Star fullback to take it lightly in lead- up to huge clash against Chiefs Hunt knee fears eased
KARMICHAEL Hunt’s fears over a knee knock have abated with only heavy contact bruising putting a brief stutter in his run at the new Wallabies jersey.
The in- form Reds fullback looked panicked in the final minutes of last Saturday night’s heartbreaking loss to the Waratahs when he got up limping from a heavy landing.
It flashed through his head that all his gains of this season might suddenly have been in disarray just five weeks before the season’s opening Test.
“There’s no doubt Karmichael was worried and he pulled up sore,” Stiles said.
“The good news is the ligaments are all strong and he’s only dealing with the soreness of the knee being driven hard into the turf.”
Hunt will take it lightly to start the week as the Reds try to rebuild intensity for Saturday’s tough visit to New Plymouth to face Aaron Cruden’s Chiefs.
Hunt’s impressive punch in the 29- 26 interstate loss was worth far more than nine runs for 84m and his two linebreaks.
It was the game awareness he now has after being lost in 2015 when he was first with the team. Reds coach Nick
He threw the last pass for the Lukhan Tui try, backed up by Scott Higginbotham for his own five- pointer and was the only Red who punched through the line in the desperate final minutes.
“The Reds haven’t played that committed against NSW for years and there were guys definitely putting a hand up for Wallabies recognition,” Stiles said.
“K is one and a big, abrasive ball- carrier like Lukhan Tui really showed what he is capable of as a young lock of the future.”
How Hunt fits with the Wallabies is the next question.
Israel Folau is at his best from fullback but Hunt’s potential inclusion on the bench adds a real versatility for late in games.
It’s not just that he can cover fullback or centre but the fact he has proven so at home defending in the frontline which enables Bernard Foley or Quade Cooper to drop back in defence.
The 2017 Wallabies jersey that Hunt is fighting for has been tweaked rather than overhauled by designers Asics.
Out goes the white- andgreen- V collar with white piping touches of last year to be replaced by a green- and- goldV collar and more intrusive green piping on the gold jersey.
General public tickets go on sale today for the three Wallabies’ Tests next month when the 3pm kick- offs should be a winner with fans.
The Tests against Fiji in Melbourne ( June 10) and Scotland in Sydney ( June 17) precede Italy’s visit to Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium ( June 24).
FORMER Reds back Jamie- Jerry Taulagi has copped a five- week ban for a dangerous tackle for his Sunwolves side on fulltime against the Chiefs last Saturday.
Taulagi swung a shoulder into the head of Shaun Stevenson and the 23- year- old will be sorely missed by the struggling Sunwolves outfit.