World Cup Injury Roundup

With the World Cup now only a month away, we take a brief look at who’s injured, who’s out, and who’s in, the various World Cup Squads, and make fun of other teams where we can.

All Blacks:
There’s an open space in the All Blacks squad for the World Cup, and it belongs to either Greg Sommerville or John Schwalger.
Sommerville was on the comeback trail from a ruptured achilles tendon when he suffered a torn retina after being accidentally poked in the eye. An operation to repair his eye went well, but he, Schwalger and the All Black selectors are still playing the waiting game.

Wales:
Gavin Henson was ruled out of the World Cup with an achilles injury, reportedly suffered during a particularly rough pedicure. Welsh hopes (their thrashing by England not withstanding) were somewhat lifted however when inspirational captain Stephen Jones was confirmed as being available by the time the tournament starts. Tom Jones is on standby, something which Welsh coach Gavin Jenkins described as “not unusual”.

Australia:
Flanker David Lyons continues to recover from the unusual treatment undergone for a blood clot in his calf in an attempt to make the World Cup. Doctors attempted to break down the clot with techniques normally used on cardiac patients. Lyons is hoping that this will mean he can avoid the normal 6-month layoff for this type of injury.
Chris Latham continues to improve after his return from ACL explosion. He played 20 minutes against the All Blacks in the Eden Park test, and although he’s experienced a few minor niggles in other areas since then, nothing has ruled him out at this stage.
Hayman’s Beard has money bet that he’ll snap his spine reaching for the marmite a week or so out from the first game, the poor bastard.

South Africa:
The Springboks have replaced Pierre Spies van der Westhuizen with Bismark du Pleissis van der Westhuizen in their World Cup squad, after the loose forward was ruled out with a blood clot on the lungs. Rumours of arguments between incumbent captain John Smit van der Westhuizen and surprise inclusion Nelson Mandela continue to surface, with no comment so far from the SA union.
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