MORE WOE FOR WARBURTON
SAM WARBURTON has been denied another shot at the All Blacks this year, as the man who led the Lions to a series draw in New Zealand faces four months out after neck surgery. The Wales captain, whose career has been plagued by injury, is once again gearing up for an extended period of rest and rehabilitation. Cardiff Blues confirmed yesterday that their flanker — who has not played this season — has ‘exacerbated’ a recurring neck problem in training and requires an operation to alleviate the problem. Although the 28-year-old has played 74 Tests for his country, he has missed out on many others and will be absent from Wales’s November series against Australia, Georgia, New Zealand and South Africa. A catalogue of previous injuries include a dislocated shoulder, torn hamstring, ankle ligament damage and fractured cheekbone, but he has always returned from such blows and maintained his form. In light of events with the Lions, Warburton would have relished another chance to take on the world champion All Blacks, but now he will have to settle for returning to fitness in time for the Six Nations early next year. In the enforced absence of Warburton, Justin Tipuric is expected to continue in the Wales No 7 shirt. Nevertheless, Warburton’s loss from the November games is bound leave head coach Warren Gatland facing close assessment of his backrow resources. While number eight Taulupe Faletau has been performing superbly for Bath this season, Gloucester’s Ross Moriarty has yet to return from injury and seasoned Ospreys campaigner Dan Lydiate has been recovering from knee ligament damage suffered late last year. Openside flanker specialist Warburton has also filled the blindside role on a number of occasions for Wales, but that option has now been lost to Gatland as he looks ahead to the autumn fixtures. ‘It’s a major blow for all concerned — for Cardiff Blues and Wales,’ said Warburton’s regional head coach Danny Wilson yesterday. ‘It is a long-standing issue. The feeling was that two months off would help it settle completely. He came back feeling confident and went through the protocols when he came back to training, but during the contact element it began to flare up. He is obviously extremely frustrated.’