The Casualty Ward Rd 3

mIs this the most injuries we've ever seen? I bet the Sunwolves are wishing they had more than the 40 odd contracted players with how badly they are falling apart. Find out if your favourite players are still standing or if they've been carried off into the Casualty Ward ahead of Round 4.

Returned from Injuries in Rd 3:

Mitchell Brown (Chiefs) - Came back from his concussion as a late inclusion in the starting lineup playing at second row for the injured Brodie Retallick. Alex Fidow (Hurricanes) - Back on the bench from his "Skin infection". Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes) - Flown to Argentina as injury cover for Wes Goosen. Started at full back but didn't make much of an impact. Jimmy Tupou (Blues) - Came back from a rib injury and took his place in the starting lineup. Jerome Kaino (Blues) - Back on the bench for Rd 3 now that his ankle recovered. Expected to start again next week. TJ Faiane (Blues) - Started at 12 in place of the injured SBW. Will probably drop back to the bench next week.

Geoff Parling (Rebels) – His first run came off the bench for Matt Phillip at the 53 minute mark. Colby Fainga'a (Rebels) – Came off the bench in Tokyo after missing last week on personal leave. Ben Lucas (Reds) – Considered for selection from Rd 3 following minor knee surgery. Was not selected in the squad.

Louis Schreuder (Sharks) - Straight back into the starting side for the teams first choice half back. Didn't show any signs of his old hamstring injury. Cameron Wright (Sharks) – Concussion in Rd 1, came off the bench in Rd 3 behind the fit again Louis Schreuder. Keegan Daniel (Sharks) – Pulled out pregame with a stomach bug last week. Started and looked sharp on his ageing legs this week. Akka Van Der Merwe (Lions) – Back on the bench for Rd 3. Caylib Oosthuizen (Stormers) – In the touring squad after missing rd 1 but not getting selected. Warrick Gelant (Bulls) - Had a knee injury before Rd 2 and got pulled late. Came off the bench this week and looked a bit sluggish. Jason Jenkins (Bulls) – Passed for for Rd 3 but did not get named. Aston Fortuin (Bulls) – Passed for for Rd 3 but did not get named. Tim Agaba (Bulls) – Passed for for Rd 3 but did not get named. Ivan van Zyl (Bulls) – Shoulder Injury - Was meant back for round 2. I think he just isn't being selected. Santiago Garcia Botta (Jaguares)– Rib Injury against Argentina XV a couple weeks ago. Trained as a "guest" last week. Looks like he isn't in the Jaguares plans.

[getty src="926735134" width="594" height="347" tld="com.au"]

New Injuries Rd 3:

Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs) – Injured his knee in the pregame warm up and will be further assessed this week. Nepo Laulala (Chiefs) - Fractured left forearm requiring surgery. Out for 8-12 weeks (30th April to 28th May). Brodie Retallick (Chiefs) - Finger in the eye during training so got pulled from the game late. Fully fit and will play this week. Atu Moli (Chiefs) - Had a complication with a quad haematoma which required surgery. Ruled out for the season. Augustine Pulu (Blues) - Came off with a foot injury. Expected to be out for 6 weeks which puts his return around Rd 10. Richie Mo'unga (Crusaders) - Broken jaw which required surgery. Should be out for 6-8 weeks (Rds 10-11). Pete Samu (Crusaders) - Came off in Rd 3 with a shoulder injury. He is expected to miss two weeks. Ash Dixon (Highlanders) - Has a back injury and won't play in Rd 4. No other news out.

Kurtley Beale (Waratahs) - Rib cartilage injury. Looking more likely to play against the Jaguares this week. Mitchell Short (Waratahs) - Ruptured ACL, gone for the season. Angus Cottrell (Rebels) - Nasty cut to the hand that needed stitches. Has been cleared to play this weekend. Adam Coleman (Rebels) - Ruled out of Rd 4 with a bruised sternum. Very likely to play next week. Tim Lafaele (Sunwolves) - Concussion, will go through the protocols to play but isn't on tour, wont play until Rd 6. Akihito Yamada (Sunwolves) - Concussion, will go through the protocols to play but isn't on tour, wont play until Rd 6. Hayden Parker (Sunwolves) - Hamstring tear/ knee injury? I'm hearing different things. Isn't on tour, wont play until Rd 6. Sam Wykes (Sunwolves) - "Severe concussion", will go through the protocols to play but isn't on tour, wont play until Rd 6.

Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers) – Came off with concussion from a Mo'unga hit. Has been bracketed on the bench for Rd 4. SP Marais (Stormers) - Declared fit just before kick off, then stayed down with what looked like a hip flexor or groin injury before half time. Lasted until the 72nd minute until he limped off field. In doubt for this week. JD Schickerling (Stormers) - Suffered a torn pectoral muscle against the Crusaders, has been flown home from the tour. Out for four months (Early July). Young lock Salmaan Moerat flown over as his replacement. Cobus Wiese (Stormers) - Shoulder injury, will miss Rd 4. Seabelo Senatla (Stormers) - Was given until Wednesday to prove his fitness but has now been ruled out with a groin "strain". To me that means he should play in Rd 5. JJ Engelbrecht (Stormers) - Injured in Rd 2, on the bench for Rd 4. Jaco Kriel (Lions) – Off season shoulder op – was expected back for Rd 4 but he has reinjured his shoulder, is having ANOTHER operation and is expected out for a further six months! Looks like he is done for the season.

[getty src="926153472" width="426" height="594" tld="com.au"]

Likely back for this week (Rd 4):

Sonny Bill Williams (Blues) - Took a knee to the upper calf and limped off, probably just a haematoma (bad bruise), very rarely do players miss a game for that kind of stuff. Stephen Perofeta (Blues) – In the tour squad for the South Africa after playing the No. 10 jersey for the Blues A side last week. Looks to be coming back early from his broken hand. Marty Mckenzie (Chiefs) - Concussion, missed Rd 3. Should come off the bench again this week. Kane Hames (Chiefs) - Not much info around but I'd expect him back from his "Illness". Sam McNicol (Chiefs) – Recurrent Concussions – going through the normal protocol could be back this week. Jackson Hemopo (Highlanders) - Concussion in Rd 2, likely back this week after a bye. Toby Smith (Hurricanes) - Came off for a blood bin  in Rd 2 but did not return. Chris Boyd was "Not sure" if he would play in Rd 3 (he didn't), so we expect him back this week. Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes) – Not technically an injury, but as an all black he also needs to have rest weeks – because of this he reported for Hurricanes duty on January 29 below peak condition and was left out of their squad to play the Bulls, then Jaguares in Buenos Aires the following week. Played U20s last week, likely back on the bench in Rd 4. Matt Todd (Crusaders) - Broken thumb. Makes a shock return this week, his thumb is still broken but not causing Todd major distress.

Richard Hardwick (Rebels) - Knee injury, just missed Rd 3. Named on the bench for Rd 4. Marika Koroibete (Rebels) – Knee injury didn't settle enough for last week. Named on the bench for Rd 4. Scott Sio (Brumbies) – Expected back from a calf tear. Lachlan McCaffrey (Brumbies) - Injured in the 20th minute but played the game out. Named at No. 6 for the Brumbies this week Lolo Fakaosilea (Brumbies) - Named for his first start this week despite the injury cloud earlier in the week. Tom Cusack (Brumbies) - Looks to have recovered from his concussion, coming off the bench this week. Kazuki Himeno (Sunwolves) - Hip injury Rd 2. Expected to be back in a week or so. In the touring squad. Lomano Lemeki (Sunwolves) - Hand injury Rd 2. Expected to be back in a week or so. In the touring squad.

