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'Potentially his year's done': Major injury blow for All Blacks flanker

Shannon Frizell. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

The Highlanders finally have their first win of the season under their belts but it’s come at a hefty cost.

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Tony Brown’s men are no strangers to injuries with the likes of Pari Pari Parkinson, Jona Nareki, Patelesio Tomkinson, Josh Timu, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Ngatungane Punivai and Billy Harmon all spending ample time on the sidelines this year and while some of those players could feature in the near future, it appears that the season could be over for two of the Highlanders’ best performers this year, Shannon Frizell and Manaaki Selby-Rickit.

Frizell has been one of the Highlanders’ best and most consistent players since his breakout year with the side in 2018 when he also earned debut All Blacks call-up. The Tongan-born loose forward has been a permanent fixture in the No 6 jersey for the southerners in the seasons since and has generally been a powerful workhorse on the field – even if he’s not yet managed to regularly transfer that form into the test arena.

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Dan Carter identifies the keys to success for the All Blacks at next year’s Rugby World Cup.

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Dan Carter identifies the keys to success for the All Blacks at next year’s Rugby World Cup.

Barely a minute into Friday night’s clash with Moana Pasifika, Frizell was caught in an awkward tackle with his leg jutting off at a painful angle and subsequently had to be helped from the field. Gareth Evans joined the fray in his place and Frizell could be seen supporting himself with crutches following the match.

Second-row Selby-Rickit, who’s been one of the most impressive locks in New Zealand this season, joined Frizell on the sidelines towards the end of the first half with Max Hicks earning a debut appearance.

 

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Speaking after the match, head coach Brown confirmed that Frizell and Selby-Rickit had both done their MCLs.

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“You can’t replace those two guys,” he said. “Shannon was playing the best rugby he’s played in a long time so he’d be very disappointed that potentially his year’s done.”

Evans and Hicks both put in competent performances despite having to clock up more minutes than they might have expected going into the match while the likes of hooker Rhys Marshall and halfback Folau Fakatava both added some spice off the bench later in the piece to help the Highlanders’ to a 37-17 victory.

“I thought Rhys Marshall off the bench was fantastic and Folau added a lot to the intensity of the game, especially on defence,” said Mauger. “Great to get the impact and a couple of early injuries in the game is always hard to replace. I thought those boys did well and I think we’ve lost [Frizell and Selby-Rickit] for the season from the looks.”

Brown was also pleased for to blood another youngster in the form of Tasman lock Hicks – the seventh Highlander to earn their Super Rugby debut in 2022.

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“It’s always great to get your Super Rugby debut and Max has been training hard,” he said. He’s had a massive pre-season. He’s only a young guy so to get his debut out here tonight and play a lot of time and get a good win, he’d be very proud of that.”

The one positive on the injury front is that regular starters Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Billy Harmon are both nearing a return and could feature against the Hurricanes next Saturday.

“They’re pretty good, I think,” Brown said. “I think they should be available.”

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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