Sonny Bill shrugs off injury talk

Updated October 27, 2012 22:53:58

Sonny Bill Williams has played down fears that he would be forced to cancel his boxing match with Frans Botha in Brisbane next month.

Williams, who is tipped to play for the Sydney Roosters in the 2013 season, was injured playing for the Wild Knights in the Japanese rugby match against the Dynaboars.

The All Black landed awkwardly on his shoulder after tackling former Western Force centre Gene Fairbanks.

Williams was taken to hospital for an MRI, but said afterwards that the injury was not as bad as feared.

"Results back nothing serious, small tear so hopefully still be able to (box)," Williams said on Twitter.

Williams is set to face the toughest test of his part-time professional boxing career when he takes on four-time world title challenger Botha at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on November 24.

Williams has four matches left in the 12-match deal he signed with the Wild Knights in Japan's Top League, which resumes after a five-week break in December.

Tags: rugby-union, boxing, sport, japan

First posted October 27, 2012 22:08:51

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Wallabies' injury toll grows

Updated October 16, 2012 17:27:37

The Wallabies' bewildering injury woes have worsened with hooker Saia Faingaa the latest to be added to their long list of sidelined players.

Reserve rake Faingaa has been ruled out of Saturday night's third Bledisloe Test against New Zealand in Brisbane after breaking his hand at training on Tuesday.

The Queensland hooker has been replaced on the bench by Reds team-mate James Hanson who is set to make his international debut at Lang Park.

Faingaa's blow comes after rookie winger Dom Shipperley on Tuesday was also ruled out of the Bledisloe clash with a lingering wrist injury.

Shipperley missed a bruising morning contact session at Ballymore as he was sent for scans which could determine whether he requires surgery that could rule him out of next month's end-of-season tour of Europe.

Fellow winger Digby Ioane had already continued a disastrous year on the injury front when he was scratched from the Wallabies' backline on Monday night due to a knee injury.

Coach Robbie Deans, with more than half of his best 22 unavailable, believes Faingaa should be right to tour France, England, Italy and Wales next month and also remained hopeful the destructive Ioane would be fit.

In stark contrast, the world champion All Blacks are at full strength as they chase a record 17th straight win on Saturday night.

In some positive news for Australia, number eight Wycliff Palu and winger Drew Mitchell will make their long-awaited returns at Lang Park.

Wallabies:

15. Mike Harris, 14. Nick Cummins, 13. Ben Tapuai, 12. Pat McCabe, 11. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10. Kurtley Beale, 9. Nick Phipps, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Michael Hooper, 6. Scott Higginbotham, 5. Nathan Sharpe, 4. Sitaleki Timani, 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Tatafu Polota Nau, 1. Benn Robinson.

Reserves: 16. James Hanson, 17. James Slipper, 18. Kane Douglas, 19. Dave Dennis, 20. Liam Gill, 21. Brett Sheehan, 22. Drew Mitchell.

AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted October 16, 2012 17:22:13

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Polota Nau injury opens door for Moore

Updated August 23, 2012 16:24:26

Stephen Moore will equal Jeremy Paul's record as Australia's most capped Test hooker when he runs out against the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday night.

The Brumbies stalwart will play his 72nd Test after replacing the injured Tatafu Polota Nau in the starting line-up.

Polota Nau withdrew from the starting XV after suffering a gluteal cork in a training session on Thursday.

He may still be named on the bench should he complete a final training session without discomfort, with the Wallabies' seven-man reserves bench yet to be finalised.

"It's not ideal but it's a mature decision that Tatafu has made," Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said.

"We are in the fortunate position of having good depth at hooker - the fact that we are bringing in a player who is about to become Australia's leading hooker in terms of Test appearances, highlights that."

Deans said Polota Nau may still be considered a for a starting role if he comes through a final training session unscathed.

"If Tatafu can complete training tomorrow, it may well be that this simply becomes a case of reversing the order in which we use them," he said.

However Polota Nau said he was more likely to start on the bench if his niggling injury responds to treatment in time.

"If I can get through training tomorrow, I'll be available for the bench, but everyone needed to know what was going on now, the team needed to be certain who was playing hooker, and I couldn't provide that," he said.

"This is a massive game for us. Everyone needs to be at their peak if we are to give ourselves a chance."

Moore came off the bench in Australia's 27-19 defeat to the All Blacks at Sydney's Olympic stadium last Saturday.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, australia

First posted August 23, 2012 16:24:26

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Horwill's injury remains a mystery

Updated May 28, 2012 21:51:38

Wallabies officials are concerned about a hamstring injury to skipper James Horwill following disappointing scan results.

Coach Robbie Deans told reporters on Monday morning he thought Horwill would miss the four inbound Tests against Scotland and Wales in June.

