It doesn’t look good for Naholo and Sopoaga
ALL BLACKS coach Steve Hansen will be holding his breath over the next few days as a number of players in contention to play the British and Irish Lions in June were all injured in the latest round of Super Rugby.
Winger Waisake Naholo (pictured), fullbacks Nehe Milner-Skudder and Israel Dagg, centre Seta Tamanivalu and flyhalf Lima Sopoaga all suffered leg injuries for their respective Super Rugby sides.
The injuries to Naholo and Sopoaga (both hamstrings) further added to the Otago Highlanders growing casualty list, with All Blacks vice-captain Ben Smith also out with concussion.
“It doesn’t look good,” Highlanders coach Tony Brown told reporters in Auckland of Naholo and Sopoaga’s injuries. “It looks like Lima will be out for a while; Waisake the same.
“They don’t come right overnight. Those guys are going to be tough to replace but we’ll have to wait and see on Monday.”
Local media reported the duo could be out of action for up to six weeks.
Dagg, who alternated between wing and fullback for the All Blacks last year, injured his knee in the Canterbury Crusaders 22-20 victory over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane and looked to be in considerable pain.
Tamanivalu, who has played on the wing for the Crusaders but made the All Blacks as a centre, also suffered a hamstring injury during the first half of the match.
Milner-Skudder, who missed almost all of last season with a shoulder injury, suffered an ankle injury in the Wellington Hurricanes’ 26-18 loss to the Waikato Chiefs on Friday and had to be helped from the field.
“I saw him in the changing rooms he looked a little bit sore,” Hurricanes and All Blacks scrumhalf TJ Perenara told Fairfax Media.
“Hopefully he’ll be alright. It’s stink for him because he came off missing almost all of last season so to come back in and get injured a couple of games in, it’s rough.” – Reuters
One good touch finder early on, and a bad one shortly afterwards. Top skip-pass to Leyds that set up his try. But WHAT WAS THAT from Du Preez in the 25th minute, where he caught the ball in his own half and passed it so far forward that even the Kings were confused? Missed two of the four conversions he took (to be fair, they were at an angle). But he played his part in the second half and had a good hand in two Stormers’ tries. Also stretched over for one of his own.
Quickly to the ball and around the fringes at times. Gave an awkward pass that paused a promising Stormers attack. Some good tackling. Rushed pass to Leyds in the first quarter and a messy one to Basson in the second quarter. And those weren’t the only ones.
Nicely gathered a loose ball after a Kings scrum and safely got it away to Du Preez. Lost the ball in the tackle in the first half. Got involved where he could. Worked hard on defence. Secured the high ball well in the first quarter. Made a good break, but lost the ball in the tackle afterwards. He’s a bit of a
Some strong running. Good pocket pass to Viljoen early in the game. Lost his bind in one of the early scrums.
Replacements (those who played 15-plus minutes):
RAMONE SAMUELS 3: His lineout throws are problematic. Also chucked the ball away in the tackle.
JUSTIN PHILLIPS 6.5: A goodenough debut. He made his tackles and looked for work. Conceded a penalty at the ruck shortly after coming on. Good offload to Viljoen for his try.
KURT COLEMAN 6.5: Secured a turnover as soon as he came on. A good touch finder. Slotted his conversions.
DAMIAN WILLEMSE 8: He wasn’t on the field long enough to be rated, but I think he deserves one anyway. This kid impressed more in three minutes than many guys manage to in a whole game. His stepping was sublime and that offthe-ground offload was superb. Definitely one to watch.