Toeava To Miss Rest of Super 15

[nickdnz]

Blues fullback Isaia Toeava will miss the rest of the Super Rugby competition because of an old stress fracture to his hip.
Toeava, one of the in-form players for the table-topping Blues, is out for at least eight weeks after the recurrence of an injury which caused him problems in late 2009 and last year.
The injury means Northland centre Jared Payne moves back to fullback for Friday night's game against the Hurricanes in Wellington, with Rene Ranger coming into the centres and Lachie Munro starting from the left wing.
"He'll need six weeks of non-weight-bearing exercise and then he'll be free to train again," Blues coach Pat Lam said.
"Effectively, that rules him out for the rest of our season, though he will obviously be available for All Black rugby after that."
Lam said the injury, which Toeava first noticed at the weekend, was disappointing but he was confident it wasn't as bad as when he first strained it.
"On a scale of one to 10, where last time was a 10, this is about a four or a five," Lam said.
"He doesn't have the pain. He more feels a loss of power in his hamstring. He felt that on the weekend. We had it all checked out and that's what's returned.
"It's disappointing for Ice and a big loss for us as a team. He's been through a longer process before and, on the bright side, it's not so bad. It's just too much of a risk for him to continue."
Toeava is the latest in a string of Blues players to be injured, a list which has meant four players from the wider training squad have been called to the reserves bench for Friday night's game.
"We had 32 in our squad at the beginning of the year and, out of that 32, we've only got 20 available," Lam said.
"When you consider three of those are halfbacks and three of those are hookers, we've only really got 18."
Lam said the Blues had an additional complication at lock, where All Black Anthony Boric was still unavailable through a hamstring injury.
"Chris Lowrey continues at lock with James King on the bench, but I just got reminded that Chris' wife is expecting their first child on Saturday."
Steven Luatua, a New Zealand under-20s representative who is part of the Blues' development program, will travel to Wellington as a stand-by for Lowrey.
Blues team (15-1) Jared Payne, Joe Rokocoko, Rene Ranger, Benson Stanley, Lachie Munro, Stephen Brett, Alby Mathewson, Peter Saiili, Luke Braid, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Chris Lowrey, John Afoa, Keven Mealumu (capt), Tevita Mailau. Reserves: Tom McCartney, Pauliasi Manu, James King, Sean Tolwart, Chris Smylie, Aaron Bancroft, Sherwin Stowers.

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/news/article/-/9315773/toeava-to-miss-rest-of-super-rugby-season/

 

[Amobokoboko]

Really sad to hear, especially after thread Toeava- Smith. hopes he regains his old form again.

 

[Darwin]

Certainly disappointing for Toeava, given he has been in great form so far this season. I don't think it will impact his AB's chances at all though, as assuming he recovers the AB's selectors are bound to pick him, as they rate him very highly and he's been in exceptional form all season. Sounds like the injury itself is not too bad; if there has not been a RWC this year I'd imagine Toeava would just play through it.

The biggest impact this will have will be on the Blues, as Toeava has been the Blues most consistent attacking threat all year, and has also looked very solid at the back. Bringing in Lachie Munro to replace Toeava at fullback would obviously have the least disruption to the backline, but it looks like they have completely rearranged the backline this week, with Payne moving to fullback, Ranger to centre, and Munro to the wing. Personally I think it's a mistake to move Payne away from centre (as he's been exceptional there), but Ranger does bring different qualities to the centre position. If they do continue to play Payne at fullback I wouldn't be surprised to see MacAlister and Stanley pair up in the midfield (with Ranger and Rokocoko on the wings).

 

[Amobokoboko]

If the changes work I reckon Pat will stick to it.

 

[candybum]

Would have loved to see Sherwin get a start.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

And I was hoping Toeava would be the starting full back for the All Blacks. He has been much more consistant than Dagg and Muliaina

 

[Amobokoboko]

Mils will be the starting full back, he always plays better internationally. Toeava will still make the squad

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

You're only saying that because you're a Chiefs fan

 

[nickdnz]

Mils will be the starting full back, he always plays better internationally. Toeava will still make the squad

Not really. Mils looks good cause he either runs or kicks it everytime he gets the ball, it was really frustrating watching him play last year so selfishly, and yet people talking about his great form.

 

[Amobokoboko]

You're only saying that because you're a Chiefs fan

I admit

 

[Amobokoboko]

Not really. Mils looks good cause he either runs or kicks it everytime he gets the ball, it was really frustrating watching him play last year so selfishly, and yet people talking about his great form.

True, but he has been playing Full back for the AB's for a long time now and when you look at his entire AB career he's a very good full back.

 

[Larksea]

this really sucks.

hate to say it but the injury situation is pretty dire. Much as it was in 2009 - though that was a bad year for the All Blacks they still ended up being the best team in the world by years end after many key players made a comeback from injury. Though as long as Mccaw and Carter are not injured for large parts of the international season it shouldn't get as bad as 2009.

