Outlook not promising for Seiuli
OTAGO and Highlanders prop Aki Seiuli appears destined for a lengthy spell on the sideline.
Seiuli was taken off early in the second half of last Friday night’s game against Northland with what looked like a nasty knee injury.
Seiuli (25) went in to try to compete at a breakdown but was twisted in the collision and the pressure went on his knee. He limped off and was carted away on a stretcher after the game.
Otago coach Ben Herring said Seiuli was set to meet medical staff yesterday but it was not a good outlook for the prop.
He had badly injured his knee and would not be back for Otago this season. How long he was out would be up to the medical team but, if he has badly damaged ligaments, which is feared, he could be out for six months if not more.
Seiuli is contracted to the Highlanders next season.
Otago has brought in Harbour prop Giorgio Bower into its squad and also has the option of former Tasman loosehead prop Tom Hill, who is already in the squad.
It is a blow for Otago which has been hard hit by injuries.
Flanker James Lentjes (flanker) and Josh Larsen (elbow) are gone for the season while halfback Josh Renton (thumb) could be back but not until the end of the season.
Hooker Liam Coltman is with the All Blacks again this week and will not play against Southland in Invercargill on Saturday.
With Coltman not playing and the other injuries, Otago has lost four Super Rugby players which puts a hole in any side.
The Highlanders will head to Southbridge to play their final preseason game next season.
The small central Canterbury town will host the fourth annual Farmlands Cup challenge. The game was played in Waimumu this year, at the same time as the Southern Field Days.
A date has yet to be announced for the fixture but it will be after the preseason game between the Highlanders and the Waratahs in Alexandra on February 1. It is likely to be played on February 7.
The Highlanders begin their Super Rugby season against the Chiefs in Hamilton on February 15.
FORMER Highlander Lima Sopoaga has started the next stage of his career with a loss.
Sopoaga, who played 92 games for the Highlanders, came on for new club Wasps in the club’s first home game of the new English Premiership season.
Sopoaga (27) started on the bench but came on in the second half in the match between Wasps and Exeter Chiefs.
The Chiefs won a thrilling match 4231 with Sopoaga getting about 25 minutes coming on at first fiveeighth for Billy Searle. The Chiefs topped the English Premiership regularseason standings last year although they lost the final to Saracens.
Sopoaga kicked a conversion in the match which was a mixed encounter for Wasps as the Chiefs side came home strongly to grab the win.
Sopoaga’s path to start in the No 10 jersey for Wasps has become a tad easier after fellow New Zealander Jimmy Gopperth injured his knee in a preseason game and is expected to miss the bulk of the season.
Searle is also a new arrival at the club and will battle it out with Sopoaga over who will play No 10.
Another former New Zealander from Wellington, Brad Shields, also took the field for Wasps in his debut for the club, having moved to England following a long career with Wellington and the Hurricanes.
However, Shields did not have a fun home debut as he fractured his cheek bone and was taken to hospital after the match.
He is expected to be out for anywhere from three to eight weeks which may force him out of conten tion to play for England in the test against the All Blacks in November.
Meanwhile, former Otago winger Tony Ensor was redcarded when playing for Stade Francais over the weekend.
Ensor, playing on the left wing, did a tip tackle of a Clermont forward in a breakdown in the 70th minute and was ordered off.
Stade Francais went on to lose to Clermont 4220.