Luckless Wallabies front-rower Tatafu Polota-Nau is set to miss the rest of the season and may require ankle surgery after Australia’s painful hooker crisis continued this weekend.
Scans have shown Polota-Nau suffered a syndesmosis injury in the first half of Saturday night’s 32-25 win over Argentina on the Gold Coast and is looking at two months on the sidelines.
It’s a major blow for both Australia and the injury-plagued NSW rake who was making his return from a knee ligament tear in his 50th Test match.
Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie, who is also missing Stephen Moore and Nathan Charles for the rest of 2014, will again be forced to rely on fourth-string hooker James Hanson for Saturday week’s clash with South Africa in Cape Town.
McKenzie will take three hookers on the two-Test tour of South Africa and Argentina and hopes to have Waratahs reserve Tolu Latu back from a broken arm to vie for a place with Saia Fainga’a and Josh Mann-Rae.
In a double blow from the nerve-wracking win over the Pumas, winger Peter Betham is also in serious doubt for November’s European tour after re-injuring his broken foot.
Scans have detected a fracture but it’s unclear how bad the damage is to Betham, who scored his first Test try in the 60th minute at Cbus Super Stadium for a 29-13 lead.
He joins Henry Speight (hamstring) on the sidelines but utility Adam Ashley-Cooper is expected back from a neck problem to play the Springboks while Joe Tomane (hamstring) is also now fit again.
Australia’s depth in their wing stocks have been tested almost as much as hooker, with Pat McCabe (retired), Chris Feauai-Sautia (shoulder), Nick Cummins (Japan), James O’Connor (France) also missing.
“The winger-hooker curse continues,” McKenzie said. “We get them back and then they disappear again.”
MJB
Guest
Ah k.
mace22
Guest
I don't think it's such a tongue in cheek idea. Thats what happened to kevin mealamu, and that turned out OK.
mace22
Guest
This guy is a walking injury waiting to happen. Must be related to richard kahui.
bennalong
Guest
In fact, the function of the two lower leg bones, the tibia and fibula, is affected by both the movements of the knee and the ankle, and vice versa. This is not to say this injury was predictable, since rugby players routinely play carrying injury.
Old Bugger
Guest
Now converse to the Nonu injury - there aren't so many players with test experience lining up for TPN's jersey.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
That was tongue in cheek just to outline our desperation at hooker.
General Duncan
Guest
Favouring a knee can lead to hip, hamstring or ankle injuries. I have no knowledge whether this is the case with TPN of course.
MJB
Guest
Of all the bizarre ideas that get bandied around on this site, this is the one I understand the least.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Time to train Pocock as a hooker when he comes back.
swifty
Guest
Its like watching Cool Hand Luke keep getting up after taking a hammering stay down mate you had a good run. you'll need your body for another half century or hopefully more. stay down
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Wish you a speedy recovery and good luck with your rehabilitation Tatafu ......
Woodsman
Guest
How so? completely different injury.
ethan
Guest
He did his ankle this time, not his knee. So it is something new. Poloto-Nau often gets injured. Don't think Link will have any regrets.
Mac
Guest
Hindsight is always 20/20, but I suspect the decision to bring him back so quickly might be one Link regrets.