Brumbies fate on Mortlock's Shoulder
February 20th 2008 21:30
Brumbies Captain Stirling Mortlock has ruled out an early return to the Super 14. When asked when he thinks he will return, he shrugged and this is what happened;
Mortlock: "...cos this is Thriller...Thriller night...ow..."
NB. image from RWC '07.
Seriously though...Mortlock is still recovering from shoulder surgery and this does not bode well for the injury plagued Brumbies (both from physical and emotional injury...the loss of Larkham and Gregan are like stab wounds).
This injury crisis is forcing the Brumbies to field their most inexperienced backline ever. Rumour has it that a name change is imminent. Once were Brumbies, now are Foals. Colts was taken.
The Brumbies suffered a major blow with the loss of brilliant (Wallabies and Brumbies) utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper in Round 1's 34-3 loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Ashley-Cooper sustained a "high ankle strain" Syndesmosis in the first half of the match, which is expected to keep him out for 6 weeks.
Syndesmosis: the process by which Sandy changed in 'Grease'...you know...from good girl to...
Source: Dusk's Contradictionary 2008 Edition.
The 23-year-old utility was one of the "ones to watch" in 2007 and was seen as a key figure for the ACT-based team, while Captain and usual outside centre (#13) Mortlock recovered from shoulder surgery.
Mortlock returned to training in Canberra on Tuesday but reconfirmed he won't be back at (unlucky) #13 until the middle of the competition, which is the time Ashley-Cooper is also expected back.
Mortlock said;
Call to arms? With a shoulder injury?
Ashley-Cooper's loss has been further complicated by a neck injury to inside centre Gene Fairbanks. Complicated because this now leaves Coach Laurie Fisher with a huge hole in midfield. And worse...contemplating the selection of a rookie centre combination.
The dual injury loss means Fisher, already without George Gregan and Stephen Larkham (...sob...) is without his most senior backs - Mortlock, Ashley-Cooper, Fairbanks and permanently injured Clyde Rathbone - for their opening home game this Saturday night against the Highlanders.
Anthony Faingaa and Tyrone Smith (incumbent Captain George Smith's younger brother) Tyrone are being sized up for the centres, which would give the Brumbies their most inexperienced backline of all time.
24yo Tyrone used to play league for the Harlequins RL in the European Super League and also for Australian NRL team Sydney Roosters....although his saving grace is that he played his Rugby in his youth, touring the UK in 2002 with the Australian Schoolboys.
...and it's looking like Tyrone is the likely candidate to wear the unlucky No.13 jersey.
Mortlock said the former league player was making progress in his transition from league.
Fisher is hoping to boost his Forward pack with the hopeful return of Brumbies/Wallabies lock Mark Chisholm (out with a groin injury) and (ex Qld Reds) flanker Mitch Chapman (out with back injury).
Chapman will make his Brumbies debut after missing the first match v the Crusaders.
...he didn't miss much.
Fingers (toes, eyes, roads...) crossed the Brumbies don't miss much either this weekend. Here's looking to a win. Don't quote me.
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image courtesy of RugbyHeaven NZ
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Thank You for clicking;
NB. image from RWC '07.
Seriously though...Mortlock is still recovering from shoulder surgery and this does not bode well for the injury plagued Brumbies (both from physical and emotional injury...the loss of Larkham and Gregan are like stab wounds).
This injury crisis is forcing the Brumbies to field their most inexperienced backline ever. Rumour has it that a name change is imminent. Once were Brumbies, now are Foals. Colts was taken.
The Brumbies suffered a major blow with the loss of brilliant (Wallabies and Brumbies) utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper in Round 1's 34-3 loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Ashley-Cooper sustained a "high ankle strain" Syndesmosis in the first half of the match, which is expected to keep him out for 6 weeks.
Syndesmosis: the process by which Sandy changed in 'Grease'...you know...from good girl to...
The 23-year-old utility was one of the "ones to watch" in 2007 and was seen as a key figure for the ACT-based team, while Captain and usual outside centre (#13) Mortlock recovered from shoulder surgery.
Mortlock returned to training in Canberra on Tuesday but reconfirmed he won't be back at (unlucky) #13 until the middle of the competition, which is the time Ashley-Cooper is also expected back.
Mortlock said;
A few of the boys today have given me the call to arms but my rehab's on a pretty regimented program and I'll be hopefully progressing as quickly as possible without pushing it too much...
Call to arms? With a shoulder injury?
The shoulder's on track, it's going very well but I don't think there's much reason for me to push it too much.
I would absolutely hate it if I pushed it and did some more damage.
There's no way I want to do that. I want to tick off all the boxes and by the time I'm ready to come back I'm very, very confident that my shoulder will be as good as new.
I would absolutely hate it if I pushed it and did some more damage.
There's no way I want to do that. I want to tick off all the boxes and by the time I'm ready to come back I'm very, very confident that my shoulder will be as good as new.
Ashley-Cooper's loss has been further complicated by a neck injury to inside centre Gene Fairbanks. Complicated because this now leaves Coach Laurie Fisher with a huge hole in midfield. And worse...contemplating the selection of a rookie centre combination.
The dual injury loss means Fisher, already without George Gregan and Stephen Larkham (...sob...) is without his most senior backs - Mortlock, Ashley-Cooper, Fairbanks and permanently injured Clyde Rathbone - for their opening home game this Saturday night against the Highlanders.
Anthony Faingaa and Tyrone Smith (incumbent Captain George Smith's younger brother) Tyrone are being sized up for the centres, which would give the Brumbies their most inexperienced backline of all time.
24yo Tyrone used to play league for the Harlequins RL in the European Super League and also for Australian NRL team Sydney Roosters....although his saving grace is that he played his Rugby in his youth, touring the UK in 2002 with the Australian Schoolboys.
...and it's looking like Tyrone is the likely candidate to wear the unlucky No.13 jersey.
Mortlock said the former league player was making progress in his transition from league.
He's got a bit of class about him but obviously when you're playing in the centres ... coming from league there's a lot to learn...He's been very diligent in learning as much as he can.
The reality of it is when you're a centre in Rugby Union you're directing a lot of multi-phase stuff.
You're the eyes of the team...and hopefully communicating with the team as much as possible.
The reality of it is when you're a centre in Rugby Union you're directing a lot of multi-phase stuff.
You're the eyes of the team...and hopefully communicating with the team as much as possible.
Fisher is hoping to boost his Forward pack with the hopeful return of Brumbies/Wallabies lock Mark Chisholm (out with a groin injury) and (ex Qld Reds) flanker Mitch Chapman (out with back injury).
Chapman will make his Brumbies debut after missing the first match v the Crusaders.
...he didn't miss much.
Fingers (toes, eyes, roads...) crossed the Brumbies don't miss much either this weekend. Here's looking to a win. Don't quote me.
**********
image courtesy of RugbyHeaven NZ
**********
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