Super Rugby side's harrowing injury list laid bare

Story by Simon Chapman •
Yesterday 12:15 pm



The Highlanders could have been forgiven if they had lost to the Western Force in round four of Super Rugby Pacific.

New Zealand's southernmost team are the competition's walking wounded, with an entire team's worth of players injured.

The team just scraped through, winning the close contest 43-35 at Dunedin's Rugby Park.

Watch the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season on the home of rugby, Stan Sport. All matches streaming ad free, live and on demand

Leading into Saturday's match, the Highlanders had 12 players sidelined due to injury.

They then lost five more with James Lentjes and Connor Garden-Bachop late omissions from the original 23-man squad named on Friday.

Shannon Frizell, Andrew Makaliom, and Fabian Holland all bowed out before the first half was completed.

Four players made their Super Rugby Pacific debuts as a result, with Cam Millar, Oliver Haig, Finn Hurley and PJ Sheck all called in from outside the squad.

All told, the Highlanders left the ground with 17 injured players in their ranks.

It's hoped at least two of the wounded men will return for the fifth round match against the Fijian Drua on Saturday, those being Josh Dickson and Pari Pari Parkinson.

One man who won't be back any time soon is England import Freddie Burns.

Taking to social media, he revealed the extent of the knee injury he suffered in the Highlanders' round three loss to the Chiefs.

In an Instagram post, Burns confirmed he fractured his knee but was fortunate not to come away with a worse injury.

"Gutted to be facing a bit of time on the sideline with an anterior tibial plateau fracture but these things happen in rugby," he wrote.

"Count myself pretty lucky after watching the footage back.

"Just got to recover well, attack the rehab and with a bit of luck be running around again by the end of April."

Highlanders injury list:

Vili Koroi (knee)

Marty Banks (groin)

Jona Nareki (foot)

Marino Mikaele Tu'u (ribs)

Scott Gregory (knee)

Thwaites (back)

Will Tucker (groin)

Saula Ma'u (chest)

Freddie Burns (knee)

Josh Dickson (illness)

Pari Pari Parkinson (concussion)

Mosese Dawai (knee)

Shannon Frizell (hip flexor/groin)

James Lentjes (neck)

Andrew Makaliom

Connor Garden-Bachop

https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/othe...83e7e207&ei=23

Well, if we couldn’t beat the bottom placed winless team with those injury problems, then that’s a pretty damning indictment of where we’re at 😔

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Originally Posted by WFDom

Well, if we couldn’t beat the bottom placed winless team with those injury problems, then that’s a pretty damning indictment of where we’re at ��

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We also have a substantial injuy list and have had to bring in two medical replacements this year, with far less depth than the Highlanders.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tazzmania

We also have a substantial injuy list and have had to bring in two medical replacements this year, with far less depth than the Highlanders.

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Yes Tazz completely right. The two injury covers are arguably the best in the squad for their respective positions. So if Vosayaco gets a full contract as I would imagine most people would like, it makes a mockery of appointing Wells captain. I’d much rather have a starting back room of Anstee / Vosayaco / Callan or Koteka.

You can tell Vosayaco is playing for his career. I’d rather Prior had been given the captaincy. Wells was a very naive appointment. He was silent on the weekend. Check the England Ireland game from the weekend to see how a losing captain should go about his business.

And why the fu@k is HQ not putting out injury updates and progress. If they want to be a professional outfit the off field needs as much attention as the on field aspects!

Before attacking Wells you need to watch the match again:

His match stats:

Tackles 8 Missed 1
Line outs won 1 Line Out Steals 1
Carries 7
Metres Carried 29

Not a bad effort for the 59 minutes he played.

PS He was also coming off a head knock two weeks earlier

I am a big RWV fan as you will see from my posts and his stats are very similar to Wells for the Highlanders match:

Tackles 8 Missed 0
Carries 7
Metres gained 20
Minutes Played 49

However the standout was Ollie Callan:

Tackles 17 Missed 2
Carries 12
Metres gained 25
Turnovers won 2
Lineouts won 2

The boys are all working hard despite results not going our way. Keep the faith.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tazzmania

Before attacking Wells you need to watch the match again:

His match stats:

Tackles 8 Missed 1
Line outs won 1 Line Out Steals 1
Carries 7
Metres Carried 29

Not a bad effort for the 59 minutes he played.

