Just a graze? Ruptured ligament for Perenara
We’ll start with TJ Perenara and go from there.
The Hurricanes halfback is expected to be out for two to eight weeks - most likely six - after rupturing his medial cruciate ligament in last Friday’s 38-37 win over the Sharks.
Hooker Asafo Aumua has a suspected wrist fracture and isn’t in the 23 for tomorrow’s clash with the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium. The extent of his injury will be determined by further scans next week.
Wing Julian Savea is the other major absentee. He’s been described as ‘‘crook, unwell’’ and hasn’t trained this week. As per team policy, that means not being picked for the weekend.
Those unavailabilities have been offset, to an extent, by the return of prop Toby Smith (concussion) and centre Matt Proctor (sternum).
Perenara sustained his injury during the first half of last Friday’s game at Mclean Park, playing on until halftime. He had felt it ‘‘pop’’ in a tackle but pushed through the pain and discomfort for another 10 minutes, Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said yesterday.
At which point Perenara limped up the stairs behind Boyd, with his left leg in a brace.
What have you got, TJ?
‘‘A graze on my knee. I’ll be back in a couple of weeks,’’ Perenara said.
Fingers crossed.
‘‘The really interesting thing about TJ is they’re not 100 per cent sure whether [the injury is] new or it’s historical. TJ’S Tj, so he thinks he’ll be playing in two weeks time, but I think it’s probably likely to be a little longer than that,’’ said Boyd.
Then there’s Aumua. Initial scans don’t show a fracture, but the wrist is sufficiently tender for team medical staff to suspect one. He’s been put in a temporary cast, ahead of an x-ray next week.
Boyd’s not a doctor, but has been told there’s enough space between bones in the wrist to make small breaks hard to detect. By next week any new bone growth would be visible, though, confirming - or not - that a fracture had occurred.
The Hurricanes have a bye next week, with Boyd hopeful Aumua will be back to play the Sunwolves on April 27.
Smith, the former Chief, Rebel and Wallaby, hasn’t played since sustaining a head knock in the round-one loss to the Bulls. His return affords Chris Eves a rest, while Proctor comes back after missing the Rebels and Sharks games.
Boyd described Proctor as the team’s first-choice centre, meaning Vince Aso pushes out to Julian Savea’s spot on the right wing. Given the existing backline competition, and with Nehe Milnerskudder still on track for the Sunwolves game, guys vacate jumpers at their peril.
To wrap up the injury-related news, flanker Ardie Savea should be right for the Sunwolves too. He’s almost over his rib injury but hasn’t participated in enough of this week’s training to justify selection.
Beauden Barrett is sufficiently recovered from last week’s thigh strain to start at first five-eighth.