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Wales forward Christ Tshiunza dealt injury blow ahead of Six Nations
Wales forward Christ Tshiunza has suffered a setback during his recovery from injury as the countdown continues to this season’s Guinness Six Nations.
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Tshiunza last played on October 28, when he broke his foot during Exeter’s Gallagher Premiership clash against Sale Sharks.
Wales’ opening Six Nations game is a Principality Stadium appointment with Scotland on February 3, before facing England at Twickenham seven days later.
The 22-year-old, who offers second-row and back-row selection options, has become an important part of Wales’ set-up under head coach Warren Gatland.
“He has had a little bit of an unfortunate setback,” Exeter rugby director Rob Baxter said.
“In his first session where he was pitch-running and changing direction and putting a little bit more force through the foot, he had a little bit of reaction, a little bit of swelling and a little bit of pain.
“That has settled down very quickly, fortunately, but obviously it means he has to go through that process again.
“He is not far off. He is in that end-stage.
“Broken bones in feet, you have to be pretty careful in that end-stage when you start loading them that you push on as reactions allow, and that is where Christ is.
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“He is not far off, but he is not quite there yet.”
Tshiunza has won 10 caps and featured on three occasions during the Rugby World Cup in France, when he was involved against Portugal, Georgia and Argentina.
Exeter, meanwhile, return to Investec Champions Cup action on Saturday when they face Glasgow at Sandy Park.
A third successive win in the group phase – they are currently setting the Pool Three pace alongside Northampton – could confirm a round of 16 place, depending on results elsewhere.
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Baxter added: “We have had a lot of ambition to do well in the Champions Cup competition – that has always peaked our interest and energy – and we are good at home.
“I don’t think a win (on Saturday) guarantees us top two, but it would certainly keep things open for us.
“Initially, we want to qualify – you have got to do these things in stages – and if we qualify, then you want to be in the top two to get a home tie in the last-16.
“We are ticking boxes as we go. The lads are really excited about these next two weeks.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith please write up something better than this. The Springboks would have won the world cup if you were 15 men on the field. They would have found a way, they always find a way to beat the All Blacks.
159 Go to commentsWow, there is a lot of “could have” and “ should have” in this waist of time dribble. I love the deportation in this story to search for a glimpse at a silver lining. Here are the facts, NZ was a badly coached and undisciplined shadow of their former glory. They never took the lead in a game they were never going to win.
159 Go to commentsGOTTA MAKE ‘THE GEORGE’ HAPPEN!!!! That’s a great idea! A trans Tasman midget battle on ANZAC Day. I don’t think the ABs Wallabies game should be a one off winner takes all though, just the first match with the other two later in the year with the RC. Reason being, no one will ever shut up about how aussies couldn’t win it when it was a 3 match series.
1 Go to comments@Ben smith. Thats knock out rugby. So honeslty who cares?
159 Go to commentsIt will interesting to know which Irish players said that…
1 Go to commentsNaaaww boys will be boys! Now run along ya wee scamp! Don’t let us catch you at again😏
1 Go to commentsGreat to have Ethan Blackadder back in the Crusaders in the last few weeks. One of the best all round loose forwards around. He played so well last week against the Rebels. Fantastic attitude Ethan has and his comments are spot on.
2 Go to commentsThe author is 100% right. The Springboks know that they don't have near the natural attraction, mana, skill and mystic the All Blacks have. So, Chasing the sun 1 & 2 was concocted to overblow the Boks image on the back of a corruptly obtained “win". It's marketing ploy to force the Boks delusion as the World's Best. I guess World Rugby is also not to be believed when it came out with an apology about how the final was officiated. And if the 2023 final such a superb game by the Boks, then the Boks crying about Referee Bryce Lawrence for decades is also deserves a laugh. Chase the sun and get burned like a moth. A very well written literary piece that tore the Boks and Chasing the sun farce to shreds. 🖤All Blacks🏉
159 Go to commentsI’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
159 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
159 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
159 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
159 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
159 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
159 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
159 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
159 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
159 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
159 Go to commentsHo hum.
159 Go to comments