Huge blow to ambitions

BEFORE: James Goodger reels back after clashing heads with West Coast No8 Rowan O'Gorman. PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD

Gun Wairarapa-Bush flanker James Goodger knew he was in "big trouble" as soon as he clashed heads with a West Coast opponent early in the second half of the Heartland Championship match at Memorial Park, Masterton on Saturday.

"I didn't see it coming, I had my eyes on the ball and then bang, there was a lot of pain, it was obvious I had done something pretty bad," the 25-year-old said yesterday as he prepared to travel to Hutt Hospital for surgery tomorrow.

It is only then the full extent of Goodger's injuries will be known but now the prognosis makes for horrific reading ... broken jaw, fractured eye socket, shattered cheekbone and broken nose. Enough for doctors to suggest plastic surgery might be necessary and certainly a cruel end to what was already shaping to be a memorable season for last season's New Zealand Marist representative.

"I'm gutted, absolutely gutted," Goodger said.

"I've been pretty pleased with my fitness and the way I have been playing and to have this happen ... gutted."

Goodger, who has made 21 first-class appearances for Wairarapa-Bush, had set his sights on making the national Heartland squad this year and his outstanding form would surely have seen him contending strongly for that side, a sentiment supported by Wairarapa-Bush head coach Mark Rutene.

"James is one of those players with the X-factor, you watch him play and you wonder just how he can do the things he does so easily," Rutene said.

"His form this year has probably topped anything he has done before, it's a huge blow for him and for us."

Goodger's obvious replacement in the starting XV for the top-of-the-table clash with Mid Canterbury at Ashburton on Saturday is Carterton's Johnie McFadzean, and while he is a different type of player, Rutene is confident he will do the job needed of him.

"Obviously James will be missed but it's great to have a guy like Johnie to come in, he's been playing extra well himself and we know there will be no hassles with his workrate, there never is."

Reflecting on the 32-12 win over West Coast, Rutene described it as the perfect example of a game of two halves.

"We were pretty poor in the first half and a lot better in the second, that about sums it up."

Rutene knows, however, that a performance of that ilk will almost certainly spell bad news for Wairarapa-Bush against a Mid-Canterbury side difficult to beat on home territory.

"You can't keep playing only 40 minutes of decent rugby and expect to win, that's the bottom line."