Southland injury toll hits 10

THE injury ward must be near capacity by now.

Another three Southland players have succumbed this week. Lock Mike McKee, hooker Flynn Thomas and outside back Lausii Taliauli have joined the long list at the bottom of the press release which notes players who are not selected because they are broken somehow.

Any more and said release might spell over into a second sheet of A4.

The Stags have been muddling through without the likes of first fiveeighth Scott Eade, prop Ethan De Groot and powerful flanker Phil Halder.

Coach Dave Hewett has called in some players from the Southland B team for the match against Counties Manukau in Invercargill tomorrow.

‘‘It is just one of those things but we have a fair few injuries,’’ he said. Ten to be precise. It is a long read.

McKee, who has been a reliable performer in the second row for the Stags, has strained a hamstring and will ‘‘hopefully be all right for next week’’.

McKee picked up the injury early during the 3126 loss to Manawatu on the weekend but played on.

‘‘That was not the best from an injury point of view, but we didn’t have anywhere else to go, to be fair.’’

Southland B captain Craig Smith will take McKee’s spot in the starting lineup.

Thomas has a shoulder complaint and will miss a game or two. But winger Taliauli is gone

for the season. He dislocated his shoulder against Manawatu and is returning to Australia to be with his family and begin rehabilitation.

‘‘It is a massive loss. He was just starting to come into good form when he dislocated his shoulder.’’

Southland B hooker Ryan Carter replaces Thomas and will start from the bench, while Rory van Vugt will start on the left wing in the absence of Taliauli.

‘‘It is a big ask for Ryan and Craig, coming in at short notice, but they have adapted really well, which is really positive.’’