Lion Jamie out for six months
Wales blow as Roberts misses tour for knee op
JUST a day after dismissing one Lions centre, Cardiff Blues lost another one as Jamie Roberts was ruled out for six months with a serious knee injury.
The 25-year-old will have surgery this week on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee after aggravating a persistent problem during the 31-3 defeat at Glasgow last Friday. That trip has caused the Blues major problems ahead of their Heineken Cup quarter- final against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday evening, as it was Gavin Henson’s drunken antics on the flight home which prompted the region to sack him on Monday.
The loss of Roberts is a more profound setback. It is a blow for Wales as well as the Blues, with the operation and subsequent recuperation keeping the medical student out of the Grand Slam winners’ June tour of Australia. He may even struggle to return to action and regain prime form in time for the four autumn Tests in Cardiff.
However, with one eye on the Lions’ expedition Down Under next year, Roberts accepted his fate in philosophical fashion. ‘I originally injured my knee in Paris against Racing Metro after returning from the World Cup,’ he said. ‘However, following my injury against Glasgow on Friday, I’ve been advised that I potentially risk further damage.
‘The decision has been made for me to have an operation. It’s a chance to get my body fully right for a huge season for both club and country, with a certain carrot (the Lions tour) at the end of it too.’
In response to the dismissal of Henson, Blues coach Gareth Baber said: ‘We didn’t want it this week but it’s been dealt with decisively. Several players went out in Glasgow but not all of them took it to excess. They came back to the hotel and were fine. They are grown men and it takes a lot to wind down — we were doing the same at the hotel. In some people’s eyes, this has overshadowed us being the only Welsh team left in the Heineken Cup. But it won’t affect us. We have more important factors to worry about, like improving our form.’
The Blues will face a Leinster side enhanced by the recent return of Brian O’driscoll after a long-term injury. The 33-year-old has taken his fair share of physical punishment in a career featuring 117 Test caps for Ireland and six for the Lions, but he has no intention of stepping down from international rugby just yet. ‘ I’m not in a place at the moment where I am going to worry about how long I play for,’ he said. ‘Right now I am enjoying my rugby. I don’t see any need to be putting a timeline on when I am going to finish.
‘I spoke to Ronan O’gara the other day and he mentioned 38, so people would stop asking him when he is going to retire. If you are in good form, your body is feeling good and you are mentally in a good place then I think you play on as long as possible.’
Wasps confirmed yesterday that their Lions centre Riki Flutey will leave at the end of the season to return to his native New Zealand, before taking up a contract to play in Japan.