Damian Willemse (Stormers) - His bad looking injury was actually just a really bad quadriceps haematoma. Cleared to play Rd 4. Kwagga Smith (Lions) - Didn't play in round 3 because he was on "compassionate leave". Burger Odendaal (Bulls) - Withdrawn pregame Rd 3 because of a rib injury. Should play in Rd 4. Tomas Lavanini (Jaguares) - Concussion in Rd 2, should be back. Leonardo Senatore (Jaguares) - Concussion in Rd 2, should be back. Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares) - Tore his hamstring playing against the Lions. Trained normally on Tuesday morning last week but then had pain in the afternoon. Scans then showed he had a tear. Didn't play in Rd 3 but likely to play Rd 4. Jerónimo de la Fuente (Jaguares) – Had a muscle tear – was said to likely be back after rd 3. Sounds like he was running in training in some capacity last week.

[getty src="923339984" width="594" height="396" tld="com.au"]

Ongoing Injury List:

NEW ZEALAND Highlanders Richard Buckman – Aggravated an old neck injury – The medical team has said they will let the injury settle until after Rd 4 and then reassess him. James Lentjes –  Shoulder injury in last preseason game – back in April

Hurricanes Dane Coles – ACL Start of December, return in “4-6 months” so probably getting a synthetic LARS graft. These have higher rupture rates. So he has a higher risk of reinjury and will probably be undercooked on return. AVOID. Nehe Milner-Skudder – Shoulder reconstruction – Back in May. Wes Goosen - Came off with an ankle injury. Could be out 3-4 weeks. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen - Injured but no news what so ever.

Chiefs Chiefs All Blacks all to miss the may 20th game against the Sharks while in camp. Mitchell Graham – Out for first 6 weeks, had screws removed from old leg fracture operation Dominic Bird - Came off with a shoulder injury and was worryingly seen in a sling on the sideline but Cooper seems to think he might only be out a couple of weeks. Likely back rd 4. Charlie Ngatai - Medial knee ligament. The coach expects him out for a couple of weeks, so maybe he could play Rd 4 against the Crusaders. This is heaps better than I first thought! Toni Pulu - Doesn't look to have been injured before February 21st but never the less he did not play in the chiefs trial games.

Crusaders Owen Franks – Achilles rupture in September for NZ-  Targeting 21st April (Rd 10) Israel Dagg – Knee Injury from 2017. Targeting 21st April Rd 10 Joe Moody  – Shoulder injury – Targeting 21st April Rd 10

Blues Blake Gibson – Shoulder injury, I hear he will miss Rd 2 but that’s all i can find. Dalton Papali’i – Ruled out for six weeks with a hand fracture. Potentially back Rd 7 against the Sharks. Sione Mafileo – Knee Matt Moulds – Knee Kara Pryor – Ankle Isaac Salmon – Elbow Glenn Preston - Limped off with a calf injury. No further news yet.

AUSTRALIA Waratahs Nick Phipps – Calf injury Feb 7th, return now pushed back to round 5 at the earliest after being left at home from the tour. Jack Dempsey – Hamstring Injury – Back week 9 Sekope Kepu – Suspension, Back Rd 5 after being left at home due to a lack of fitness  – apparently also has a small calf tear which ruled him out of Rd 4. Cameron Clarke – Torn Hamstring in Brizzy 10s, in doubt for Rd 1, Likely Rd 4-5 Rob Simmons - Small quad tear - won't go own tour but should be back for round 5.

Brumbies David Pocock – Knee Op – Back Rd 7 (could be Rds 4-9) Rob Valentini - Medial ligament (knee) injury - Had surgery 28th Feb. Hopefully 6-8weeks. Could be gone for 12 weeks! This would have his comeback date set at Round 14 away to the Lions.

Reds Karmichael Hunt – Cleared from his Cocaine trial – Doesn’t look like he will come straight back into the side though and there are rumours he will head overseas. Stay away for now! George Smith – Back surgery – back April 7th against Brumbies In Rd 8 Quade Cooper – unwanted by reds but still contracted – unlikely to see him play this season. Izaia Perese – Partially torn his ACL against their trial against Fiji. Hopefully back for round 8 at the earliest. Beware, rehab times for partial ACL’s are not an exact science! Scott Higginbotham - Red carded for his shoulder to the head. Copped a 3 game ban so we should see him by round 6 Lukhan Tui - Tip tackle on Genia and then drove him into the ground. Copped a 3 game ban so we should see him by round 6 Andrew Ready - It looks like he too has been sent back to play and train with club footy.

