Round Five

Returned from Injury into Round 5:

Bernard Foley (Waratahs) – The ‘Big Show’ put on a helluva performance to lift the tahs on the weekend. The waratahs are a different team with him on the field, he directs his troops around with ease and brought the back line up with some straught running.
Francois Venter (Cheetahs) – The Cheetahs captain had a massive game bringing some much needed experience and a level head into an excitable backline.
Digby Ioane (Crusaders) – Diggers picked up where he left off from his crusaders debut. Running some great lines and with the pace to back it up. Looked sharp out there.
Patrick Osborne (Highlanders) – Osborne went looking for opportunities to get involved but it was just one of those games where it all happened on the other wing! He looked fast on the pitch and made a few strong carries up the centre from set peice.
Nicolás Sánchez (Jaguares) – returned from the bench after serving his 1 match ban for a dangerous tackle.
Scott Sio (Brumbies) – returned from injury off the bench. Should be back starting.
Emiliano Boffelli (Jaguares) – returned from injury off the bench.
Dan Kriel (Stormers)
Matt Todd (Crusaders)
Charlie Faumuina (Blues)
Matt Hodgson (Force)

New Injuries Round 5:

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Lionel Mapoe (Lions) – hairline spiral fracture.
Sefa Naivalu (Rebels) – dislocated his shoulder. 4-6 weeks.
Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares) –
Jaco Van Der Walt (Lions) – dislocated foot, 8 weeks
Dillon Smith (Lions) Shoulder operation – 4 months
James Hanson (Rebels) – head knock. Cleared for Rd 6
Culum Retallick (Rebels) – Concussion. Cleared for Rd 6
Dominic Day (Rebels) – Concussion.Cleared for Rd 6
Sefa Naivalu (Rebels) – Dislocated Shoulder injury – Will miss Rd 6, We believe he will be out for 4-6 weeks minimum
Jermaine Ainsley (Force) – dislocated elbow, probably season.
Curits Rona (Force) – head knock. Will be assessed.
Kane Koteka (Force) – head knock. Will be assessed.
Huw Jones (Stomers) – torn hamstring, to undergo surgery.
Rynhardt Elstadt (Stormers) – ankle. To be assessed but didn’t look good.
Wilco Louw (Stormers) – sternum. To be assessed this week.
Seabelo Senatla (Stormers) – Foot. To be assessed this week.
John-Roy Jenkinson (Bulls) – hamstring injury. Sent home for treatment.
Izack Rodda (Reds) – Ankle injury , severity not yet decided
Dane Coles (Hurricanes) – Bruised knee, likely back Rd 7
Hanro Liebenberg (Bulls) – Unknown injury?

Likely Back This Week:

James Lowe (Chiefs) – after being rested with back pains in rd 4, then the bye in rd 5.
Michael Leitch (Chiefs) – Served 1 week ban for a high tackle in rd 4, then the bye in rd 5.
Cory Jane (Hurricanes) – Neck injury in rd 1. Expected back rd 6 after the bye, although his replacement, Vince Aso has been in very good form.
Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes) – Ligament Damage lower leg. Set to return round 4 or 5.
Cheslin Kolbe (ankle sprain) and Jano Vermaak (calf strain) will both return to training next week

Ongoing Injury List:

Sonny Bill Williams (Blues) – Ruptured Achilles. Looking to return in round 6 the earliest.
Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes) – Fractured Metatarsals. Out for at least 6 weeks but our resident physio, Harrison Dale suggests this will likely be longer.
Dane Coles (Hurricanes) – seen with alot of ice and heavy strapping to the knee after rd 4.
Michael Fatialofa (Hurricanes) – left the field in rd 4 sporting a limp.
Matt Proctor (Hurricanes) – sustained a head knock towards the end of the game.
Blade Thomson (Hurricanes) – Dislocated shoulder round 1. Surgery. Out for season.
Reggie Goodes (Hurricanes) – Concussion – out for unknown time.
Loni Uhila (Hurricanes) -Injured in round 3.
Ash Dixon (Highlanders) – Back Injury. Unclear when he will return.
Waisake Naholo (Highlanders) – Hamstring (Looking to be 4-6 weeks)
Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders) – Hamstring (Looking to be 4-6 weeks)
Nathan Harris (Chiefs) – Return in April from ACL reconstruction
Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs) – Dislocated shoulder rd 3. Return end of April
Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs) – Ongoing concussion symptoms. No eta on his return.
Toni Pulu (Chiefs) – Hamstring injury in rd 4. In doubt for Rd 6
Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders) – Broken Hand round 1. Out for at least 8 weeks.
Kieran Read (Crusaders) – Wrist operation, back early April
Seta Tamanivalu (Crusaders) – hamstring tear, back rd 8 after the bye.
Israel Dagg (Crusaders) – Patella injury sustained rd 3. Likely out for 4-6 weeks
Jack Goodhue (Crusaders) – Calf strain. Probably back rd 6.

