Homecoming heartache for Smith
20 February 2006Â
By JIM KAYES
The sign at the southern end of Yarrow Stadium made for depressing reading.
"Welcome home Conrad," it declared to the lad who had attended the nearby Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth.
Six minutes into the Hurricanes' Super 14 match against the Western Force on Saturday night Conrad Smith's homecoming turned sour.
As he slipped the ball to fullback Isaia Toeava, with a sleight of hand that made him a strong contender to replace Tana Umaga in the All Blacks, Smith was tackled.
His feet became tangled and, with a horrifying snap that was heard by Hurricanes support staff on the sideline and a scream of pain, Smith broke two bones in his right leg.
A ***anium rod was inserted into the tibia at New Plymouth hospital yesterday; the fibula will heal without help. Smith is out of rugby for up to six months.
"He is very down," Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper said soon after visiting Smith, 24, in hospital yesterday.
"The best scenario is that he could be back for the NPC. The injury is a clean break and they (hospital staff) were quite optimistic he could be playing in the NPC.
"But it's a huge blow for us. I don't like losing my warriors."
Cooper is likely to call into his squad either Wellington fullback Cory Jane or Taranaki centre Lifeimi Mafi from the Hurricanes' wider training group.
Smith's injury is also a blow for the All Blacks as he and midfield partner Ma'a Nonu were the frontrunners to replace the retired Umaga.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry and selector Brian Lochore were at Yarrow Stadium and visited the Hurricanes' dressing room after the match.
Their ashen faces told the story. Nonu, 23, now looms as the most logical successor to Umaga, though Henry could switch fullback Mils Muliaina back to centre.
Elsewhere in the Super 14, Anthony Tuitavake seems the best of the rest with his efforts in the Blues' 25-13 loss to the Highlanders â€" one of the few silver linings for the Aucklanders in Dunedin on Friday night.
Casey Laulala has played for the All Blacks, but his defence is too weak, especially when he plays outside Aaron Mauger, as was shown in the Crusaders' 47-21 win against the Reds.
For the Hurricanes there is some good news, with former skipper Umaga expected to be fit to tackle the Cats in Wellington on Friday night. Umaga missed Saturday's match because of a calf/Achilles injury.
It will be a welcome return as the Hurricanes prepare to play all five South African teams in the next five weeks, with the Cheetahs, Stormers and Bulls met on the road.
The New Plymouth win keeps the Hurricanes top of the table after two rounds, behind the Crusaders only on points difference, while come-from-behind victories against the Bulls and Stormers have the Waratahs and Brumbies third and fourth, respectively.
The Chiefs' sorry safari is over, but they play the Western Force in Perth en route to Hamilton in a match that could prove to be for the wooden spoon.
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