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'Just bad luck': Raffi Quirke and Sale teammate add to England's injury list
Sale Sharks scrum-half Raffi Quirke has suffered another significant injury which will stop him pressing for England selection this upcoming Six Nations, while there is also bad news about England prop Bevan Rodd’s big toe injury.
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Quirke’s England career was interrupted by a torn-at-the-tendon hamstring injury last year which required an operation, and this season has seen him sidelined by a broken jaw. Now he is out again for up to six weeks after suffering a foot injury in the Investec Champions Cup loss to Leinster in Dublin. Despite initially appearing to be an innocuous problem, a scan revealed ligament damage.
Rodd has also been told his broken big toe could now require an operation to repair a tendon, removing another key player from the Sale squad and England’s Six Nations build-up.
Quirke broke into the England squad under Eddie Jones, the former head coach, and made his debut as a replacement for Ben Youngs against Australia in 2021, becoming the youngest scrum-half since Nick Duncombe to wear the England No9 jersey. He came off the bench again in the match with South Africa, showing his pace with the winning try in a 27-26 victory at Twickenham.
Given the number of significant injuries, there are questions about the way Quirke throws himself into contact and Alex Sanderson, the Sale Sharks director of rugby, admits he may have to examine the youngster’s decision-making in terms of taking contact.
Sanderson, who is preparing Premiership leaders Sale for their clash with defending champions Saracens on Friday night at the AJ Bell Stadium, was hoping to have Quirke in his squad to attempt a revenge mission against the Londoners who won the Premiership final between the teams last season.
Sanderson said: “Raffi was walking around the bar we found at the airport after the Leinster game with no (medical) boot and we are thinking that it is ok without any swelling and back in a week. Then I got a call on Monday afternoon saying he sprained three ligaments or tendons which is another blow on top of all that has gone before. I feel really sorry for the lad. There are no consistent injuries here; hamstring, wrist, jaw and now foot.
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“It is just bad luck on bad luck and the injury means four to six week and we will review it on a regular basis to see if we can get him back before that. The way he plays makes him such a good player and I don’t know if you can pull him back. I am hoping in time he will get better in terms of decision-making about when to go for a gap and we have talked about him not sticking his head in rucks. I struggle to pull someone back but looking at the string of injuries then it is worth a conversation and I will address it in a couple of weeks. He is just very powerful and maybe overly physical for his size and leads to him picking up all of these injuries. I would rather make him more robust rather than take away his x-factor.
“Bevan has had another scan and it will be bit longer. He may need an operation to reattach a ligament in his toe and what we thought was a broken toe is now a ligament which enables him to push off. We may not see him for a few weeks.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Karl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
8 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
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