Jack Dempsey (Waratahs) – right ankle/ leg injury sustained in rd 4. 8-12 wks out.
Irae Simone (Waratahs) – tba
Sef Fa’agase (Reds) – tba.
Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin (Brumbies) – tba.
Ben McCalman (Force)-  was expected back this week, it doesn’t look like he’ll be making the trip across the Tasman and will likely be returning into round 7 at home.
Sean McMahon (Rebels) – Offseason ankle operation. Return rd 8.
Toby Smith (Rebels) – Hamstring Rd 12-13
Josh Mann-Rea (Brumbies) – Likely Knee (Meniscus injury) return date TBC
Jarrad Butler (Brumbies) – Leg injury, should return soon.
Adam Coleman (Force) – tba

Arno Botha (Bulls) – Should return round 4 after the bye.
Renaldo Bothma (Bulls) – Red Card rd 4. issued with 4 week ban.
Keegan Daniel (Sharks) – Fractured Hand (12 weeks). Appears to be recovering fast.
Patrick Lambie (Sharks) – Fractured vertebrae in his lower back. Estimated at 6-8 weeks
Philip Van Der Walt (Sharks) – fractured cheekbone. Out round 4, further tests needed
Jean-Luc du Plessis (Stormers) – is progressing well following a pelvic bone stress injury and should be available for selection in two to four weeks time.
Juan De Jongh (Stormers) – MCL back rd 8-10
Scarra Ntubeni (Stormers) – back running after ruptured achillies last year
Damian De Allende (Stormers) – Injured round 1, out for 3 months (syndesmosis)
Steph de Wit (Stormers) – fractured his ankle, the bone healing well after surgery.
Ruan Combrinck (Lions) – Shoulder operation in the off season. Return round 6-8
Cyle Brink (Lions) – Shoulder injury. Severity still unknown.
Dylan Smith (Lions) – shoulder
CJ Velleman (Kings) – Knee, looking to return early April.
Mzwanele Zito (Kings) – Concussion. Back training and should be right for round 4.
Rudi Van Rooyen (Kings) – Ankle Surgery. Out for 12 weeks.
Uzair Cassiem (Cheetahs) – MCL round 2
Schalk Ferreira (Kings) -Torn Biceps – had an operation, out for 12-16weeks from Rd 6.

Thomas Lavanini (Jaguares) – ACL reconstruction – expected back 9 months post op (June), although their medical team is targeting March (Don’t believe them!)
Manuel Leguizamón (Jaguares) – Knee Ligament Damage. Hoping for a return in round 4/5.
Manuel Montero (Jaguares) – Was set to return in round 3, should be back round 5 or 6.
Harumichi Tatekawa (Sunwolves) – Knock on the knee. Expected return after the tour.
Keita Inagaki (Sunwolves) – This man is a myth! I assume he is coming back from a shoulder injury but that is going off nothing more than his twitter account!

Out for the Season:

Martin Landajo (Jaguares) – Broken Fibula
Tomas Cubelli (Brumbies) – ACL
Brad Weber (Chiefs) – Broken Leg out for 6 months
Mitchell Graham (Chiefs) – Broken Leg
Leolin Zas (Stormers) – Broken Leg
Lausii Tauilali (Brumbies) – ACL
Christian Lealifano (Brumbies) – Leukemia
Howard Minsi (Lions) – ACL
James Broadhurst (Hurricanes) – Concussion ongoing
James Slipper (Reds) – Torn Achillies

Have we missed something? Drop a comment and let us know.