Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock has been cleared of a serious leg injury after a sickening collision during the Brumbies’ 25-17 Super 14 loss to the Lions in Johannesburg.
Foxsport reports that Mortlock hobbled off Ellis Park in the second half after his leg was bent back awkwardly, but early indications are he suffered only a cork and could be available for the clash with the Sharks on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
“At this stage it appears that Stirling has suffered a corked thigh in both legs,” Brumbies doctor Warren McDonald said.
“We will monitor him over the next 48 hours and see how he pulls up.”
Mortlock walked freely on Sunday and will not require scans, a Brumbies spokesman said.
Coach Andy Friend lamented his side’s inability to finish off the South African strugglers, who rebounded from a racism row to post their first victory over the Brumbies since 2003.
“We just didn’t finish them off. We had plenty of opportunities, our execution was poor and we didn’t capitalise on our opportunities,” Friend said.
“We didn’t put them under enough pressure.”
Asked if there was any reason for that, Friend replied: “No, sometimes you have off nights.”
But Friend was satisfied with his side’s set-piece work and praised Mark Gerrard’s kicking game as the former Test winger continued a strong season in the No.15 jersey.
The Brumbies head to the Indian Ocean city of Durban on Sunday to prepare for the crucial clash with the second-placed Sharks, who will return home with a 3-1 haul from their Australasian tour.
Friend said he didn’t expect the travel home to affect the Sharks, just as he wasn’t using the 14-hour flight as an excuse for the Brumbies’ first-up loss in their three-game trip to the Republic.
“If you let travel be an issue, it becomes an issue,” he said.
“You jump on a plane and get home and sleep well and recover from it for a couple of days, you’re fine.
“That’s not the reason why we didn’t win.”
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When I saw the injury happen I thought it’s all over for Mortlock. Looked horrific. But like one of the commentators said, he must be made of rubber.
@McLovin (Comment 1) :
YIP it looked horrible.
Pity that it is declared okay this week only to be bitten off as he put’s it in the tank on Saturday. 😛
that Morty is tough as a pair of old boots. Has an uncanny ability to score tries as well…
One to keep a close eye one.
@robdylan (Comment 3) : I have huge respect for Mortlock…always a danger.
Always amazes me that he doesn’t hold most scoring and/or appearance records for Super Rugby. He has been around like FOREVER.
@Pokkel (Comment 4) : me too .
and his look itself scares people
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) : it’s because of gregan – methinks
and have u noticed that he ws not first choice kicker on sat
Records as at 16 march 2009
Most matches played
136 George Gregan – Brumbies (96-07)
135 Caleb Ralph – Crusaders (99-08: 126); Blues (98: 6); Chiefs (97: 3)
129 Reuben Thorne – Crusaders (97-08)
127 Anton Oliver – Highlanders (96-07)
122 Tana Umaga – Hurricanes (96-07)
118 Leon MacDonald – Crusaders (97; 99-03; 05-’09: 113); Chiefs (98: 5)
117 AJ Venter – Stormers (09: 2); Sharks (00-08: 96); Cats (98-99: 19)
116 Stephen Larkham – Brumbies (96-07)
116 Greg Somerville – Crusaders (99-08)
112 Jeremy Paul – Brumbies (98-07)
111 Nathan Sharpe – Western Force (06-09: 41); Reds (98-05: 70)
111 George Smith – Brumbies (00-09)
109 Chris Latham – Reds (98-06; 08: 99); Waratahs (97: 10)
109 Stirling Mortlock – Brumbies (98-09)
He doesn’t feture on the list of most consecutive games at all. Injury prone?
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Most Matches as captain
67 Taine Randell – Highlanders (total games: 77)
62 Todd Blackadder – Crusaders (total games: 71)
52 Corné Krige – Western Province & Stormers (total games: 62)
49 George Gregan – Brumbies (total games: 136)
47 Jono Gibbes – Chiefs (total games: 67)
47 Reuben Thorne – Crusaders (total games: 129)
45 John Smit – Sharks (total games: 89)
44 Stirling Mortlock – Brumbies (total games: 108)
43 Victor Matfield – Bulls (total Bulls games: 79)
43 Richie McCaw – Crusaders (total games: 86)
43 Anton Oliver – Highlanders (total games: 127)
43 Brett Robinson – Brumbies
42 Gary Teichmann – Sharks (total games: 42)
40 Chris Whitaker – Waratahs (total games: 107)
Longest S12/14 career including 2009 (span) Players in bold have been playing consecutive seasons and have not missed any.
