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Sale confirm 'as bad as it gets' injury suffered by Cobus Wiese

Rory Jennings tackles Cobus Wiese at London Irish (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Sale Sharks)

Sale boss Alex Sanderson has revealed the true extent of the devastating season-ending injury suffered by Cobus Wiese when he was bundled into touch by a dramatic try-saving tackle earlier this month at London Irish. Exiles midfielder Rory Jennings was lauded for his thumping, legal tackle on the Sharks second row in his team’s 36-18 Gallagher Premiership win at the Gtech Community Stadium on March 12.

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However, salt has now been rubbed into the Sale wound of Wiese not scoring at an important time in that game as the severe impact on the lock’s left knee when he landed on the ground in touch needed to be operated on last week and the damage will sideline him for up to nine months.

“It’s as bad as it gets, Cobus’ knee is as bad as it gets,” bemoaned title-chasing Sale boss Sanderson following the confirmation that Wiese might not play again in 2023 if his recovery is slow. “A fractured knee with ACL and meniscus tears, it’s six to nine months, so we are devastated for him. Devastated because he was a crucial part of the squad and is a brilliant lad.

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“No one deserves an injury like that. It’s a bad part of the game and a bad part of the season for it to happen… we already had plans and had already signed someone up in the back five department anyway the week before Cobus did his knee so that is a positive thing, and we are looking to get injury dispensation as well.

“But it’s brutal when you are looking at nine months layoff. Everything that you learn growing up about bracing for contract, dropping your body height, all those things that he could have armed himself with – and he knows this. Maybe there was a bit of white line fever that detracted from what he could technically have done better.

“There are ways he could have shielded himself better. He took a full-on hit from someone running at full pace. It’s one of those freakish, horrendous injuries. Another day he would be crossing the line and scoring.”

Asked how Wiese is coping with having his fine Sale season ended prematurely, Sanderson added: “He’s alright. His wife is pregnant so he will be around for the birth and the first few months helping, which is a positive if there is ever such a thing. He has played really, really well so his stock within the organisation is quite high because he has had a really good season.

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“He is stronger than everyone else around him. Everyone else is ‘oh’, but the people who go through the injury they have got to get on with it, they have to crack on – so he is cracking on.”

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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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