PS He was also coming off a head knock two weeks earlier

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Attacking is a bit strong Tazz. I’m criticising his appointment as Captain. He’ll get picked on availability over form.

I’d expect those stats from anyone in that position. Probably more meters from Anstee when he starts

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WFDom

Yes Tazz completely right. The two injury covers are arguably the best in the squad for their respective positions. So if Vosayaco gets a full contract as I would imagine most people would like, it makes a mockery of appointing Wells captain. I’d much rather have a starting back room of Anstee / Vosayaco / Callan or Koteka.

You can tell Vosayaco is playing for his career. I’d rather Prior had been given the captaincy. Wells was a very naive appointment. He was silent on the weekend. Check the England Ireland game from the weekend to see how a losing captain should go about his business.

And why the fu@k is HQ not putting out injury updates and progress. If they want to be a professional outfit the off field needs as much attention as the on field aspects!

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Agree they might have put themselves in a difficult position making wells captain but prior would have been worse, he shouldn’t be anywhere near the 23 now

It should have been Robertson I believe

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tazzmania

Before attacking Wells you need to watch the match again:

His match stats:

Tackles 8 Missed 1
Line outs won 1 Line Out Steals 1
Carries 7
Metres Carried 29

Not a bad effort for the 59 minutes he played.

PS He was also coming off a head knock two weeks earlier

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Tazz we're not attacking his playing ability as such but more his ability to communicate with the refs! Shit was happening to us left right and centre off the ball and he stood there like a startled deer.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WFDom

. Check the England Ireland game from the weekend to see how a losing captain should go about his business.

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I thought that Owen Farrell's performance as Captain - in particular his conduct with the Referee in the Ireland vs England match was disgusting, if it had of been any other Referee he would have been warned and/or Yellow Carded. He should be ashamed of himself.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by .X.

I thought that Owen Farrell's performance as Captain - in particular his conduct with the Referee in the Ireland vs England match was disgusting, if it had of been any other Referee he would have been warned and/or Yellow Carded. He should be ashamed of himself.

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Disagree with you there X. I watched the BBC coverage and the ex pros commentating (not all Poms) said he did exactly what was required in such a high pressure match.

If Wells had spoken up more on the weekend the result may well have been different.

Interestingly who went skipper after Wells was subbed?

I stole this from Facebook (cut and paste from WTF is with Australian Rugby)

The Waratahs currently have 13 players sitting in the stands wearing suits as of Rnd 5, with the majority of them being regular run-ons in the top 15 and the other couple of blokes usually in the 23. It's a good thing they're only playing the Chiefs and the Brumbies over the next two weeks. Oh...wait
Waratahs players unavailable for selection
Angus Bell – toe (season)
Archer Holz – ribs (round 6+)
Charlie Gamble – shoulder (round 9+)
Hugh Sinclair – shoulder (round 8+)
Lalakai Foketi – shoulder (round 8+)
Langi Gleeson – calf (round 6)
Mahe Vailanu – knee (round 6+)
Max Jorgensen – shoulder (round 6+)
Mosese Tuipulotu – knee (round 6+)
Tane Edmed – back (round 8+)
Teddy Wilson – neck (round 6)
Tiaan Tauakipulu – knee (round 8+)
Will Harrison - toe (round 6)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by .X.

I stole this from Facebook (cut and paste from WTF is with Australian Rugby)

The Waratahs currently have 13 players sitting in the stands wearing suits as of Rnd 5, with the majority of them being regular run-ons in the top 15 and the other couple of blokes usually in the 23. It's a good thing they're only playing the Chiefs and the Brumbies over the next two weeks. Oh...wait
Waratahs players unavailable for selection
Angus Bell – toe (season)
Archer Holz – ribs (round 6+)
Charlie Gamble – shoulder (round 9+)
Hugh Sinclair – shoulder (round 8+)
Lalakai Foketi – shoulder (round 8+)
Langi Gleeson – calf (round 6)
Mahe Vailanu – knee (round 6+)
Max Jorgensen – shoulder (round 6+)
Mosese Tuipulotu – knee (round 6+)
Tane Edmed – back (round 8+)
Teddy Wilson – neck (round 6)
Tiaan Tauakipulu – knee (round 8+)
Will Harrison - toe (round 6)

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You missed one X!

Kurtley Beale - complete tool (hopefully never)