'Still a way off': No sign of Polledri return after 12 months out
Gloucester and Italy flanker Jake Polledri is still battling to return from knee surgery and nerve damage nearly a year after he was injured in the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup. With the Nations Series now about to start, the back row is facing yet more rehabilitation work to get him back onto the pitch and George Skivington, his club head coach, admits there is no return date for one of the most dynamic players in the Six Nations.
Polledri, who turns 26 on November 8, didn’t play for Gloucester in the 2020/21 campaign after injuring knee ligaments against Scotland on November 14 in Florence. That was his 19th international appearance and the injury came just as Polledri was starting to prove he was the natural back row successor to Italian icon Sergio Parisse.
Skivington revealed that nerve damage complicated the recovery of Polledri but a recent improvement has given the player and his club hope that his long period of rehabilitation could finally be coming to an end.
Speaking ahead of Friday’s Gallagher Premiership match at home against Exeter, Skivington said: “Jake has made some really good progress in the last couple of months and the injury was severe. There were a number of things that happened in the knee injury and there is a little bit of nerve stuff that is ongoing and so he is still a way off playing at the moment.
“A month ago there was some real progression which was positive but he isn’t near to coming back. He is working incredibly hard and is super positive. It has been a tough time and unfortunately, this isn’t an injury you can’t put a time scale on. Believe me, I am asking for a time scale but there isn’t one.
Real pity for the Azzurri's 2021 Six Nations and the Kingsholm club's 2020/21 Premiership campaign https://t.co/sfRouM5LSO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 17, 2020
“He is seeing specialists where he needs to and it is getting past that stage now and that was a crux point. Our medical team is outstanding and he is in a good spot. The pressure of a return date wouldn’t help and there are markers and it was a big one his hit a month ago. We want him to be 100 per cent because you can easily push things too hard and set yourself back a long way. It’s very frustrating but he is getting excited after pushing through that bit we talked about.”
Scotland out-half Adam Hastings missed last weekend’s win over Newcastle but Skivington added: “Adam took a bang last week and it wasn’t anything major. He is in good shape and is back from Scotland.”
Explosive Bristol born backrow @JakePolledri talks about his grandmother, Hartpury and Italy amid the current questions over their inclusion in the #GuinnessSixNations ??
writes @heagneyl ???? https://t.co/rTp3SasNO4
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 9, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
I had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
1 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
7 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
7 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
7 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
7 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
7 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
7 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
7 Go to commentsThose ears must give him great field awareness
1 Go to commentsFrench international centre Maelle Fillopon is death, too.
1 Go to commentsIf your act of foul play leaves someone with a broken leg it's pretty trashy to them say that it wasn't really red card bad. Suspensions for injuring a player through foul play should be as long they're out injured plus a penalty on top of that.
3 Go to commentsDon’t agree about banning 5m mauls, but he is generally right that illegal blocking should be better managed. Refs are completely inconsistent about binding, offside and obstruction in mauls. If the 5m maul is proving too hard to defend then change the rule to make it 10m.
3 Go to comments