Danny
07-03-2005, 10:04 PM
Flown home, after a big hit to the Ribs.
MacKay's super start hits a hurdle
By Ben Kimber
Monday, March 7, 2005
RUGBY HEAVEN
Less than 15 minutes after showing the kind of form NSW have long been desperate for in a five-eighth, Lachlan MacKay was left cradling his injured ribs and the Waratahs were once again back to the drawing board at No.10.
In the seventh minute of the Waratahs' 36-13 victory over the Sharks in Durban, MacKay had sparked the game to life, slicing through two defenders, brushing off two more, then showing superb vision to throw a wide cut-out pass to Mat Rogers who sent Lote Tuqiri in for the opening try.
Then, disaster struck.
"I got a bit of an awful pass and took a really big hit in the ribs," MacKay said after the game. "Basically, I got lifted in the air and just dropped right on my side and I think I've done a bit of rib cartilage on both sides. It doesn't look too good as I've done rib cartilage before and this seems pretty bad. Hopefully, it won't be too long."
MacKay was scheduled to fly home on Sunday to Sydney to recuperate for at least a fortnight, most likely passing last season's opening-round No.10 Tim Donnelly in mid-air after the Eastwood pivot was asked to immediately join the team in South Africa.
advertisement - story continues below
Donnelly has been recovering from a shoulder injury and was scheduled to return to the field this weekend for NSW A, but now may find a place on the NSW bench if selection falls his way.
A starting place is highly unlikely, particularly as Shaun Berne slipped into the five-eighth role in MacKay's absence with aplomb, despite a sometimes wayward kicking game, and Nathan Grey again showed form when he took the field at inside-centre.
While MacKay may be out for only two weeks with the rib injury, he realises just how competitive positions in this Waratahs team are after watching Ben Jacobs replace Morgan Turinui at outside-centre against the Sharks and secure two important turnovers in the game.
"Berner did really well there at No.10 when he slipped in there in the second half, which probably won't make things any easier if things keep rolling the way they do, but all I have to do is do all I can to get fit", MacKay said, before agreeing the injury was particularly vexing as he believed he was just starting to show his full potential.
"It's pretty disappointing as I felt really comfortable there the first 20 minutes," he said. "Last week, I tried to downplay it, I guess, and just do my role, and this week I was ready to step up and show what I've got, but unfortunately my ribs went."
NSW face the Cats this Saturday in Johannesburg before returning to Sydney to take on the Stormers, then the Bulls. MacKay is likely to target the round-five Bulls clash for his return.
MacKay's super start hits a hurdle
By Ben Kimber
Monday, March 7, 2005
RUGBY HEAVEN
Less than 15 minutes after showing the kind of form NSW have long been desperate for in a five-eighth, Lachlan MacKay was left cradling his injured ribs and the Waratahs were once again back to the drawing board at No.10.
In the seventh minute of the Waratahs' 36-13 victory over the Sharks in Durban, MacKay had sparked the game to life, slicing through two defenders, brushing off two more, then showing superb vision to throw a wide cut-out pass to Mat Rogers who sent Lote Tuqiri in for the opening try.
Then, disaster struck.
"I got a bit of an awful pass and took a really big hit in the ribs," MacKay said after the game. "Basically, I got lifted in the air and just dropped right on my side and I think I've done a bit of rib cartilage on both sides. It doesn't look too good as I've done rib cartilage before and this seems pretty bad. Hopefully, it won't be too long."
MacKay was scheduled to fly home on Sunday to Sydney to recuperate for at least a fortnight, most likely passing last season's opening-round No.10 Tim Donnelly in mid-air after the Eastwood pivot was asked to immediately join the team in South Africa.
advertisement - story continues below
Donnelly has been recovering from a shoulder injury and was scheduled to return to the field this weekend for NSW A, but now may find a place on the NSW bench if selection falls his way.
A starting place is highly unlikely, particularly as Shaun Berne slipped into the five-eighth role in MacKay's absence with aplomb, despite a sometimes wayward kicking game, and Nathan Grey again showed form when he took the field at inside-centre.
While MacKay may be out for only two weeks with the rib injury, he realises just how competitive positions in this Waratahs team are after watching Ben Jacobs replace Morgan Turinui at outside-centre against the Sharks and secure two important turnovers in the game.
"Berner did really well there at No.10 when he slipped in there in the second half, which probably won't make things any easier if things keep rolling the way they do, but all I have to do is do all I can to get fit", MacKay said, before agreeing the injury was particularly vexing as he believed he was just starting to show his full potential.
"It's pretty disappointing as I felt really comfortable there the first 20 minutes," he said. "Last week, I tried to downplay it, I guess, and just do my role, and this week I was ready to step up and show what I've got, but unfortunately my ribs went."
NSW face the Cats this Saturday in Johannesburg before returning to Sydney to take on the Stormers, then the Bulls. MacKay is likely to target the round-five Bulls clash for his return.