Injury-plagued Wallabies back Berrick Barnes could make a miraculous recovery from a dislocated thumb to start for the NSW Waratahs in Sunday’s Super Rugby clash with the Blues.
Barnes’ first appearance of the 2013 season was cut short early in the Waratahs’ gut-wrenching 27-26 loss to the Cheetahs on Friday night at Allianz Stadium.
But NSW coach Michael Cheika is surprisingly holding hope the 50-Test inside centre can back up against the dynamic Blues backline after a medical check on Monday.
“(The dislocation) was quite high up in the thumb. It was in a weird place and it took a while to get back in but, once it was in, it was quite favourable,” Cheika told AAP.
“He’s feeling okay and he’ll get it checked again on Monday.
“He’s a chance to play this week so we’ll see what the doctor says.”
Cheika has a tough choice to solve his backline woes if Barnes is sidelined.
With attacking weapons like Israel Folau, Lachie Turner and Peter Betham desperate for opportunities out wide, Barnes’ passing game was seen as a key after he replaced the no-frills Tom Carter.
Cheika could reinstate Carter, team hard-running Wallabies Rob Horne and Adam Ashley-Cooper in the centres, or make utility Ben Volavola a second ball player at No.12 outside Bernard Foley.
Another Wallaby has already been cleared to take on the Blues for the Waratahs with prop Benn Robinson overcoming a bizarre halftime incident.
Robinson returned to the field for the second half but was physically ill before the restart and was replaced with concussion.
But Cheika said it could have been an inner ear problem which made him nauseous.
“It was pretty crazy,” he said. “I thought he must have got king-hit in the tunnel.”
Betham’s energetic display put further heat on axed winger Drew Mitchell but cheika said he’d be available to play the Blues after he watched the Cheetahs match alongside him in the coaching box.
Rory
Guest
You're being a bit harsh on poor Berrick. He did set up a wonderful try for teh Chetahs with his first touch! GET RID OF HIM!!!!
Rumplestiltskin
Guest
The first thing Cheika should do is march Berrick Barnes to the back gate at the training paddock and literally kick his arse out of the Waratahs squad. Such an ordinary player who thinks the world of himself.
Chivas
Guest
Agree I've had both, without your thumb you can't easily snatch a ball from an average pas and you know how sickening it is when you smash a badly sprained thumb into something it goes from ahhhh to can't play. Annoying too, because it's such a small thing.... I plunged it into ice and tried strapping it, but still went to ahhhh a few times then came off and found it was broken.
Malo
Guest
Give VV, Betham a go, develop Folau and Foley and get the pack going forward. Keep developing the Front row as looking really good and get rid of the backrow. Just give new guys plenty of time and blood them and get some speed going as too much weights, slow as cliffy young at the moment, all for next year. Get combinations going as this year is a write off, 1 from 4 against the easy teams but Cheika is doing a pretty good job trying to change the culture.
pogo
Guest
I have taped dislocated thumbs to my hands before, if it's the most basal joint rather than the middle one it works fine. Till you snag your thumb on a jersey and dislocate it again anyway...
Jonny Boy Jnr
Guest
Waratahs recruitment list for 2014 1. James Slipper 2. Stephen Moore 3. Ben Alexander 4. Hugh Pyle 5. Hugh MMM 6. Scott Higginbotham 7. Liam Gill 8. Fotu Auelua 9. Will Genia 10. Christian Lealiifano 11. Joe Tomane 12. James O'Connor 13. Tevita Kuridrani 14. Alfie Mafi 15. Jesse Mogg
Chui
Guest
A dislocated instep on his kicking foot would be better for the Waratahs.
mapu
Guest
first touch and he will kick and lose possession and we know the rest
mania
Guest
i've had dislocated fingers and played on. but then all i did was strap them to the non dislocated digits. pretty sure tho a dislocaterd thumbs is much more of an issue.