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EXCLUSIVE: Wasps face dilemma as full extent of Gopperth's injury revealed
By Chris Jones
Wasps are facing an outside half crisis before the season has started with veteran Jimmy Gopperth set to miss most the Premiership campaign after undergoing knee reconstruction that could keep him out for up to nine months.
With Danny Cipriani having moved to Gloucester, Wasps now face a No10 dilemma heading into their opening Premiership game with Worcester as All Black Lima Sopoaga is not due to arrive at the club from New Zealand until next week. England flanker Brad Shields is another late arrival from Super rugby having linked up with Wasps, who defeated Ulster in a pre-season friendly last night, this weekend.
Gopperth was injured in the pre-season loss to Connacht and has already undergone surgery on his ruptured ACL – the same injury that flanker Jack Willis suffered at the end of last season and will keep him out until into the New Year.
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Beyond 80 - Knocked
The injury raises series questions about Gopperth’s ability to make it back as he is 35-years-old and could miss the most, if not all of this season. The New Zealand born utility back, is insisting he is going to be part of the Wasps season sending a social media message from his hospital bed which said: “All fixed up!! Everything went perfect! Not the best start to the season but I’ll be training hard to ensure I can get back out there with the boys ASAP. Thanks for all the messages and support can’t wait to pull the new kit on with my Wasps brothers.”
With Sopoaga unavailable until he is able to get up to speed with the Wasps game plan, Dai Young, the director of rugby, will have to use those players who have managed to avoid injury in the pre-season matches. Billy Searle, who quit Bristol to join Wasps, played in the No10 role in last night’s 31-14 win over Ulster that saw England No8 Nathan Hughes score a hat-trick. Also capable of operating in the play-maker role is Rob Miller although he is a fullback option until Willie le Roux returns from his period with the Springboks on the Rugby Championship.
Young was delighted with Searle’s contribution against Ulster saying: "We brought him in because we knew he can do a job and he’s a young man who has to develop. He’s got players he can learn off as well, I thought he had a good game individually, and normally if the number 10 plays well then the whole back line does. He did himself proud tonight and he showed what a good signing he is going to be."
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Latest Comments
I was at this match. Jordie Barrett earned his money with a massive hit to slow a connaught attack to win the math when Leinster had 14 in the last few mins. Mack Hansen had a real go at the refereeing after citing a serious head hits on Iaone and Aki.
connaught were up for this. Snyman tried a trademark dirty after, and the onnaught 4 and the onnaught pack absolutely laid into him.
Leinster hose to kick to the corner when only winning by 5 with 10 left and qith only 2 tries scored. onnaught should have punisihed them for that utter stupidity after they broke out and Leinster yellowed to stop the attack.
13 changes from last week. It seems teams are scoring about 10 points less against Leinster this year. With Neinaber in his second year, the new attack coah established, surely they will be a bigger threat in champions up? Or will the attack recgress further.
They must adopt the SA philosophy of take your 3 pointers and the bonus points will come.
connaught back line inluding Iaone, Murphy, Aki, Forde, cordero is the seond best in Ireland surely. Leinster were lucky here
Go to commentsShould have played more for England but he jumped ship just as he was breaking through.
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