Last year it was the Stormers who suffered from a debilitating string of injuries in the number 10 position, seeing them forced to field their fourth and fifth-choice flyhalves at stages during the Super Rugby season. The year before, the Sharks suffered a similar fate, leading to the much-ridiculed decision to bring in porky Englishman Andy Goode as cover.
In 2012, though, the South African franchises, by and large, look quite well-covered when it comes to pivot options – although the same can hardly be dais in the front row. The flyhalf curse, having done a proper job in Queensland (the Reds are now without Quade Cooper, Ben Lucas and Mark Harris, while it’s unlikely Dallan Murphy will play again at this level for a while!) has now moved on to Dunedin, with Highlanders pivot Colin Slade out for the season with a broken ankle.
Slade joins another crocked pivot, Lima Sopoaga, on the long-term casualty list, with the latter unlikely to feature again this season thanks to a shoulder injury. The Highlnders suffered further during their first loss of the season, away in Canberra. John Hardie and Nick Croswell also picked up knocks during the 26-33 defeat to Jake White’s side.
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Dallan Murphy was so out of his depth at this level,I doubt he’ll ever play SR again
Australia doesn’t have the depth at any position the way SA and NZ have
@Mutley (Comment 2) : And yet, thanks to the conference system, they’ll still guaranteed to have two teams in the play-offs, where anything can happen and they’d be in with a chance of winning this thing again
@CS (Comment 3) : They are only guaranteed 1 team in the play-offs
John Hardie out for the season!
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 5) : oh bollocks
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 5) :
@robdylan (Comment 6) :
Already 12 players in Super Rugby that are not returning this season.. scary!
they should still have enough to pip the Rebels right? my lms pick.