Deans said he thought the injury was not as bad as it initially looked.

But a Wallabies spokesperson said on Monday night the scan results for Horwill had been disappointing.

He said the injury was unusual and proving something of a mystery.

The spokesperson said the full extent of the problem would not be known until Horwill visited a specialist and he did not know whether the lock would be available for the inaugural four-team Rugby Championship tournament starting in August.

Horwill suffered the injury last Saturday during the Reds' clash with the Brumbies in Canberra.

Deans also revealed on Monday that talented utility back Kurtley Beale would miss the four June Tests.

Beale will undergo surgery on the shoulder he injured in the Rebels' clash with the Hurricanes in Wellington last Saturday.

AAP

Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted May 28, 2012 21:51:38

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Tindall's Severe Injury Serves As Reminder To Club Players

Scots hit by injury for tour Down Under

Updated May 11, 2012 06:57:18

Scotland suffered a triple setback ahead of its tour of Australia, Fiji and Samoa after David Denton and winger Lee Jones were ruled out through injury while lock Jim Hamilton was banned.

Edinburgh number eight Denton has been sidelined with ankle ligament damage while club colleague Jones has a fractured shoulder blade.

Hamilton will miss the tour after the Gloucester lock received a seven-week ban from England's Rugby Football Union following a brawl with London Irish hooker David Paice during a Premiership game.

Under rugby union's principal of reciprocity, a disciplinary ban imposed by one national governing body makes a player unavailable for all matches while he is banned.

The triple blow for Scotland came ahead of a tour where Andy Robinson's side will look to revive their fortunes after a dire Six Nations saw them finish bottom of the table having lost all five of their matches.

Scotland will play Australia in Newcastle on June 5, Fiji in Lautoka on June 16 and Samoa in Apia on June 23.

Scotland is due to announce its squad on May 16.

AFP

Tags: rugby-union, sport, scotland, united-kingdom, australia

First posted May 11, 2012 06:57:18

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Injury crisis for Waratahs

Updated April 23, 2012 16:54:58

New South Wales have lost fullback Bernard Foley and flanker Chris Alcock for Sunday's massive Super Rugby clash with the Crusaders in Sydney.

The Waratahs, who sit second behind the Brumbies in the Australian conference, face a mini-personnel crisis for the match which shapes as the toughest test of their finals credentials.

Scans have revealed Foley aggravated a previous shoulder injury during a tackle gone wrong against Melbourne on Saturday and he's expected to miss up to three weeks.

Foley's loss has been compounded by a foot ligament injury to interchange forward Paddy Ryan and appendicitis surgery for in-form flanker Alcock.

On top of that, centre Rob Horne has been rubbed out for two matches by the judiciary for his dangerous tackle on Kurtley Beale, meaning the Waratahs will have to dig deep for the crucial clash against the New Zealand heavyweights.

Already on the long-term casualty list for the Waratahs are Dan Vickerman (shoulder/leg), Drew Mitchell (ankle), Lachie Turner (hamstring), Damien Fitzpatrick (knee) and Pat McCutcheon (ankle).

NSW are taking some momentum into their meeting with the Crusaders after recording back-to-back wins for the first time this year against the Rebels, however having their depth so severely tested will give an entirely different complexion to Sunday afternoon's game.

The Waratahs showed signs of improvement in their derby victories over the Western Force and Rebels, but the clinical Crusaders, runners-up last year, are on a different level to the Australian conference battlers.

Foley will be assessed on a weekly basis but isn't tipped to return until round 12 at the earliest.

Waratahs coach Michael Foley said he would consider No.10 Berrick Barnes as his new fullback, but Adam Ashley-Cooper shapes as the other logical option.

Prop Ryan sustained a Lisfranc (mid-foot ligament) injury to his right foot.

His recovery is anticipated to take at least six weeks, meaning his return is unlikely until after the international window.

Meanwhile, Alcock underwent surgery on Sunday for appendicitis and, while he will be monitored, he's extremely unlikely to be right to take on the Crusaders.

The last time the Waratahs held an afternoon match this year, they recorded their most impressive win to date against the Sharks.

Sunday promises to be another great spectacle, especially with the curtain-raiser to feature Australia and New Zealand in a one-off Sevens international.

AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-rugby, australia, nsw, sydney-2000

First posted April 23, 2012 16:27:49

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Brumbies' injury clouds lift

Updated February 17, 2012 16:53:44

The Brumbies' fortunes look to be turning around at the perfect time with news that Wallabies trio Stephen Moore, Pat McCabe and Ben Alexander might be right for their opening Super Rugby clash against the Western Force.

Just a week ago, the Brumbies were contemplating having to start the season minus any one of their three capped players after Moore and Alexander were felled in the opening minutes of their trial against Queensland with shoulder and elbow concerns.

