Injury strikes McCaw again

From ESPN SCRUM.com

The Crusaders will be without skipper Richie McCaw for next weekend's vital Super Rugby clash with the Blues due to injury.

The openside, who had a screw inserted into a broken metatarsal earlier this year, went for scans following the Crusaders' loss to the Reds last weekend, where it was found that the screw had caused irritation.

The Crusaders are currently two points behind the Blues in the New Zealand conference, with coach Todd Blackadder now set to recall Matt Todd to the No.7 jersey and hand the captaincy to No.8 Kieran Read.

''Richie's probably going to be out for the next two to three weeks,'' Blackadder told The Press. ''His foot just feels a little bit uncomfortable and he had a scan on it last week - it just showed the bone is healing nicely but it is still not 100%. While it is not getting any worse, it just needs to heal properly.

''It definitely has not broken again; there is just a bit of irritation around where the screw is on the bone."

Blues flanker Jerome Kaino expects the Crusaders to come out firing after a bye last weekend, particularly given that his side have slipped to three successive defeats.

"They've had the week off so they'll be licking their lips," Kaino said. "It doesn't get any easier but we'll regroup on Monday and we're looking forward to the challenge."

http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-2011/rugby/story/141041.html

Thoughts?

To be fair, you,d think mccaw would be far more injury prone when you consider the way he plays. Think about the likes of burger,pocock,warburton, they injury stats are probably way up on mccaw

That's the sort of injury that will either just go away and not be a problem, or will be a blight on the rest of his career. Hopefully it's the former. This WC needs him.

I`m wondering reading between the lines if the hand of the big 3 is behind this.I `m all for getting Captain tackles right but wonder about things,the screw has fixed the break,not re-break has occurred,irrattion around the screw. Presumeably at some point the screw will be removed,then it will be back to normal or career over?The cynic in me says were it not RWC year he would be playing on.

Whilst i havent been watching too much of the crusaders the young fella Matt Todd looks like he is emerging as his replacement. NZ has an annoying habit of churning out top quality No. 7's

Standulstermen wrote:Whilst i havent been watching too much of the crusaders the young fella Matt Todd looks like he is emerging as his replacement. NZ has an annoying habit of churning out top quality No. 7's

That's because in NZ the #7 has generally been regarded as the most important position on the field. Other countries have different preferences - #10 for Wales and Australia, #9 for France, the front row for England, etc

Trying to think what Irelands is

red_stag wrote:Trying to think what Irelands is

That's why I didn't mention one for Ireland

Centre perhaps?

red_stag wrote:Trying to think what Irelands is

Kitman

Where did they get the screws tough enough?

The important thing is that there hasn´t been another break in the foot. I think the management of the top players with their injuries has been pretty much spot on. No rushing back of players for the big matches.

red_stag wrote:Trying to think what Irelands is

It should be a proper 7. The best 7 in the NH. As the Welsh like to annoyingly say .... "Shane". That's why we never get anywhere.

McCaw is the best and most effective player in the World, imo. Get well my man. Get well and grace the RWC.

Possibly second row - Willie John McBride, Donal Lenihan, Jeremy Davidson, Malcolm O'Kelly, Mick Galwey, Paul O'Connell etc.

The RWC will always be a poorer place if the best players around aren't participating. Hope McCaw makes it.

So he is injured,who is going to finish the job? Mwahaaahaaaaaaaa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdCpVb_p8Rg

Problem for McCaw is these injuries never truly heal without significant rest or more surgery, pending the nature of the screw irritation (if that is truly what it is and not a loosening of the screw). Once the injuries like these recur or become more frequent, the recovery becomes more difficult and performing at the top level becomes a huge mountain to climb. Good luck to him.

it's important to look at things with an objective eye. Personally I don't think McCaw is the force he once was, either through time catching up with the old fulla, injuries and fatigue taking their toll or just through the evolution of the game. He was a legend and achieved some great things as a player, but those days may be coming to an end.

I think there are better 7's in NZ right now. Of course McCaw brings continuity and leadership to the ABs and in that capacity he may currently be irreplaceable, but his re-signing with the NZRFU may tell a bigger story about his true desire to extend his career beyond this season.

I can't see him starting every game at RWC time.

Help the grey ghost is on here


So are you saying grey, that if Mccaw does not start all games for the Abs the Abs will not crumble

Aughhhhhhh feck, I'm outta here.

Somebody mentions irritating screws and TGG shows up.

You couldn't make it up.

I like the old Grey one.
He's funny.
And when he's serious (not often) he talks sense.

Really

TheGreyGhost wrote:it's important to look at things with an objective eye. Personally I don't think McCaw is the force he once was, either through time catching up with the old fulla, injuries and fatigue taking their toll or just through the evolution of the game. He was a legend and achieved some great things as a player, but those days may be coming to an end.

I think there are better 7's in NZ right now. Of course McCaw brings continuity and leadership to the ABs and in that capacity he may currently be irreplaceable, but his re-signing with the NZRFU may tell a bigger story about his true desire to extend his career beyond this season.

I can't see him starting every game at RWC time.

Who's better?
Braid ? (Snr or Jnr)
Waldrom?
Todd?
Soakai?
McCaw first. Daylight second.
Richies being managed!

TheGreyGhost wrote:it's important to look at things with an objective eye. Personally I don't think McCaw is the force he once was, either through time catching up with the old fulla, injuries and fatigue taking their toll or just through the evolution of the game. He was a legend and achieved some great things as a player, but those days may be coming to an end.

I think there are better 7's in NZ right now. Of course McCaw brings continuity and leadership to the ABs and in that capacity he may currently be irreplaceable, but his re-signing with the NZRFU may tell a bigger story about his true desire to extend his career beyond this season.

I can't see him starting every game at RWC time.

Welcome Mr Greyhhost. Can I say that I admire your fresh perspective on SH matters of which I am largely ignorant. I don't know if you have had a look round, but of you have I'm sure you will have seen a lot more to engage the intellect than on other unnamed and deceased sites. I look forward to sharing constructive debate with you.

Agree with Glas. Ignore em Ghostie!!

I am only posting as it generates a email notification to greyghost and I want to annoy him! Hopefully he hasnt switched that option off!

Hobo wrote:I am only posting as it generates a email notification to greyghost and I want to annoy him! Hopefully he hasnt switched that option off!

Awww, letting GG know you care


In general folks, we've had a few people join up over the last few days with erm "reputations" from places past. Thus far most of them have contributed to some decent rugby debates without "misbehaving". So I just thought I'd remind you all that V2 is new, shiny and improved so until someone actually starts wumming treat them as you'd like to be treated yourself. Unless you're a masochist of course . Banter is great, "hitting" (personal abuse) isn't.

(I've got quite a few unread comments since my last log in so I hope I haven't spoken too soon above )

Fair enough Kiwireddevil, I take it back - under advisement.