 

[dan the man]

Currently Injured All Blacks:

Tony Woodcock*
Brad Thorn*
Sam Whitelock*
Daniel Braid
Andy Ellis
Piri Weepu*
Dan Carter*
Colin Slade
Luke McAlistar
Ma'a Nonu*
Conrad Smith*
Cory Jane*
Isaia Toeava

note: *'s are last seasons regular starters

You can nearly put a whole team together... Lets just hope that most of them get a little git of game time before the Tri-Nations start...

is this a big conspiracy??? Alot of key All Blacks not playing Super Rugby in a World Cup year... Seems familiar for some reason :unsure:

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Every team has a phase like that. Last year we had the problem when we were without Brussow, Fourie, JP Pietersen, du Preez, Burger, de Jongh, Januarie (that was actually positive), Bekker, James, BJ Botha and Olivier. That was also an almost complete line-up we were missing.

It's a shame it happens to teams in a World Cup year but it happens to every team at some team

 

[d1e1m]

Lol, Zeke, it's a wonder Januarie is still being selected for the Boks, I always feel like drying paint would make a faster 9 than him. As to Ice being out, along with McAlister, those are the 2 consistent attacking players of the Blues, plus Payne but Payne isn't a flyhalf. Safe to say that the chances for the Blues winning the ***le are hanging by a thread now, I think.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Isn't Ben Smith a serious option to be Muliaina's back up? I think he is one of the main reasons the Highlanders are performing so incredibly well this season

 

[FlukeArtist]

Initially I was gutted about Toeava (being a Blues fan), and i'm still gutted for Ice himself.

BUT I think the Blues can still keep winning with the personnel they have.

Lachie Munro is a massively underrated player IMO. I think this will give him a chance to shine on a regular basis.
he has played really well for Auckland in the past, and he can make the step up.

Personally I would like Lam to have had Gareth Anscombe in the squad too. (he is in the wider training group)

 

[dan the man]

I think it will be very interesting who gets selected as back ups... Dagg will be there for for sure, and Jane will most likely be starting on the wing but is a great Fullback. The choice of outside backs will be a very tricky one for the selectors to make. I think they'll go with Jane, Gear, Mils (starting) and then Dagg on the bench and then either Toeava or Kahui in the wider squad to cover the midfield and wings. I really rate Ben Smith but i can't see Henry and co. taking him to the World Cup. Also if Slade does make the team he's another good option at Fullback or Wing, though i think that if he went he'd be strictly a backup no.10.

There are just soooo many outside backs who are capable at International level but with there only being a 30 man squad to play potentially 7 matches in 6 weeks the 'Utility' players will have an advantage over the specialist players...

 

[Darwin]

Isn't Ben Smith a serious option to be Muliaina's back up? I think he is one of the main reasons the Highlanders are performing so incredibly well this season

Yes, yes he is. He had a superb game last week in front of the AB's selectors, and has the ideal game for test rugby.

I think it will be very interesting who gets selected as back ups... Dagg will be there for for sure, and Jane will most likely be starting on the wing but is a great Fullback. The choice of outside backs will be a very tricky one for the selectors to make. I think they'll go with Jane, Gear, Mils (starting) and then Dagg on the bench and then either Toeava or Kahui in the wider squad to cover the midfield and wings. I really rate Ben Smith but i can't see Henry and co. taking him to the World Cup. Also if Slade does make the team he's another good option at Fullback or Wing, though i think that if he went he'd be strictly a backup no.10.

There are just soooo many outside backs who are capable at International level but with there only being a 30 man squad to play potentially 7 matches in 6 weeks the 'Utility' players will have an advantage over the specialist players...

I'm not convinced Dagg is a certainty, as he is still very error prone. He certainly wouldn't make the squad if I was picking it, and at this stage I think he is facing strong competition from Jane, Smith, Toeava et al. for a place in Henrys' squad.

The AB's will either take 5 or 6 wings/fullbacks to the RWC. At this stage I'd suggest only Muliaina and Toeava are certainties in Henry's squad. Hosea Gear is all but a certainty (assuming he remains fit for the rest of the Super Rugby season); the only reason that I wouldn't consider him a certainty is because Henry and co. have not favoured him in the past. Who takes the other 2-3 spots is really up in the air at this stage (in my mind at least) - I wouldn't be surprised if any of Zac Guildford, Cory Jane, Ben Smith, Joe Rokocoko, Israel Dagg, Sitivini Sivivatu, or Rene Ranger are included in these spots.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Highlanders team for the Chiefs game announced, Smith back into the mid field, he will definately not get a shot at full back unless he gets more game time there, he had a huge game when he dropped back to fullback last week, cant Robbie play second five (the old two pivots deal) and let smith play where he is best?