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Brumbies face injury trouble ahead of Super Rugby playoffs
The ACT Brumbies could head to their biggest test of the Super Rugby Pacific without some key personnel after a pair of Wallaby hopefuls were injured in their win against Melbourne on Friday night.
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Winger Corey Toole left the 33-17 triumph at GIO Stadium with a lower-leg injury while lock Nick Frost limped his way through a nasty knee hyperextension.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham confirmed one of his players would likely miss next Saturday’s quarter-final against the Hurricanes, but wouldn’t reveal who that was or if there were any other injuries.
But it is likely to be explosive winger Toole, who limped down the tunnel in the hands of a team physio after appearing to hurt his ankle while scoring a try in the first half.
He’s likely to join captain Allan Alaalatoa in missing the knockout game, the prop still dealing with an ankle complaint that could even see him miss the Wallabies next match in July.
Speaking in a post-match press conference, Larkham admitted there were some players in the wars throughout the fixture.
“I haven’t actually had the chance to get back into the sheds yet (but) a few guys came off the field in a bit of pain,” he said.
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“From everything I’ve heard so far, there might be one guy that might struggle for next week, but outside of that we should be good.”
Frost was in the hands of the trainers clutching his knee for a number of minutes before returning to play, leaving on-lookers anxious he could further hurt himself and even shatter his World Cup dream.
Larkham said that thought hadn’t crossed his mind as the hulking lock continued to play, instead backing the advice of his physios.
“There was a bit of concern, particularly the way he was holding his knee, very concerned something serious had happened,” he said.
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“The physios got to him pretty quickly … and said we’re going to push through as everything structurally looks good there.
“(There was) a bit of pain there and he managed it well through the game to do the job.”
The Brumbies are certain to have veteran prop James Slipper back in the lineup after he missed Friday’s game due to the birth of his first child.
And five-eighth Noah Lolesio is also expected to play, sitting out the Rebels match with mild concussion symptoms.
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments