Already without All Blacks Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua and Ruben Love for Friday’s Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific opener, the Hurricanes have been rocked by a serious training injury to another key forward.
Blindside flanker Devan Flanders has a suspected broken leg, adding to a long-term Hurricanes injury list.
Flanders suffered the injury at training, the day before the Hurricanes’ 31-19 pre-season win over the Blues, and is awaiting a further medical assessment to see how long he will be sidelined for.
Hurricanes Coach Clark Laidlaw says unfortunately Devan has picked up a really bad injury; a total freak accident warming up in the captain’s run before the game on Thursday.
Laidlaw says he has got an ankle injury and it looks like a leg break.
Flanders would have been competing with Brad Shields for the No 6 jersey to face the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday night.
It means more headaches for Laidlaw who is also trying to assemble a backline without last year’s starters TJ Perenara, Cameron, Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby and Salesi Rayasi.
Returning All Blacks Peter Lakai, Cam Roigard and Pasilio Tosi all came through strongly in some welcome good news for the coach.
Without injured trio Cameron, Cashmore and Love, and Aidan Morgan who departed for Ireland, the Hurricanes are delving deep into their playmaker stocks. This Friday’s games will see the Crusaders hosting the Hurricanes at 6.05pm, the Waratahs playing the Highlanders at 8.35pm.
On Saturday the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua play the Brumbies at 3.35pm, the Blues face the Chiefs at 6.05pm and the Force will take on Moana Pasifika at 8.35pm.
The Queensland Reds will be on a bye
Source: Stuff.co