14seasons Percy Montgomery
13seasons Johan Ackermann
13seasons Tony Brown
12seasons Brendan Cannon
12seasons George Gregan
12seasons Stephen Larkham
12seasons Chris Latham
12seasons Ollie le Roux
12seasons Leon MacDonald
12seasons Stirling Mortlock
12seasons Anton Oliver
12seasons Caleb Ralph
12seasons Bobby Skinstad
12seasons Stefan Terblanche
12seasons Reuben Thorne
12seasons Ben Tune
12seasons Tana Umaga
12seasons AJ Venter
Most conversions in a career.
160 Matthew Burke – New South Wales Waratahs
157 Daniel Carter – Canterbury Crusaders
143 Tony Brown – Stormers (0); Sharks (11); Highlanders (132)
138 Stirling Mortlock – ACT Brumbies
134 Andrew Mehrtens – Canterbury Crusaders
123 David Holwell – Blues (5); Hurricanes (118)
120 Carlos Spencer – Auckland Blues
================================================
Most penalties in a career
202 Andrew Mehrtens – Canterbury Crusaders
186 Tony Brown – Stormers (0); Sharks (15); Highlanders (171)
173 Matthew Burke – New South Wales Waratahs
157 Daniel Carter – Canterbury Crusaders
138 David Holwell – Blues (3); Hurricanes (135)
133 Stirling Mortlock – ACT Brumbies
126 Elton Flatley – Queensland Reds
113 Adrian Cashmore – Auckland Blues
113 Louis Koen – Bulls/Cats/Stormers
110 Peter Hewat – Waratahs
108 Braam van Straaten – Bulls/Stormers
106 André Pretorius – Lions/Cats
97 Derick Hougaard – Bulls
Go Brumbies!!! 😈
so he is there abouts. and considering that he is still playing well – he should crack one or two of these records.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 11) : and he doesn’t do all that much kicking anymore 😯
Most tries in a career
59 Doug Howlett
58 Caleb Ralph
57 Joe Roff
56 Christian Cullen
51 Stirling Mortlock
47 Tana Umaga
43 Joeli Vidiri
41 Chris Latham
41 Leon MacDonald
=============================
Most Points in a season
221 Daniel Carter – Crusaders 2006 – 15 matches
206 Andrew Mehrtens – Canterbury Crusaders 1998 – 13 matches
201 Daniel Carter – Canterbury Crusaders 2004 – 13 matches
194 Stirling Mortlock – ACT Brumbies 2000 – 13 matches
192 Andrew Mehrtens – Canterbury Crusaders 1999 – 13 matches
191 Peter Hewat – Waratahs 2006 – 14 matches
**Enough Crusaders in there**
=================================
Most points in a career
990 Andrew Mehrtens
959 Matthew Burke
930 Stirling Mortlock
925 Daniel Carter
902 Tony Brown
700 David Holwell
@KSA Shark © (Comment 15) :
He has a DAMN good chance of going at least second on the all time scoring list.
And a very reasonable chance to move up the all time tries list, only 8 between him and top spot
So in short he DOES have a good chance of holding two of the most importnat records by the time his career is over.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 16) : let’s just hope he does not get any closer this saturday.
brumbies won 2 years ago against us – and aus also won in Durbs in last year 3N – they may getting found of the weather 🙄
no saffers anywhere in those standings… why is that?
@rekinek (Comment 17) :
Gonna be difficult for him to score any tries with his leg bitten off. 😆
@robdylan (Comment 18) :
Cos we useless??? 😕
@robdylan (Comment 18) : you mean points/ tries 😉
Percy is leading the longevity stat and he ain’t finished yet
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) : forgotten to ask which shark will do the bitting
@wpw (Comment 20) : no – I know why. Will write an article later
@KSA Shark © (Comment 10) : Every one of the SA players mentioned has a Sharks connection.