McCabe, meanwhile, was forecasting a return several weeks into the season, back from a shoulder injury suffered in last year's World Cup.

But a week out from the Friday match against the Force, the Brumbies' injury clouds appear to have lifted.

Coach Jake White confirmed Moore and Alexander are expected to play, while a decision will be made on McCabe later next week.

He returned to full contact training just this Thursday, but has impressed enough to put his hand up for selection.

"McCabe's nearly there. It's just a choice as to whether he's mentally up for it," White said.

"If he feels good enough and feels like he can't let himself down - I know what type of guy he is and I have to be very sensitive because he will want to play even if he's not ready."

White said McCabe's return could leave him with a pleasing headache in the backline, with Robbie Coleman also doing good things at full-back in the Brumbies' final 66-0 trial victory over an ACT XV in Canberra on Thursday.

Winger Henry Speight is also due to get the call-up against the Force, allowing the Brumbies to start with a near full-strength outfit.

But new skipper Ben Mowen, who captained for the first time in the ACT trial, warned fans against expecting too much from their season-opener.

"We're not going to hit our straps in the first round - we just aren't," he said.

"We are going to be pushing and developing the whole year so, at the pointy end of the season, we're there."

The Brumbies' season kicks off on February 24 at Canberra Stadium.

AAP

Tags: super-14, rugby-union, sport, canberra-2600, act, australia

First posted February 17, 2012 16:53:44

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Horwill played World Cup with finger injury

Updated January 30, 2012 15:20:53

Wallabies skipper James Horwill has revealed he played last year's World Cup tournament with a serious finger injury.

The Queensland Rugby captain says the small finger of his left hand has torn tendons but it will not stop him taking part in the Red's premiership defence.

Horwill says he dislocated his finger during last year's Super Rugby season and has since been forced to sleep with his left hand in a splint.

Speaking to Grandstand's Zane Bojack the Australian lock says he will continue to tape it before training and matches but cannot wait to get back on the field.

"I've continued to play every game with it so it's certainly not hampering me," Horwill said.

"It wants to stay bent and I need to keep it straight so I wear a splint on it when I sleep."

The Wallabies skipper said it is inconvenient but is not causing him pain.

"I've been playing nine months with it so it's not going to stop me now."

Horwill will lead the Reds in their first trial game against the Brumbies in Cairns on February 11 before flying to Perth for another pre-season clash with the Western Force on February 16.

Their first official game of the 2012 Super Rugby championship season is on Saturday February 25 when they take on the Waratahs at the Olympic stadium in Sydney.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted January 30, 2012 15:05:40

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Beale joins Tahs' injury list

Updated April 25, 2011 18:53:00

Kurtley Beale joined the lengthening injury list of New South Wales' strike weapons but fellow Wallabies back Berrick Barnes could return for Saturday's Super Rugby home clash with Melbourne.

Beale (knee) went for a scan on Monday, along with two key forwards, skipper and openside flanker Phil Waugh and number eight Wycliff Palu, who aggravated old niggles during Saturday's 19-15 loss to Queensland in Brisbane.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey says he believes Beale hurt his medial ligament in the first half of the game.

While he hopes the injury is not serious, Hickey says if it is it could lead to a revamp of a Waratahs backline already missing wingers Drew Mitchell and Atieli Pakalani and centre Rob Horne.

"We've lost quite a few of our backs, it's a situation where we're shuffling players a little bit in terms of positions, so the outcome of Kurtley's scan and his availability would certainly force us into a situation where we would have to reselect the team," Hickey said.

Barnes, who has missed the last four games after suffering a second head knock this season, trained with the team on Monday and was a chance to play on Saturday, according to Hickey.

"Part of his clearance to return to play is that he can complete the training and he feels good after training," Hickey said.

"At this stage we've got our fingers crossed that everything will go well for him during the week.

"Berrick was basically cleared medically a couple of weeks ago, with all the testing, all the MRI scans etc.

"Our main concern has been around how he feels personally and he'll see our doctor on Thursday just to confirm that he's feeling well and he's ready to return."

New South Wales called up former Brumbies and Waratahs full-back/winger Ben Batger and uncapped hooker Ben Roberts to train with the Waratahs this week.

"I think we've used 31 players this year which is the total we used last year and it's not so much the numbers that you use, but the number who are out from the starting XV and particularly those players like Drew Mitchell and Cliffy Palu, who are a big influence on the game," Hickey said.

"We spoke at the start of the year about the depth of the squad that we've built.

"We've got great confidence despite all the injuries that we've taken, we'll have a team on Saturday against the Rebels that will be more than capable of getting the job done for us."

