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Hurricanes face anxious wait after blockbusting All Black helped from field
The Hurricanes’ latest win, a scratchy 38-15 performance against the Drua in Suva, may have come at a steep cost for the Super Rugby Pacific leaders.
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Asafo Aumua, perhaps the form hooker in the competition in 2024, was taken from the field just 12 minutes after joining the contest in Fiji.
The six-time All Black went down in the 61st minute after what appeared to be a serious leg injury as he was running around the back of a ruck to join the defensive line.
While the work-horse 26-year-old had been involved in a number of collisions and breakdowns leading up to his injury, he looked to be in no discomfort until the action where a sudden limp intruded his stride mid-run, prompting Aumua to instantly clutch his left knee.
Aumua attempted to walk it off but when a penalty halted play on the very next phase, his attempt to return to the goal line with his teammates saw the look of discomfort intensify.
Moments later Aumua could be seen on the ground surrounded by medical staff, one of whom could be seen doing standard checks for any evidence of damage to the knee.
Referee Paul Williams called time off as the hooker was being assessed, but the decision was soon made by the medical team to take Aumua from the field.
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The powerhouse front rower wore a grimace as he avoided putting any weight on the leg, exiting the game with the help of the two medical staff.
The Hurricanes are yet to reveal any details about the injury, and it is unclear whether Aumua has received an initial diagnosis or testing in Suva.
The Hurricanes vice-captain had stepped up as captain to start the season before the return to full fitness of Brad Shields. Aumua had been making waves with his form, with an All Blacks recall looking all but certain under new coach Scott Robertson.
The hooker was a dominant and decisive figure in the Hurricanes’ round-eight win over the Chiefs.
Asafo Aumua last night 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DcT7CyC1Bx
— Hurricanes Rugby (@Hurricanesrugby) April 14, 2024
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Fans online expressed their sympathy for the Wellington star and were hoping for a quick recovery from the apparent injury.
“I really hope that’s not serious for Asafo Aumua. He’s been massive for the Hurricanes this season, with possible consequences for the All Blacks if that’s long-term,” one wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
I really hope that’s not serious for Asafo Aumua. He’s been massive for the Hurricanes this season 🌪, with possible consequences for the All Blacks if that’s long term.#DRUvHUR #SuperRugbyPacific
— The Rick Sanchez of Rugby 🏉🎯 (@RugbyRickSZ) April 19, 2024
Things went from bad to worse for the team in the game as well, with flanker Duplessis Kirifi yellow carded just two minutes later and lock Isaia Walker-Leawere followed suit just one minute on. The team were only back to the full complement briefly before reserve lock Caleb Delany was handed a yellow card with just minutes to play in the game.
Down to 13 men, the unbeaten Hurricanes were put to the ultimate test by the Fijian flair and vocal crowd. Coach Clark Laidlaw is sure to be happy with how his team held their opponents to just one penalty while out-manned for much of the final quarter of the contest.
When reduced to 14 later in the game, the ‘Canes even finished on a high note with a try to prop Xavier Numia.
Comments on RugbyPass
I bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments