Danny
11-07-2005, 09:05 AM
No fracture seen on scans, just rib cartilage damage.
Doubts over injured Gregan
By Peter Jenkins
July 11, 2005
WALLABY skipper George Gregan is facing a secret struggle to play against the Springboks on Saturday week in a city where the Australians have failed to win a Test since 1963.
Gregan spent Saturday night in hospital after having his ribs rattled by rival captain John Smit during the second half of the Nelson Mandela Plate series opener.
Coach Eddie Jones last night allayed any fears of a fracture when claiming Gregan had suffered only soft tissue damage.
But the pain, the hospital stay and the precautionary x-rays suggest the injury is cartilage-related - leaving significant doubts over the halfback recovering in time for the clash with the Springboks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
"George stayed in hospital overnight, just as a precaution," said Jones. "He was in a fair bit of pain. There's no bone damage so he's going to be fine. He's been cleared of structural damage."
The camouflaged concern, however, was disclosed when Jones suggested three halfbacks would be needed for the two-Test trip.
Matt Henjak is now set to travel with the team when it flies out on Wednesday and he will act as a shadow player for the Johannesburg Test and the Tri-Nations opener in Pretoria seven days later.
A 28-man squad will be named today with second-rower Dan Vickerman returning from injury along with centre Stirling Mortlock and fullback Chris Latham.
One major selection headache for Jones is looming at fullback where Latham's absence for the first Boks Test allowed Rogers to lay down his claim for retention.
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"Its a nice situation for us, probably not for them," smiled Jones.
But the coach's demeanour turned serious as he talked of the Wallabies wanting to break a long-running drought in Johannesburg.
Australia has won there only once, when John Thornett led the Wallabies to victory in 1963, earning them the honour of being the first team to beat the Springboks in successive Tests on home soil since 1896.
The Wallabies have played at Ellis Park three times without success.
"That's their spiritual home ground and because of that they feel comfortable there," Jones said.
"But we finished the spring tour last year with a good win over England at Twickenham, the first there since 1998. Now we want to change the record in South Africa.
"They're going to be a much better side. They're going to have two weeks of soul searching, and with Jake White 'working' the media, so it should be fun."
Jones has dispensed with the more bizarre aspects to previous Australian preparations, including wearing sunglasses on board their plane while travelling to South Africa last year.
It didn't help.
They lost 23-19 in Durban.
The Daily Telegraph
Doubts over injured Gregan
By Peter Jenkins
July 11, 2005
WALLABY skipper George Gregan is facing a secret struggle to play against the Springboks on Saturday week in a city where the Australians have failed to win a Test since 1963.
Gregan spent Saturday night in hospital after having his ribs rattled by rival captain John Smit during the second half of the Nelson Mandela Plate series opener.
Coach Eddie Jones last night allayed any fears of a fracture when claiming Gregan had suffered only soft tissue damage.
But the pain, the hospital stay and the precautionary x-rays suggest the injury is cartilage-related - leaving significant doubts over the halfback recovering in time for the clash with the Springboks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
"George stayed in hospital overnight, just as a precaution," said Jones. "He was in a fair bit of pain. There's no bone damage so he's going to be fine. He's been cleared of structural damage."
The camouflaged concern, however, was disclosed when Jones suggested three halfbacks would be needed for the two-Test trip.
Matt Henjak is now set to travel with the team when it flies out on Wednesday and he will act as a shadow player for the Johannesburg Test and the Tri-Nations opener in Pretoria seven days later.
A 28-man squad will be named today with second-rower Dan Vickerman returning from injury along with centre Stirling Mortlock and fullback Chris Latham.
One major selection headache for Jones is looming at fullback where Latham's absence for the first Boks Test allowed Rogers to lay down his claim for retention.
Advertisement:
"Its a nice situation for us, probably not for them," smiled Jones.
But the coach's demeanour turned serious as he talked of the Wallabies wanting to break a long-running drought in Johannesburg.
Australia has won there only once, when John Thornett led the Wallabies to victory in 1963, earning them the honour of being the first team to beat the Springboks in successive Tests on home soil since 1896.
The Wallabies have played at Ellis Park three times without success.
"That's their spiritual home ground and because of that they feel comfortable there," Jones said.
"But we finished the spring tour last year with a good win over England at Twickenham, the first there since 1998. Now we want to change the record in South Africa.
"They're going to be a much better side. They're going to have two weeks of soul searching, and with Jake White 'working' the media, so it should be fun."
Jones has dispensed with the more bizarre aspects to previous Australian preparations, including wearing sunglasses on board their plane while travelling to South Africa last year.
It didn't help.
They lost 23-19 in Durban.
The Daily Telegraph