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Highlanders rocked by another injury blow as Folau Fakatava ruled out for season

Folau Fakatava. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Highlanders halfback Folau Fakatava has been ruled out for the rest of the year after sustaining a knee injury against the Crusaders on Friday.

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Fakatava left the field gingerly in the second half during the shock 33-12 win at Orangetheory Stadium, and subsequent scan results confirmed the 21-year-old had fully torn his ACL in his right knee.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Highlanders said the injury will require an operation and a rehabilitation period of between nine and 12 months.

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The news will come as a significant blow to both Fakatava and the Highlanders as the youngster stood as one of the most in-form players in Super Rugby Aotearoa and was tipped by many to be in with a shout of All Blacks selection later this year.

Fakatava had formed a strong partnership with Highlanders co-captain and fellow halfback Aaron Smith whereby the duo provided a one-two punch for the Dunedin-based side regardless of who was starting and who came off the bench.

Earlier this year, both players signed two-year contract extensions that will keep them at the Highlanders until 2023, and hopes remain high down south that Fakatava will stay onboard beyond then as he is widely-regarded as Smith’s long-term successor.

Fakatava’s strong running game and hard-hitting defence will be sorely missed by the Highlanders, with head coach Tony Brown acknowledging the impact he has within the squad.

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“This is very tough on Folau,” Brown said. “He’s been playing outstanding rugby for us this season and he must have been in consideration for the All Blacks with his performances in Super Rugby Aotearoa and the Mitre 10 Cup.” 

“We are fortunate that we have an excellent replacement in Kayne Hammington who has been training hard for an opportunity, he is very experienced and knows our game well.”

Hammington, the franchise’s third-string halfback who hasn’t featured at all this year, is likely to be called upon as Smith’s back-up for the remainder of the season, while Otago halfback James Arscott has been called in as injury cover.

Fakatava’s season-ending blow is just the latest of a string of injuries the Highlanders have had to deal with in recent weeks and months.

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Three-test Wallabies prop Jermaine Ainsley and two-test Tongan midfielder Fetuli Paea are both yet to make their debuts for the Highlanders after sustaining season-ending ankle injuries before the season even kicked off.

Former All Blacks loose forward Liam Squire, who returned to the Highlanders this year following a one-season spell in Japan, has also been ruled out until next year after a troublesome knee injury flared up again last month.

Elsewhere, promising young midfielder Thomas Umaga-Jensen’s long-awaited injury comeback was limited to just two matches after his season was ended by a broken arm in the win over the Crusaders, while exciting wing Freedom Vahaakolo has been sidelined for the remainder of the campaign due to a fractured foot.

They have been replaced permanently in the squad by Otago midfielder Josh Timu and Southland utility back Josh Moorby.

Ex-All Blacks wing Nehe Milner-Skudder, meanwhile, is yet to make his debut for the Highlanders as he continues to prepare his shoulder for the rigours of Super Rugby, but prop Daniel Lienert-Brown, who has been sidelined in recent weeks through a broken arm, is expected to return to action later this month.

Likewise, young wing Sam Gilbert is expected to take to the field at grassroots level this weekend, 10 months after he ruptured his ACL while playing against the Blues in Auckland.

The Highlanders are scheduled to take on the Chiefs in Dunedin on Saturday, with a team announcement expected on Thursday.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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