Hurricanes suffer injury blow on eve of Super Rugby opener
The Hurricanes have lost their most experienced lock to a lengthy injury on the eve of their Super Rugby season-opener.
Sam Lousi has succumbed to a pectoral injury - which is being described as "not short-term" by Hurricanes assistant coach Jason Holland - just four days out from their first match of 2019 against the Waratahs in Sydney.
"We'll work through that in the next couple of days and see where that's going to go, but he's definitely not a short-term injury," Holland told Fairfax.
"He's done his pec, just how serious that is we're figuring out."
Holland said that while a few players were carrying pre-season injury niggles, none were considered to be as serious as Lousi.
The 27-year-old joins newly-wed All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett in being unavailable for this weekend's clash at Brookvale Oval, although few of the Hurricanes' eight current All Blacks are expected to start.
"We've just got to be smart around how we manage everyone," Holland said.
"They've had limited pre-seasons, so we'll be smart about how much time guys get and who starts.
"I'd say we'll be very much like the Tahs in that they'll all be involved in some way."
There is a severe lack of experience in the Hurricanes' second row stocks in the absence of Lousi, with James Blackwell the only other lock in the squad with more than one Super Rugby cap.
Isaiah Walker-Leawere and Geoff Cridge will probably vacate the spot left open by Lousi, as a Super Rugby debut off just 14 provincial caps for Manawatu lock Liam Mitchell might be too much of a gamble.
Vaea Fifita could slot into the second row, but the nine-test All Black has been vocal about his desire to play at blindside flanker.
However, the depth of loose forwards within the Hurricanes squad could count against Fifita, with Ardie Savea, Gareth Evans, Reed Prinsep and Heiden Bedwell-Curtis all capable of filling in while the 26-year-old toils away in the tight five.
"I wouldn't say we're hellbent on him being a six, we'd like to think we can use his skillset at six, but at the end of the day, depending on what injuries happen, you've got to do what's best for the team at the time," Holland said.
"He's a six in our eyes who can cover lock."
Latest Comments
It is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
Go to comments