• INJURY BOOST FOR WASPS PROP:
KIERAN Brookes’ shoulder injury is not as severe as first feared.
The Wasps prop was grounded following a 36th-minute collision at Franklin’s Gardens. He received medical attention on the field before he was replaced by Jeff Toomaga-allen.
Brookes watched on from the stands with his arm in a sling as Wasps defeated his former club Northampton Saints 34-21 to restart their Gallagher Premiership campaign with a bonus point victory.
Post-match, head coach Lee Blackett shared concerns the tighthead’s issue was AC joint related and that ‘it didn’t look the greatest’ and that he was ‘obviously in a bit of pain.’
Speaking ahead of tomorrow night’s clash with Worcester Warriors at the Ricoh Arena, Blackett gave this update on his condition.
“It’s actually better news than we thought. It will probably be a few weeks, a month at maximum. Hopefully it’ll be just a couple of weeks and he shouldn’t be far away.”
Brookes has started 12 of Wasps’ 14 league games this season, while also arriving from the bench in the victory over London Irish in round 12.
He was selected to start in the only league match he has missed, having been withdrawn due to injury ahead of Wasps’ 60-10 thrashing of Saracens.
Wasps saw scrum-half Ben Vellacott made his belated debut for the club on Sunday on the same ground where he ruptured knee ligaments in Premiership 7s action 11 months previously. He arrived with two minutes to play in place of Dan Robson and had the last kick of the game to end proceedings, as Wasps moved into the top four with 14 rounds played.
Prior to the match at Franklin’s Gardens, centres Juan de Jongh and Sam Spink were both sidelined with muscle strains that ruled them out of contention, while winger Callum Sirker’s rehabilitation from ACL reconstructive surgery was in its final weeks. When pushed on whether the rest of the squad had a clean bill of health, Blackett responded: “No more issues, whatsoever.” Meanwhile, Wasps have been linked with an end-of-season move for Dragons fly-half Sam Davies. The 26-year-old, capped eight times by his country, has been reported to have failed to agree a pay cut at the Dragons – and is now considering a move to Bath or Wasps.
Blackett lost one fly-half this summer as Billy Searle left to join Worcester Warriors, leaving him with Jacob Umaga, Jimmy Gopperth and Lima Sopoaga as primary options while Rob Miller and Ryan Mills can also deputise in the role.
The club also has high hopes for Academy back Charlie Atkinson, who made his debut for the A team earlier this season.
Reports have suggested Sopoaga is on a two-plus-one deal but it is understood the Kiwi is on a straight three-year deal, and the player himself recently confirmed via social media his intention to stay at the club into a third campaign.
The Dragons have been reported as maintaining their interest in signing Wasps star Will Rowlands.
The second-row has been linked with the Welsh region all summer having made his Test debut for Wales during the Six Nations.
It is believed the Dragons are seeking a replacement for Cory Hill who moved to Cardiff Blues and that Wales head coach Wayne Pivac wants as many of his players to play for Welsh regions as possible.
It will probably be a month at maximum. Hopefully it’ll be just a couple of weeks and he shouldn’t be far away.
Lee Blackett