Danny
28-02-2006, 09:35 PM
Out for the begining of the season with a wrist fracture, Kefu
Played in the reserves last match. He is named for the big game against the Chiefs this weekend.
Barnes, Connors miss Chiefs outing
February 28, 2006
FOXSPORTS
ROOKIE Queensland fly half Berrick Barnes and veteran second rower Mark Connors will miss the Reds' Super 14 rugby match against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday night with rib injuries.
Barnes and Connors suffered bruised ribs in the 21-20 loss to the Blues at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, but Queensland coach Jeff Miller believes the pair will be fit to play Western Force in Brisbane a week on Saturday.
Prop Greg Holmes was meanwhile cleared of a shoulder injury and will play for a team desperate to break its winning drought.
Miller has reshuffled the side to face the Chiefs, adding New Zealand-born rookie Ole Avei, former Australia Test centre Steve Kefu, Anthony Mathison and James Horwill to the bench.
Wallabies back Lloyd Johansson moves into the starting line-up at inside centre, while Elton Flatley slots in at fly half.
Tom McVerry has been handed the No.6 jersey and Cameron Treloar will make his first run-on start in Super 14.
Prop Mathison was added to the 22-strong squad for Tom Court (foot), who is part of a growing injury list that also includes regular captain John Roe, utility back Tim Atkinson and reserve halfback Nic Berry.
Court still expects to play a full match for Queensland A against NSW A on Friday night.
It's been a long road back to Super rugby action for Kefu who suffered a painful wrist injury during the Reds' tour to Argentina late last year.
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Kefu, who has five Test caps but struggled to break into Miller's top squad last year, broke his wrist in the tour's early stages but defied the pain barrier and continued playing.
He discovered the extent of the damage only upon returning to Australia.
"I didn't think it was that bad, but when I went for scans they found it was worse than first thought," Kefu said.
He had three pins inserted into his wrist, but the pins were removed last month and he returned to action last Friday for Queensland A against the Brumby Runners.
Kefu said he had received a massive scare during the contest when a ruck collapsed and landed on his hand.
"It's really stiff," he said.
"I ... got caught in one of the rucks and the whole thing fell on my wrist.
"It shocked me but it was fine."
Kefu said the chance to pull on a Wallabies jersey – no matter how slim – was the "only reason why I stick around".
"Just to try and get my hands on one again," he said.
"I've just got to avoid injuries and get more games into me."
Reds outside centre Julian Huxley said Queensland wouldn't be hampered by the backline changes.
"We have a 100-plus capper in Elton Flatley to step into the fly half position, a current Wallaby in Lloyd Johansson to slot into the centres, and Steve Kefu with 50 (Queensland) caps coming onto the bench," he said.
"I can't see it being a problem."
The Reds fly out to Hamilton tomorrow.
QUEENSLAND: Chris Latham (captain;, Henari Veratau, Julian Huxley, Lloyd Johansson, Drew Mitchell; Elton Flatley, Sam Cordingley; Mitchell Chapman, David Croft, Tom McVerry; Hugh McMeniman, Cameron Treloar; Rodney Blake, Stephen Moore, Greg Holmes. Replacements: Sean Hardman, Anthony Mathison, James Horwill, Ole Avei, Josh Valentine, Steve Kefu, Caleb Brown.
Played in the reserves last match. He is named for the big game against the Chiefs this weekend.
Barnes, Connors miss Chiefs outing
February 28, 2006
FOXSPORTS
ROOKIE Queensland fly half Berrick Barnes and veteran second rower Mark Connors will miss the Reds' Super 14 rugby match against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday night with rib injuries.
Barnes and Connors suffered bruised ribs in the 21-20 loss to the Blues at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, but Queensland coach Jeff Miller believes the pair will be fit to play Western Force in Brisbane a week on Saturday.
Prop Greg Holmes was meanwhile cleared of a shoulder injury and will play for a team desperate to break its winning drought.
Miller has reshuffled the side to face the Chiefs, adding New Zealand-born rookie Ole Avei, former Australia Test centre Steve Kefu, Anthony Mathison and James Horwill to the bench.
Wallabies back Lloyd Johansson moves into the starting line-up at inside centre, while Elton Flatley slots in at fly half.
Tom McVerry has been handed the No.6 jersey and Cameron Treloar will make his first run-on start in Super 14.
Prop Mathison was added to the 22-strong squad for Tom Court (foot), who is part of a growing injury list that also includes regular captain John Roe, utility back Tim Atkinson and reserve halfback Nic Berry.
Court still expects to play a full match for Queensland A against NSW A on Friday night.
It's been a long road back to Super rugby action for Kefu who suffered a painful wrist injury during the Reds' tour to Argentina late last year.
Advertisement:
Kefu, who has five Test caps but struggled to break into Miller's top squad last year, broke his wrist in the tour's early stages but defied the pain barrier and continued playing.
He discovered the extent of the damage only upon returning to Australia.
"I didn't think it was that bad, but when I went for scans they found it was worse than first thought," Kefu said.
He had three pins inserted into his wrist, but the pins were removed last month and he returned to action last Friday for Queensland A against the Brumby Runners.
Kefu said he had received a massive scare during the contest when a ruck collapsed and landed on his hand.
"It's really stiff," he said.
"I ... got caught in one of the rucks and the whole thing fell on my wrist.
"It shocked me but it was fine."
Kefu said the chance to pull on a Wallabies jersey – no matter how slim – was the "only reason why I stick around".
"Just to try and get my hands on one again," he said.
"I've just got to avoid injuries and get more games into me."
Reds outside centre Julian Huxley said Queensland wouldn't be hampered by the backline changes.
"We have a 100-plus capper in Elton Flatley to step into the fly half position, a current Wallaby in Lloyd Johansson to slot into the centres, and Steve Kefu with 50 (Queensland) caps coming onto the bench," he said.
"I can't see it being a problem."
The Reds fly out to Hamilton tomorrow.
QUEENSLAND: Chris Latham (captain;, Henari Veratau, Julian Huxley, Lloyd Johansson, Drew Mitchell; Elton Flatley, Sam Cordingley; Mitchell Chapman, David Croft, Tom McVerry; Hugh McMeniman, Cameron Treloar; Rodney Blake, Stephen Moore, Greg Holmes. Replacements: Sean Hardman, Anthony Mathison, James Horwill, Ole Avei, Josh Valentine, Steve Kefu, Caleb Brown.