The nature of rugby union and its physical confrontation means that injuries are inevitable and the timing of them is not always kind to players and coaches alike.
This is the case for many stars ahead of the 2023 Rugby Championship which is so much more crucial for players and teams as the Rugby World Cup looms on the horizon.
With that in mind, Planet Rugby has put together a team of 15 stars whose tournaments have been hampered by injury.
Injured XV
15 Max Jorgensen (Australia): 2023 started with a bang for the teenage starlet who burst onto the scene with a hat-trick on his Super Rugby Pacific debut for the Waratahs. He followed that up with some impressive performances at wing and at full-back earning him a spot in Eddie Jones‘ first Wallabies squad of the year. However, the dream start to his career took a painful turn as he suffered an MCL tear in his knee which keeps him out of the tournament. He remains a bright prospect and certainly a Wallaby in waiting.
🔥 HOW? Just how? Take a bow, Max Jorgensen! #SuperRugbyPacific #HURvWAR pic.twitter.com/JW1AjDRifU
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) March 17, 2023
14 Sevu Reece (New Zealand): The All Blacks wing has been a superstar since breaking through into the Crusaders’ starting line-up and then into the New Zealand set-up where he has excelled. There is no questioning his all-around ability and try-scoring nature as he has showcased it at all levels. Reece suffered knee ligament damage in March and will only return to the field of play next year. Fortunately, the All Blacks have depth at wing but the Crusader will be missed.
13 Samu Kerevi (Australia): The robust centre will likely be a key component of Jones’ attempted Wallabies revival but for now is sidelined with a hamstring strain. He is in the rehab group of Jones’ squad and will likely return at some point during the Rugby Championship. The Fijian-born player will be a crucial source of go-forward ball in the Australian backline when he returns.
12 David Havili (New Zealand): Inside centre was already one of the most debated positions in the All Black line-up and Havili’s injury magnifies that. The Crusader is hugely valuable with his fly-half-like skillset and impressive understanding of the game. He plays especially well alongside Richie Mo’unga and could have been a key player for head coach Ian Foster. He suffered a severe hamstring injury at the end of May and will miss the tournament but has a slim chance of returning for the Rugby World Cup.
🔥 A little stab over the top and into space.
🔴 David Havili is having some game in Melbourne! #CRUvHIG #SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/oJehPvz1jG
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) March 3, 2023
11 Corey Toole (Australia): The sevens convert has been a standout player for the Brumbies this season. Through his extreme pace and try-scoring ability he threw his name in the Wallabies hat and looked as if he could play a role in Jones’ set-up before injuring his ankle in the final round of the regular season. He has not been considered for the Wallabies squad this time round due to injury with details of his return still vague. There will be more of Toole to come but not in this year’s tournament.
10 Handre Pollard (South Africa): The Leicester Tiger’s injury news comes as a hammer blow to Springbok fans who would have been eager to see their star man in green and gold on the back of some solid form in the Premiership. The World Cup winner re-injured his calf and Bok management is cautious about his return ruling him out of the Rugby Championship. His quality is obvious both as a player and a leader. It is a big loss but it gives the Boks a chance to acid-test their other fly-half options.
9 Jaden Hendrikse (South Africa): The young Bok has grown steadily since making his Test debut in 2021 and emerged as one of the starters for his country last year. He backed up his 2022 season with good form this year with the Sharks but suffered a shoulder injury in April. He is set to return during the Rugby Championship but is unlikely to be involved in the opener.
Blockbuster pack
8 Cullen Grace (New Zealand): Although he may have been an outside chance to start at number eight for the All Blacks, the Crusader’s sheer work rate is an asset to any team. He has the quality to excel at the highest level but will not get the chance this year after he dislocated his kneecap at the end of May, ruling him out for the season. A painful end for a promising star who will have to work his way back into the fold next season.
7 Ethan Blackadder (New Zealand): The flank is truly one of the most unlucky players in the game at the moment with injuries. After struggling with a calf injury all season long, Blackadder only managed five appearances. The last of those was in the quarter-finals of Super Rugby Pacific where after five minutes he was forced off the field with a quad strain. This comes after a serious shoulder injury last year. He cannot catch a break and will be missed in the All Blacks set-up as his work-rate, skill set and versatility make him so valuable.
6 Siya Kolisi (South Africa): The country drew in a sharp breath as the inspirational skipper’s knee injury suffered in his final Sharks game proved to be much worse than expected. The big question was whether he would make the World Cup. It looks as though he will but for the Rugby Championship the Boks will be without their leader and someone will need to fill the void.
🗣️ “I’ve been here before, I’ve been through this.. I’m feeling confident I’ll be fine.”
Siya Kolisi gives us an update on his injury rehab progress 🔋 pic.twitter.com/FJXE2tOJOJ
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 20, 2023
5 Guido Petti (Argentina): The towering lock is one of three key players in his position for Los Pumas and played predominantly from the bench in last year’s Rugby Championship. His line-out ability coupled with his physicality on both sides of the ball are important attributes for his side. However, he is struggling with knee issues and has done throughout the season as per America’s Rugby News. He is only expected to return for their final-round clash against the Springboks.
4 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa): Another massive injury for the South Africans to deal with as their enforcer and youngest Test centurion is still out with a shoulder injury. He will likely return during the competition but will miss out on the opener at least. The gargantuan lock has been up there with the best in the world for the most part of a decade and the Boks will be desperate to have him back in the selection frame.
3 Angus Ta’avao (New Zealand): It has been a difficult year or so for the tighthead who was beginning to find his feet at Test level before suffering a neck injury that required surgery at the end of last season, ruling him out for the entire 2023 campaign. His scrummaging and carrying ability are assets to all the teams he represents and he will be missed in the All Blacks squad.
2 Folau Fainga’a (Australia): Whilst the Wallaby may not strictly be injured his selection hopes have been severely hampered by the limited game time he has throughout the season as he was struggling with Achilles pains. This unfortunately would have forced the Wallabies management to look for more secure options.
1 Angus Bell (Australia): The young prop’s stature in the game has grown quite significantly over the last four years with his scrummaging and mobility key attributes. He has emerged as the understudy for Wallabies co-captain James Slipper but cannot add to his budding Test career this season due to ongoing issues with his foot and he was not considered for selection.
READ MORE: Seven bold predictions ahead of the Rugby Championship including the Eddie Jones factor
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