Defiant Laulala goes for the doctor on his comeback trail
Nepo Laulala has nohing against doctors in general. But there’s one stethoscope-wearer he has no intention of letting near him again.
At the start of 2016 Laulala, the 116kg starting tighthead prop for the All Blacks, suffered a horrific knee injury at Chiefs pre-season training. It was so bad his doctor told him he would probably never play rugby again.
Laulala, who had made four preWorld Cup appearances for the All Blacks off the bench, tore the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee, and the medial collateral one as well. Just for good measure he also ripped the quad muscle off the bone.
‘‘It was a massive injury – one of the worst he’s ever seen,’’ recalled the quietly spoken 25-year-old Samoa-born bookend in Paris. ‘‘That’s not really a thing you want to hear from your doctor.’’
The fact that he is here now, about to start his seventh straight test of the year for the All Blacks in front of 81,000-plus fans at Stade de France, says more about his determination and courage than it does about the doc’s diagnostic skills.
‘‘It was really tough. I didn’t think I’d get back. My doc told me he didn’t think I’d play again. It was a tough road back. It was very humbling and helped me become a lot more mature,’’ said the burly front-rower.
He was catapulted from insurance policy to starting tighthead when Charlie Faumuina departed post-Lions and Owen Franks was injured. He figures his year from hell prepared him for life in the All Blacks second time round.
‘‘I tried to change a lot of things and I thank God for bringing me back here.’’
Thanks Him. And curses the doc. ‘‘I wanted to prove I could make it back. I wanted to prove that doctor wrong. I was really angry. After that I never saw him again.’’
Hansen says the Laulala he got back is a different character.
‘‘He was desperate to play again... It made him hungry, and he’s got a better understanding of what’s needed.’’