a dislocation or fractured collar bone.
Campbell Magnay (Rebels) - Ruled out before kick off so Tom English started instead.
Folau Faingaa (Brumbies) - Ruled out of round 4 with a toe injury.
Jordan Jackson-Hope (Sunwolves) - Came off in the second half with a right knee and ankle injury. Limped off but likely a ligament injury that could cost him who knows how much time!
Santiago Medrano (Jaguares) - Came off early for the Jags.
Javier Ortega Desio (Jaguares) - Flown home mid week before round 4 after taking a knock in training. Not sure of the severity but he should at least miss the round 5 and 6 tour.
Likely back for this week (Rd 5):
Jeff Thwaites (Highlanders) - Should be back around round 4 or 5 from an ankle injury. Source.
Ngane Punivai (Highlanders) - Will return in round 4 or 5 from a knee injury. Source.
James Blackwell (Hurricanes) - Left out of rd 3 to rest a niggly toe injury so likely back this week. Source.
Rieko Ioane (Blues) - Fractured his hand rd 1, back in the tour squad for the 2 weeks in South Africa so he should play this week. Source.
Matt Toomua (Rebels) - Ruled out of round 4 with a groin injury but due to return for rd 5. Source.
Luke Jones (Rebels) - Sidelined with a back injury since rd 2, expected back for round 5. Source.
Jordan Uelese (Rebels) - A hamstring tear should rule him out of the first 4 rounds, expected back this week. Source.
Filipo Daugunu (Reds) - Red carded for a tip tackle late in the Reds trial on the 17th of January. Copped a 5 match ban so will miss the first 4 games of the season! Source.
Andre Warner (Lions) - Recovered from a round 1 ankle injury to go on tour this week. Source.
Jeronimo de la Fuente (Jaguares) - Pulled pregame rd 3. Hard to say if he missed rd 4 due to injury or rotation because he was on tour.
Ongoing Injury List:
NEW ZEALAND
Highlanders
Thomas Umaga-Jensen - Had off season shoulder surgery and is out until April. Source.
Connor Garden-Bachop - Had an operation on his back and will miss 5-6 months meaning he won't be back until June at the earliest. Source.
Scott Gregory - Not injured, but is due to leave for the NZ 7s around March.
Tevita Nabura - Still getting over an operation on his lower back after he suffered an injury at training just before Christmas and is not expected back until the end of March. Source.
Sio Tomkinson - Banned for 3 weeks a shoulder charge on Tom Banks, at the time only given a yellow. Means he should return for round 7. Source.
Pari Pari Parkinson - still battling an ankle issue and will miss round 5. Source.
Chiefs
Etene Nanai-Seturo - Currently with the NZ 7's, we believe he is unlikely to play much Super Rugby.
Nepo Laulala - His rd 1 MCL tear will rule him out for 6 weeks. Source.
Angus Ta'avou - Originally injured in rd 1, they thought it was a 6 week injury but it is actually a quad tear instead. He now has to consult a surgeon to see if he needs an operation. Source.
Hurricanes
Ardie Savea - Knee surgery announced December 1st, looking at an early return, at the earliest round 7. Source.
Salesi Rayasi - Currently with the NZ 7's, we believe he is unlikely to play much Super Rugby.
James Marshall - Not named to travel to South Africa. Not sure why. Source.
Jonah Lowe - Injured his shoulder in the Crusaders trial, the same one from 2019. No info about an expected return date. Source.
Kane Le'aupepe - Has had hip surgery in mid december to repair a torn labrum and remove a CAM impingement. He will be out for 5-6 months. It is worth noting that these injuries vary massively with return to sport time, it could really be 4-9 months! Source.
Reed Prinsep - Pulled pregame rd 3 not sure why. Source.
Fraser Armstrong - Took a knock in rd 3 but not sure what he has done. Source.
Crusaders
Sam Whitelock - Apparently he could be back from his sabbatical around May.
Ethan Blackadder - Shoulder dislocation at the end of the Mitre 10 cup. Shoulder surgery means he won't return before May at the earliest. Source.
Billy Harmon - Picked up a medial ligament strain last week against the Hurricanes and is expected to be sidelined for four-six weeks, putting a return between rd 4-6. Source.
Quinten Strange - Broke a bone in his right hand in the trial against the Highlanders. Expected to be sidelined for up to five weeks (rd 5). Source.
Whetu Douglas - Out of rd 3 with 2 broken fingers. No more info but I’d say he is gone for 2-4 weeks at a guess. Source.
Scott Barrett - Tweaked his MCL in round 3, should return after the round 5 bye. Source.
Oli Jager - Concussed in rd 3 and has to go through the return to play protocos. Source.
Will Jordan - Suffered a groin strain in rd 3. Source.
Blues
Beauden Barrett - The star flyhalf/ fullback is due to return from sabattical for rd 7. Source.
Caleb Clarke - Currently with the NZ 7's, we believe he is unlikely to play much Super Rugby.
Tanielu Tele'a - Dealing with a shoulder injury likely to keep them out of rd 1. No more detail at the moment. Source.
James Tucker - Waiting on scan results for his knee. Source.
Finlay Christie - Aiming to return from a neck injury for rd 6. Source.
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti - Shoulder, aiming to play round 6. Source.
Ezekiel Lindenmuth - Unavailable rd 1. Source.
