News

More injury concerns for Deans

August 13 2008

Injuries to Australian duo Rocky Elsom and Adam Ashley-Cooper have been well documented, but it now appears Robbie Deans is fretting over second row James Horwill and wing Lote Tuqiri.

The Wallabies, who have three Tri-Nations games left still, travel to South Africa for back-to-back Tests before returning home to finish their campaign against the All Blacks.

Both Horwill and Tuqiri are in doubt for the Test in Durban, Deans revealed on www.rugby.com.au as he prepares to name his squad, although he will be without Elsom for the opening game in South Africa.

"Rocky's still got a boot on for a ligament strain, tear, and he'll start running again shortly but the likelihood is he won't be available to us till the second game in Africa," said Deans.

"And Adam has had an operation on a broken bone in his hand and he's in a similar predicament. He won't be available till the second game it appears."

Ashley-Cooper remains confident he will be able to play a part in South Africa.

"It's progressing well," Ashley-Cooper said of his broken hand suffered attempting to tackle All Blacks lock Ali Williams in the first half at Eden Park.

"It's been a week since surgery, the swelling's down, it's recovering really well actually, the doctor's really confident that it should be good to go for the second game in South Africa."

However the bad news is that Tuqiri's injury may require surgery, whilst Horwill is understood to be suffering from heavy bruising.

"There are a number of other blokes," Deans explained.

"Jimmy Horwill's had some bruising. He potentially may not be available till the second game but I understand - I haven't caught up with him yet - I understand he's very positive so we'll have to wait and see.

"Lote has had a specialist visit around his knee and he may require an operation at some point. We'll just have to see how positive he is about his circumstance because essentially it hasn't changed a lot, I understand.

"He's had a knee niggle, a knee complaint for a while now. If he's positive then he may well carry on and look at getting a clean up done later if it's impacting on his ability to train and play then we may have to seek an operation earlier."

Deans was very philosophical about the injuries at such an important stage of the season.

"They're part of the territory. You've just got to roll with them. We'll have twenty-two fit blokes come kick off time and they'll be well prepared and keen," he concluded.

Skipper Stirling Mortlock and centre partner Berrick Barnes were notable absentees from the session with a bout of the 'flu but are expected to travel with the 28-man squad on Friday.

One thing that will raise Deans' spirits is his record in South Africa, having won 11 of the 19 games he has been in charge of in the Republic.