Canes first-five plays through gruesome injury
Aidan Morgan looked like a character from a horror movie when he returned to the field at HFC Stadium in Suva on Friday night.
The Hurricanes first-five sustained a gruesome facial injury in the 38-15 victory after being flattened in a tackle by Fijian Drua winger Selestino Ravutaumada.
The incident happened inside the first couple of minutes of the match and saw Morgan temporarily leave the field to get stitched up before returning to help the Hurricanes claim their eighth straight win of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
The 172cm Morgan copped a nasty blow to the face as he was thrown to the ground.
His eyelid had to be glued back together after splitting upon impact while a hefty cut under his left eye required three or four stitches to close.
“When I went off I got stitched up and came straight back on pretty much,” Morgansaid.
“I cut my cheek, cut my eyelid, quickly went off the field, got stitched up as quickly as possible and came back with probably the most unique strapping that’s ever been done.”
Morgan was a sight to beyond when he returned after getting treated.
He had strapping tape wrapped right around face to prevent cut from reopening.
But the 22-year-old wasn’t too bothered about how he looked, he was desperate to play on.
Morgan has had to bide his time at the Hurricanes this year with one-test All Black Brett Cameron preferred as the team’s first-choice No. 10.
As Ruben Love is able to cover fullback
and first-five, there has not been a need to have a specialist first-five on the bench, which has limited Morgan to just two appearances from a possible eight so far.
“I was keen to crack on. I wasn’t going to sit out just because of a cut on my face.
“The breathing was all good, it was more so the vision. If the tape slid any higher it’d block my eyesight but it was all right, I managed to get through and I was stoked we managed to get the win too.”
Morgan started against the Melbourne Rebels in five and helped the Hurricanes rack up their biggest score of the season.
But even though he put in a strong performance, Morgan was left out of the squad for the next two matches against the Highlanders and Chiefs.
“I’ve just to be patient waiting for my next opportunity to play and when I do get that opportunity that I’m executing my role and helping the team,” Morgan added.
“No. 10 is obviously a key position and driving a team, especially on attack, it’s just about making sure when I slot in there the attack still operates smoothly.
“After my Rebels performance they
“I cut my cheek, cut my eyelid, quickly went off the field, got stitched up as quickly as possible and came back with probably the most unique strapping that’s ever been done.”
Aidan Morgan
thought I went pretty well but obviously Brett is playing some really good footy and the team is doing really well, so whoever is playing just has to try to perform as best we can and hopefully that helps the team get wins.”
Although the tape restricted his visibility, Morgan was seeing it well from the tee against the Drua.
He was off the field when Billy Proctor scored the opening try but kicked a perfect four from four when he returned as the Hurricanes ran in five tries in total to claim a bonus point win.
The Hurricanes became the first team to beat the Drua in Fiji this season and the win was even more impressive considering they spent 10 minutes with only 13 men on the field after losing Du-Plessis Kirifi and Isaia Walker-Leawere to yellow cards in quick succession.
“It wasn’t the prettiest way to win but it was definitely a credit to the team’s character for the way we managed to grind it out.
“Fiji is one of the toughest places to go play. The way they play at home, it’s definitely a level above versus when they play in New Zealand or Australia and the heat plays a factor.”
Although his face was still feeling sore yesterday morning, Morgan said he had come through the match OK and was hoping to retain his spot for this Saturday’s clash against the Brumbies in Canberra.
The Hurricanes haven’t won at GIO Stadium since 2017.