Jared Page - Unavailable rd 1, aiming to return for round 6. Source.
Alex Hodgman - Tore his calf in rd 1, not sure how severe it was but it would be between 2 and 6 weeks. Source.
Josh Goodhue - Left the field with an ankle injury early in the match. Hasn't gone on tour to South Africa for 2 weeks, aiming to play round 6. Source.
AUSTRALIA
Brumbies
Tom Cusack - Concussed in rd 2. Source.
Darcy Swain - Missed round 4 with the mumps, should return after the round 5 bye.
Reds
Michael Wood - It sounds like he has cut something significant in his foot in the preason and won't be back until late March/ April.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa - Sprained his ankle rd 1 and will now consult a surgeon meaning it is likely a high grade injury. Confirmed to miss the 2 week RSA tour but will likely be 6 weeks or more. Source.
Moses Sorovi - Seen limping around on crutches during rd 4. Not sure what the injury is.
Rebels
James Tuttle - Ruptured his Achilles twice! First in October 2018, and again five months into his rehab. He is now aiming to return for round 1 but thinks he will likely be back a few weeks later. Source.
Reece Hodge - Tore his groin in round 3. Source.
Waratahs
Nil
SOUTH AFRICA
Sharks
Sbu Nkosi - Flew home from NZ with a hamstring tear, back for round 5 at the earliest, but we haven't seen a date. Source.
Stormers
Ramone Samuels - Suffered a bad leg break in 2019. Coach Dobson says his injury is potentially career threatening because his nerve will not regenerate in his ankle. Source.
Daniël du Plessis - Will miss the first few weeks of Super Rugby. Also missed the Currie Cup. Not sure what his injury is. Source.
Siya Kolisi - Rd 1 grade 3 MCL (inside of the knee) tear. His specialist said he will miss a minimum of 6-8 weeks, it could be much worse if it doesn't heal well. Source.
Bulls
Muller Uys - Clashed heads with Kotze and left the field. Was expected to fully recover for rd 1, started light training the Monday after that. Source.
Marco van Staden - Out of action for up to six weeks after sustaining a concussion in a preseason warm-up match with UP-Tuks earlier this month. Started light training after rd 1. Source.
Tim Agaba - Withdrew from round 1 with a neck strain, now also on light duties after that game. Source.
Dylan Sage - Fractured his ankle and will be on the sideline for 3 months following surgery. Meaning he will be aiming for roughly a 5th of May return. Source.
Simiphiwe Matanzima - Has a shoulder injury rd 1 and will be out of action for 4-6 weeks. Given the time frame i'd suggest he has had an instability episode. Source.
Lions
Malcolm Marx - In the middle of a sabbatical in Japan. Due to return to Super Rugby in June. Source.
Gianni Lombard - Tore his ACL, MCL and meniscus trying step someone in round 10 (April). Will be back by the end of March or early April after taking it slow with his rehab.
Rhyno Herbst - Got injured in pre season, will be out for some time. No more details yet. Source.
Reinhard Nothnagel - Has a minor concussion, missed Super hero Sunday. Source.
Darrien Landsberg - Suffering with concussion, no more details but you'd think the two weeks until round 1 should have him as a relatively safe bet to play. Source.
Francke Horn - Grade 2 ankle sprain from Super Hero Sunday. This will keep him out for about 6 weeks on average. Meaning roughly a round 4-5 return. Source.
Jaco Kriel - Won’t feature in Lions the team before March or April, as he is currently recovering from an ankle injury. Source.
ARGENTINA/JAPAN
Jaguares
Matias Alemanno - Will miss the first 3 weeks of the competition with a pec tear. Source.
Agustin Creevy - Pulled pregame rd 3 after failing to recover from a bicep injury. Won't travel to South Africa, they tour for three weeks so we don't know if he will miss the full tour. Source.
Sunwolves
Nil
Gone for the season:
Baden Wardlaw (Blues) - Forced to retire before the season due to a chronic neck fusion. Source.
Ray Niuia (Blues) - Has a knee injury that will cost him his season. Source.
Ricky Jackson (Highlanders) - The hooker will miss the entire SR campaign with an ankle injury and operation. Nathan Vella brought in to replace him. Source.
Nathan Harris (Chiefs) - Announced on the 15th of January that he has had a shoulder operation to repair his rotator cuff. Out for at least six months and all of Super Rugby. Source.
Les Leulua'iali'i-Makin (Brumbies) - ruled out of Super Rugby season after rupturing his Achilles on the 25th of January. Source.
Jordan Petaia (Reds) - Dislocated his shoulder after round 2, has had shoulder surgery so will miss the season.
Werner Kok (Sharks) - Won't join the Sharks until August 2020. Source.
Warren Whiteley (Lions) - Has been ruled out of Super Rugby 2020 due to an ongoing knee injury. He is apparently still on a lot of pain. This sounds a lot like an arthritic or chronically swollen knee. Source.
Cyle Brink (Lions) - Ruptured Achilles tendon, will be gone for around 6 months. Done for the season. Source.
Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers) - Ruptured his hamstring in rd 1 and had surgery after rd 2. Gone for the season. Source.
Matías Orlando (Jaguares) - Had shoulder surgery before rd 2 and will be out for roughly 5 months (so we assume it was a shoulder reconstruction). Should be done for the year. Source.
Have we missed something? Drop a comment or tweet and let us know.
Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.