Blow for Blues as Perofeta out for six weeks
The Blues have ruled out making a play for unwanted Australian playmaker Quade Cooper after their latest injury blow at No 10 to heir apparent Steven Perofeta.
The Blues confirmed the 20-year-old Perofeta is set to miss at least the opening month of the new Super Rugby season after fracturing his hand in last Friday’s 45-19 pre-season victory over the Chiefs in Te Kuiti.
They have put his recovery timeline at six weeks which could see him miss matches against the Highlanders (away), Chiefs (home) and the tour to South Africa that takes in the Lions and Stormers.
Losing Perofeta is a massive blow for the Auckland-based franchise who have already seen their other frontline No 10 Otere Black likely ruled out for the season with a major ACL injury. The talented Taranaki first-five was set to carry the load for them in the important pivot position.
But coach Tana Umaga confirmed yesterday that they will not be calling for a replacement, and that New Zealand-born former Wallaby Cooper, who has been cut by the Queensland Reds, and seen around Auckland, is not in their sights.
‘‘It’s what you can do,’’ he said. ‘‘We’re unable to bring in players. You have to have two injuries in the same position, and we don’t want that.
‘‘We’ve got to look within the squad at who can cover there.
‘‘We’ve still got Bryn Gatland and Daniel Kirkpatrick, and this gives an opportunity for them. We’re very happy with the way all our players have been running, and they’ll get another week to cement some things, and we’ll see how that goes against the Hurricanes [in Warkworth] next week.’’
Asked about Cooper’s recent presence and any chance of him being called in, Umaga said: ‘‘We haven’t talked to him. That’s just speculation that comes with being part of a big city. I hear we’re in the market with a lot of players we haven’t been party to. No, is all I can say really.’’
Umaga was also reluctant to put a hard date on Perofeta’s return to action.
‘‘I don’t want to speculate, I want to make sure of that,’’ he said. ‘‘He’s still got a few days to make sure of things. We’re looking positively and Stevie is too and we’ll wait and see what happens.’’
The Blues are already nursing a significant injury toll, with Michael Collins, Blake Gibson, Matt Moulds, Kara Pryor, Matt Johnson, James Parsons, Jerome Kaino, Scott Scrafton, Leni Apisai, Josh Goodhue, Dan Kirkpatrick, Sione Mafileo and Isaac Salmon all unable to be considered for this week’s Brisbane Tens jaunt.
And with the All Blacks only in the early stages of their training return, Umaga and his coaches are already going deep into their squad. For last week’s hitout against the Chiefs all three of their contracted hookers were unable to front.
Perofeta’s early absence will put a lot of heat on Gatland, who impressed mightily for the provincial Barbarians against the British and Irish Lions last year, and was promoted to a full-time Blues contract.