In one piece of positive fitness news following the brutal game in Brisbane, Hickey said first-choice hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau pulled up well and showed no residual symptoms after suffering a head knock.

Hickey defiantly insisted New South Wales could still win the Australian conference despite falling 11 points behind Queensland following last Saturday's loss.

"We have now got five of our last seven games at home and Queensland have got some challenging games in front of them," he said.

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, nsw, sydney-2000

First posted April 25, 2011 18:27:00

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Knee injury ends Lobbe's RWC tilt

Updated September 27, 2011 21:40:38

Argentina's World Cup hopes were dealt a major blow when loose forward Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe was diagnosed with a serious knee injury and ruled out of the tournament.

The number eight ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Sunday's dramatic 13-12 win over Scotland and will require an operation, World Cup organisers said in a statement.

A replacement has yet to be named for Lobbe, who is likely to be out of action for six months.

Argentina can reach the quarter-finals with a big win over Georgia in their final game on Sunday.

England and Scotland is also vying for the two spots to advance from a tight Pool B.

Argentina was trailing Scotland 6-12 in Wellington before Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino scored a late try which Felipe Contepomi converted to grab the victory which kept alive his nation's hopes of a last eight berth.

However, that win came at the expense of the team's powerful vice-captain Lobbe, who was central to Argentina's surprise third-place finish at the World Cup four years ago.

His departure is a big blow for a small squad that was already forced to deal with the loss of talismanic fly half Juan Martin Hernandez before the tournament and centre Gonzalo Tiesi during the event.

The South Americans are also sweating on experienced prop Rodrigo Roncero, who has a right thigh injury which requires further examination, and loose forward Juan Manuel Leguizamon, who has an injured left ankle.

Reuters

Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, argentina

First posted September 27, 2011 11:26:54

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Injury ends Elsom's run with Brumbies

Published:Tuesday, May 24, 2011 7:23 AESTExpires:Monday, August 22, 2011 7:23 AEST

An ankle injury has forced ACT Brumbies player and Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom out of the remainder of the Super Rugby competition.

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Tags: rugby-union, australia, act

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Knee injury forces Harris out

Published:Tuesday, May 10, 2011 12:13 AESTExpires:Monday, August 8, 2011 12:13 AEST

Queensland centre Mike Harris could miss four weeks of the Super Rugby competition after succumbing to a knee injury.

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Tags: rugby-union, qld

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Good news for Rebels on injury front

Posted April 23, 2011 15:27:00

Melbourne is confident key Rebels Stirling Mortlock and Mark Gerrard will be available for the crunch Super Rugby match against New South Wales next Saturday night.

The Waratahs dished up the Rebels' worst loss of their debut season, 43-0, in round one in Melbourne.

Since then the Rebels have won three games and proven competitive in most, but the New South Wales match marks the start of the toughest period in the side's short history.

Melbourne travels to Sydney then hosts the rampant Queensland Reds before two games in South Africa.

"Don't remind me," coach Rod Macqueen joked when asked about the looming contests.

The Rebels lost Mark Gerrard before their 40-23 loss to the Auckland Blues at North Harbour Stadium on Friday night after he injured his hamstring at their final training run.

Skipper Mortlock, who missed the previous round with a hip injury, left the playing field midway through the second half with back tightness.

But Melbourne was hopeful both would be available next weekend.

"We are confident that Stirling will be available for the Waratahs game," a club spokesman said on Saturday after the team returned to Melbourne.

"Mark Gerrard will be monitored during the week but we are hopeful that he will be right to play as well.

The late withdrawals of Mortlock and then Gerrard meant Melbourne has been unable to field its preferred centre combination in either of the past two games which Macqueen said was unsettling for the side.

Their defence was particularly disappointing early on, with mercurial five-eighth Danny Cipriani, defending in the centres, contributing to two early tries scored by the Blues when he rushed up out of the line.

But the Rebels fought back to within five points until two tries by the home side in the final 10 minutes.

"There was certainly some good things there and when we put it together we've got good shape and we're a much better side," Macqueen said.

"We're a good team with the ball, we've just got to be able to get it more often and keep our penalties down."

- AAP

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Gerrard injury blow for Rebels

Posted April 22, 2011 16:26:00

The Melbourne Rebels have been hit by the late withdrawal of Mark Gerrard from tonight's Super Rugby clash against the Blues in Auckland.

Gerrard felt some soreness in his hamstring yesterday and has had to pull out of the match.

Afusipa Taumoepeau will now come onto the bench with Julian Huxley moving to inside centre and Richard Kingi starting at full-back.

The match begins at 5:30pm AEST.

- AAP

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Ripia puts injury woes behind him

Western Force rugby union recruit Willie Ripia is relieved to be playing again after a six-game hiatus due to injury.

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