Injury blow for battered Highlanders

INJURY UPDATE: The Highlanders head to Wellington this week for a date with the revitalised Hurricanes, minus one of their key players.

The Hurricanes, after losses in their first two matches, bounced back with an impressive away win against the Chiefs last week.

The Highlanders, in contrast, squeaked past the Chiefs in Week One and then lost their next two outings.

On top of that, they lost lock Josh Dickson for the rest of the season.

Skills coach Riki Flutey delivered the bad news to the media on Wednesday, confirming that Dickson fractured his leg in the loss to the Crusaders last week.

The 25-year-old picked up the injury when a stray boot collected his leg early during the opening half.

Dickson will be sidelined for up to four months.

“We have brought Geoff Cridge into the squad to cover that,” Flutey told a media conference.

“Josh has been outstanding, and he’s been leading off the field,” Flutey said.

“He’s been running our forwards, and on the field he’s been playing really well.”

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Pari Pari Parkinson will lock the scrum with Jack Whetton, Manaaki Selby-Ricki or Cridge as his second row partner.

“Manaaki’s a young guy who has been showing some really good signs during training,” Flutey said.

Dickson joins a growing injury ward in the deep south – with Nehe Milner-Skudder still unavailable due to an ongoing shoulder issue and flyhalf Josh Ioane also in doubt due with a groin injury.

Ngatungane Punivai will also likely miss Sunday’s game after suffering a concussion against the Crusaders.