Rebels Nil SOUTH AFRICA Sharks Jean-Luc du Preez – Ankle inj in Currie Cup final – likely to return early march Leolin Zas – Not coming back well from injury – flown to Switzerland to try and get better. Dan Du Preez – Shoulder ligament injury in Rd 1. Will be treated conservatively for 1 month and reassessed – I assume this means he had a partial dislocation, should be fine in 4 weeks. Philip van der Walt - Ankle ligament sprain before Rd 3, no news on how bad it is.

Stormers Scarra Ntubeni – Hamstring injury in preseason. Frans Malherbe – Neck Injury – no return date set (as of 15th Feb) – at least missing until after the tour (Rd 5) but making "good progress". Jean-Luc du Plessis – Groin operation on Dec 1st. Now back into full training and should be available within the next couple of weeks (7/3/18) Daniel du Plessis – Shoulder Injury – Has now being cleared to play in Rd 5 against the Blues. Eben Etzebeth – Shoulder Injury, Back around 18th May last year. Maybe back by Rd 11 but said be making "good progress". Bongi Mbonambi – Burst appendix before Rd 1 – was expected to play Rd 5 but he has had a further operation and now won't  be able to train for another 3 months! This means we might see him from early June at the earliest.

Lions Courtnall Skosan – ACL in January – Originally gone until start of July/Aug at earliest – now saying ~10weeks so could be back mid April. This only works if they are planning on not reconstructing his ACL, which is a huge risk in rugby union. Avoid him like the plague! Ruan Combrinck – Shoulder surgery – return Mid April

Bulls Ruan Steenkamp – Knee – back mid feb? Jamba Ulengo – Ongoing Patella Tendon issue- Had a small operation in Sweden and now expected to be out for 8 weeks (16th April). This would be Rd 10 after their bye. Jannes Kirsten – Played the final on his injury comeback, won’t be available until Rd 3. Mitchell said he wanted him to get his fitness right so probably won't stop. Franco Naude – Undergone shoulder surgery and will be out for four months from Rd 2 - Roughly Rd 15.

[getty src="689084820" width="594" height="461" tld="com.au"]

ARGENTINA/JAPAN Jaguares Tomás Cubelli – Fractured neck vertebra, back end of april/start of may Matías Moroni – Shoulder operation – back early april?

Sunwolves Kenki Fukuoka – Injured for 4 weeks – Recovering from knee surgery. Kotaro Matsushima (Sunwolves) - Right knee ligament damage, looks like he is going on tour, not sure when he will play! Yu Tamura (Sunwolves) - Left knee meniscal tear. no word on a return date but apparently some published photos showed him running in training before Rd 3. Shinya Makabe (Sunwolves) - Sprained ankle. No word on a return date. Wimpie Van Der Walt (Sunwolves) - Groin pain - being managed. Gerhard Van Den Heever (Sunwolves) - Groin pain - being managed. Hosea Saumaki (Sunwolves) - Twisted his knee in training before Rd 3. Looks minor so should be back soon. Jaba Bregvadeze (Sunwolves) - Knee injury Rd 2. Not going on tour. Should play Rd 6. Jason Emery (Sunwolves) - Surgery for a broken thumb on Thursday 1st March out for 8-10 weeks. Grant Hattingh (Sunwolves) - Chest injury from Rd 2. OUT FOR THE SEASON:

Otere Black (Blues) – ACL reconstruction Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks) – ACL reconstruction Rudy Paige (Bulls) – cut from the squad Enrique Pieretto (Jaguares) – ACL Reconstruction Reggie Goodes (Hurricanes) – Retired due to concussion Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs) – Injured shoulder in final trial against Brumbies – having surgery and will be out for the season. Nick Frisby (Reds) – His services will not be needed. Markus Vanzati (Reds) – His services will not be needed. Ben McCalman (Waratahs) – 4th Fractured Scapula (Shoulder blade) in 2 years, Waratahs want a medical before signing him. Looks like they didn't end up signing him.

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

Written by Harrison Dale