Injuries mount in Highlanders' camp
The Highlanders’ progress this season is in danger of being halted by a sudden flood of injuries to key players.
There is little surprise that the Otago side’s worst performance in this year’s Super Rugby competition, against the Brumbies, came when star flank Adam Thomson wasn’t on the pitch.
Thomson missed the clash with a neck strain, as Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph wasn’t prepared to risk his star asset for the trip to Canberra.
There are more worries on the side of the scrum for the Men from Dunedin, who are likely to be without John Hardie for the rest of the season according to AAP. The openside flank requires surgery on a broken toe, and it is still unknown how long he’ll be sidelined after going under the knife.
According to the Otago Times lock-cum-flank Nick Crosswell will miss the next six weeks with a knee injury, leaving the Highlanders a little thin on loose forward cover.
There is also the major blow to the side losing flyhalves Colin Slade (broken leg) and Lima Sopoaga (fractured shoulder) for the rest of the season, leaving rookie Chris Noakes as the team’s first choice No.10.
