Dan Carter to undergo ankle surgery

Posted on Aug 23, 2010 in Rugby News

All Blacks first five–eighth Dan Carter is to undergo ankle surgery ruling him out of rugby for up to eight weeks.

The surgery means Carter will be unavailable for the All Blacks final Investec Tri Nations match against Australia in Sydney on 11 September.

All Blacks Doctor Deb Robinson said Carter had been troubled by niggling pain in his right ankle throughout the year but had still managed to play rugby to his typical high standard.

“However, it’s reached the point now where it is restricting his ankle flexibility and, in turn, affecting his calf muscle strength, so now is the right time to have surgery,” Dr Robinson said.

Dr Robinson said the surgery, which will take place in Christchurch on Tuesday afternoon, would involve removing loose material from the joint at the back of his ankle.  A bone spur would also be removed from the front of his ankle.

Carter said he was remaining positive about the need for surgery and the resulting layoff from rugby.

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Gloucester happy at return of Simson-Daniel and Morgan

Posted on Nov 27, 2009 in Rugby News

Gloucester Rugby Head Coach Bryan Redpath keeps faith with the majority of the side that tamed the Tigers last weekend but is able to include returning England internationals Olly Morgan and James Simpson-Daniel as his side head for Harlequins this weekend.

Both were originally selected to start last Friday but were late withdrawals before the game and Morgan takes up his usual full back spot.

However, Simpson-Daniel has to come into the centre with Henry Trinder suffering a dead leg, Mike Tindall still sidelined and Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu away with Samoa.

In a further backline change, Tom Voyce moves from fullback to the wing with Lesley Vainikolo dropping to the bench.

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Scotland side to play Argentina named

Posted on Nov 25, 2009 in Rugby News

Scotland have made three changes and one further positional switch in their team for Saturday’s Murrayfield meeting with Argentina.

Following the 9-8 victory over Australia last weekend, head coach Andy Robinson describes the changes as “subtle”. They see 24-year-old Edinburgh flanker Alan MacDonald introduced for his first cap, alongside the return of Ben Cairns (his fellow Royal High School former pupil) and Thom Evans in the back division, with Alex Grove moving to inside centre.

Tickets are on sale now from £10 for adults and £5 for under-18s and students and can be bought online until 12 midnight on Friday at www.scottishrugby.org.

The alternations have been undertaken with a view to delivering a win against Argentina who are above Scotland in the IRB world rankings.

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Hooker Dawiduik makes first GP start vs Tigers

Posted on Nov 19, 2009 in Rugby News

Gloucester Rugby hooker Darren Dawiduik will make his first start in the Guinness Premiership against the Leicester Tigers at Kingsholm on Friday evening.

Dawiduik is one of nine changes to the starting line up from the team that took on London Wasps last weekend.

Also returning are Greg Somerville, Will James and Jake Boer in the pack with James Simpson-Daniel, Tim Molenaar, Lesley Vainikolo, Nicky Robinson and Dave Lewis the new faces in the backline.

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Robinson names his first Scotland selection

Posted on Nov 9, 2009 in Rugby News

Head coach Any Robinson has named one new cap in the Scotland team to play Fiji in the Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Test at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Alex Grove, the Worcester Warriors outside centre, who celebrates his 22nd birthday on St Andrew’s Day, will make his debut, while Robinson also lists Moray Low, 24, at tight-head prop to make his first international start and his first cap appearance at Murrayfield.

In all there are ten changes in personnel from the Scotland team that started their last international against England at Twickenham last March for Robinson’s first match as Scotland head coach having been appointed in June.

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